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“You can’t punish someone for sneezing,” said Nick.
“It’s dangerous to hold back a sneeze,” said Stuart. “My dad’s a doctor. He knows.”
“It could explode out your ears,” said Casey. “You could die!”
Miss Hillway raised her eyebrows.
Marvin felt a tickle in his nose.
It was a small tickle at first. But it slowly grew, bigger and bigger inside his little nose.
He tried to hold it back, but it felt like it would explode out his ears.
He sneezed.
Miss Hillway stared at him as she slowly shook her head. “You never know when to quit, do you, Marvin?”
Chapter 5
Nothing In—Nothing Out
It did not get any better for Marvin. No matter what he said or did, Miss Hillway took it the wrong way. On Friday, she called him a “hooligan.”
“I don’t even know what a hooligan is,” Marvin said after school.
“Don’t worry about it,” said Stuart. “Mrs. North won’t get mad at you. You’re taking care of her dog.”
“You can do anything!” said Nick. “You’re so lucky. You’re the luckiest kid in the whole world!”
Marvin shrugged.
That was another problem. He wasn’t doing such a good job of taking care of Mrs. North’s dog. Waldo hadn’t eaten anything since Mrs. North left. His bowl was still full of the same old dog food.
He unlocked his bicycle.
“Can I come with you to Mrs. North’s house?” asked Stuart.
Marvin looked at Stuart. Then at Nick.
Mrs. North didn’t exactly say he couldn’t bring his friends over.
“Sorry,” he said.
“Why not?” asked Stuart. “I’m not going to wreck anything.”
Marvin wasn’t worried about Stuart. But if he said yes to Stuart, then Nick would want to come too.
“Mrs. North said she doesn’t want anyone else in her house,” he lied.
“I just want to sit in her chair,” said Nick.
“She won’t find out,” said Stuart.
“I just want to turn her lights on and off,” said Nick.
“Sorry,” said Marvin. “It’s her rule. Not mine.” He got on his bike. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
His friends stared at him.
