story with broken shutters and sagging window boxes The large front porch stuck out like a swollen tongue 10
Yay Grandma said as they helped her out of the car It looks better than I expected Malcolm and Dandy exchanged a look Better Hey diddle diddle Grandma sang can you solve this riddle We don’t have time for riddles Malcolm’s mom said We need to get busy Cocoa flicked away a gnat with her diamond-sparkled fingernail The riddle is how do we clean out this house without the ceiling falling on us Don’t worry Malcolm said Nothing can crack your bowling-ball head She waved her fist in his face But I can crack yours He patted his mouth faking a yawn 11
Careful Malcolm’s mom said as she walked up the porch steps It’s rickety They all followed including Grandma Eunice She turned back to Malcolm and Dandy Here’s the riddle They listened closely How am I going to get up on the porch Grandma Eunice asked That was a tough riddle since there was no wheelchair ramp I give up Malcolm said Grandma Eunice hopped out of her wheelchair and vaulted onto the porch Would you hand me that please Malcolm and Dandy picked up the wheelchair and set it on the porch Do you even need this wheelchair Malcolm asked 12
I need it more than you do I’ve told you before your mother thinks I’m one banana short of a bunch so I’m playing along she said with a wink Then she sat down and rolled into the house Dandy shook his head Your grandma’s a real oddball Malcolm grinned You just noticed As they raced up the steps Yeow Dandy’s foot crashed through making a hole that swallowed his leg all the way to his knee He tugged it a few times I’m stuck Can you twist your leg to the side and lift it up Malcolm asked Dandy twisted Nope Can you wiggle your foot Maybe that will loosen the board 13
