Haven't Got a Clue!: Give Me Liberty or Give Me Detention!
Chapter 1 From the Beginning I sat forward in my chair suddenly I needed to get a better look at the crumpled white paper I was holding in my hands It read Henry Gallagher fourth-grade student of Edwin West Elementary has hereby been disqualified from this year’s science fair I sat back in my chair and looked over the sentence a few more times I mouthed the words as I read each one over and over again It looked like I was singing a tune that no one wanted to hear 8
He is no longer allowed to participate in any school competitions or functions due to improper behavior I pushed the blue plastic chair back as far as the wall would let me Then I stood up with the paper just inches from my eyes I walked to the whiteboard picked up a green marker and flipped it a few times in the air I continued reading the note the entire time Henry Gallagher shall have this incident placed in his permanent record Principal Links will decide appropriate punishment within the week The room was quiet All I could hear was the tick-tick-ticking of the clock to my right I had been given permission by Principal Links to use the computer classroom as an office You see I had been taking on so many cases in the past couple weeks I couldn’t possibly take any more house calls My mom just couldn’t make enough fruit punch and chocolate chip bars for all the clients who needed my help Plus the new 9
guests made my dog Little Ricky go absolutely bananas The room wasn’t half bad There were four rows of computers The hum of each computer went along with the tick of the clock like some strange electronic orchestra I gave the marker one more flip then placed it back on the whiteboard ledge Without taking my eyes off of the paper I made my way back to the blue plastic chair I parked myself in it and scooted it back up to the table The sun was still out pushing itself through the window behind my head It illuminated the words written in pencil on that crumpled piece of paper has hereby been disqualified from this year’s science fair Then a loud sigh forced me to lower the crumpled piece of white paper I stared at the boy who sat in the seat next to me I don’t know what to tell ya Henry I said These seem like some serious roasted potatoes that have been thrown your way 10
