School of Meanies (7 page)
The Last Laugh
On Monday, as the still-alive pupils filed into assembly, I wisped into Amelia’s satchel. I wanted to hear the new Still-Alive Headmaster’s introductory speech.
“You don’t need to hide anymore, Humphrey,” Amelia said in the corridor.
“There isn’t room in this school for a phantom pupil,” I said. “I think it’s best I keep out of sight.”
“You’re right,” Amelia whispered. “The sooner
this school gets back to normal, the better.”
“Amelia, have you seen Humphrey Bump?” a vaporous voice said, and I wisped out of the satchel to find Samuel Spook floating by the assembly-hall door. “Ah, Humphrey!”
“Samuel,” I said, glancing around at the frightened faces, “I think we’d better keep out of sight. The sooner this school gets back to normal, the better.”
“Good idea,” Samuel said, and the two of us wisped into Amelia’s satchel.
But then we heard a girl’s voice say, “Anyone seen Humphrey?”
“He’s in my satchel,” Amelia said, opening the flap.
“Fay and Phil,” I said, peering out. “Samuel and I are trying to keep out of sight.”
“The sooner this school gets back to normal, the better.” Samuel told the Phantom twins as they wisped in.
Amelia followed the other pupils into the hall. “The old headmaster promised he’d find us a decent headmaster,” she whispered. “Let’s hope he’s kept his word.”
“No one can be as bad as that mean-spirited bully,” I whispered back.
But when the new headmaster took to the stage, we had the shock of our lives.
The new headmaster was Wither.
“Hush, please!” Wither wailed, waving his willowy arms. “Remain quiet, or you won’t be able to hear my poem.”
I wisped out of Amelia’s satchel, followed by Samuel and the twins.
“Oh, what have we done?” Amelia said.
I shrugged. “It looks like that old bully has had the last laugh after all.”
Amelia looked at me and smiled. “Wither’s poetry can’t be that bad. Um, can it?”
“It’s worse than bad,” Samuel said, and the twins laughed.
“Put these in your ears,” I said, and I handed Amelia two strawberry marshmallows.
About the Author and Illustrator
Daren King studied in Bath and lives in London.
Mouse Noses on Toast,
his first book for children, won the Gold Nestlé Children’s Prize.
Peter the Penguin Pioneer
was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Award. He is the author of four adult books.
Boxy an Star
was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award and longlisted for the Booker Prize.
David Roberts is the award-winning illustrator of over thirty titles. He has had a variety of interesting jobs, such as hair washer, shelf stacker, and hat designer. He was born in Liverpool and now lives in London.
