So Gross! by J A Mawter Read Free Book Online Page B

class as he was. And that class happened to be run by an assassin. His heart sank. It was only week six of first term. How was he ever going to survive four terms of Miss Riley?
    ‘I’m sorry,’ said Marley, grabbing Katie and Sam’s plastic bags. ‘Go and sit in the shade behind the toilet block and I’ll be right back.’ Twenty minutes later he returned, their plastic bags brimming with lunch wrappers and papers.
    ‘You’re all right, Marley,’ said Sam, once more His Man.
    ‘Yeah, thanks, Marley,’ said Katie. ‘It’s not your fault that Miss Riley’s got it in for you.’
    Marley smiled back then looked around. Where were those others? He found them sweltering in the lower playground.
    ‘Hey, guys,’ he called. ‘Come over here.’ The children dragged themselves towards him. ‘Open up your bags.’ Marley grabbed his own bag, topping up each of the others till they were overflowing with papers.
    ‘Gee, thanks,’ they cried.
    ‘You’re ace, Marley Morgan,’ said Alice Langer, giving him a smile. Her green eyes sparkled, making his temperature gauge rise.
    For the rest of the day Marley kept his head down and went quietly about his work. The afternoon passed. By three o’clock he’d managed to stay out of trouble.
    Friday tomorrow. Thank goodness.
    This was one week that he couldn’t wait to be over.
    ‘You haven’t forgotten that presentation tomorrow, have you, Marley?’ reminded Miss Riley as he filed out of class.
    ‘No, Miss,’ he said, looking her straight in the eye. ‘I think you’re going to find it very interesting.’
    That evening Marley pored over his library book again, the little wooden box beside him on the desk. He carefully wrote out his information on palm cards, then practised his speech in front of a mirror.
    When his dad came home, Marley told him about Miss Riley and the presentation. He explained that it had to be on something cultural and that he’d decided to do it on the box Great Grandpa Wal had given him.
    ‘From Grandpa Wal’s deep dark past, eh?’ laughed Dad. ‘I suppose you could call that cultural.’ He leant forward, suddenly serious. ‘Are you going to tell them what’s inside?’
    ‘No. I promised Great Grandpa Wal,’ cried Marley.
    ‘From where he is now,’ said Marley’s father looking heavenwards, ‘he might have a bit of a chuckle when the truth comes out.’ Marley gave him a look that said, I don’t believe you . ‘Suit yourself then. Won’t matter either way.’
    Marley’s dad wished his son good luck and went to have his dinner.

Chapter Six
    The next morning when Miss Riley called him up for his cultural presentation, Marley was ready. He stood up confidently and walked to the front of the class.
    Marley explained about his Great Grandpa Wal and told the children he’d take them on one of his adventures. Gingerly he held up the little wooden box and announced, ‘This once belonged to an African pygmy.’
    There was a sharp intake of breath around the room.
    ‘It was given to my great grandpa over seventy years ago, in thanks for saving a man’s life.’
    Oohs and ahs meant that he was having the desired effect.
    ‘This pygmy came from the Mbuti group.’ Marley said this very slowly so that it sounded like mmm-boot-eee . ‘The Mbuti still live in the Ituri Forest of Zaire. In Africa. They are the smallest pygmies in the world.’
    From the corner of his eye Marley could see Miss Riley nodding. He took courage that he was on the right track.
    ‘Mbuti men only grow to 137 centimetres and the women a little less. That’s up to here for all of you who are mathematically challenged.’ Marleyheld his hand to his forehead. ‘About the same height as me.’ He turned to Miss Riley, holding her gaze. ‘I could be a man amongst the Mbuti.’
    Their eyes locked.
    Miss Riley was the first to break.
    ‘It takes more than height to be a man,’ she said. ‘Now continue.’
    ‘The Mbuti are hunters and gatherers. They live in a