Tabloidology by Chris McMahen Read Free Book Online Page B

fascinating!”
    Trixi gulped and made an awful face as she tried to swallow a wad of sandwich far too big for her throat. Martin just kept talking, flipping the page and tapping his finger on the headline across the top of page two.
    â€œ Obedient Dogs at Upland Green School. It’s about the dog obedience class that’s held in our gym on Tuesday nights. I’m particularly proud of the photograph I took of Terry Springate’s dog Sparky rolling over on command.”
    Trixi kept trying to swallow, but the wad of sandwich was stuck. She grabbed her can of cola and tipped it back to her mouth.
    â€œAnd I interviewed our new school crossing guard, Mr. Dobson. You wouldn’t believe the amazing stuff I found out.”
    Trixi swallowed a few more times. The cola was slowly turning the wad of sandwich in her throat into mush.
    â€œAnd then there’s the weekly weather forecast: cloudy with sunny breaks and a chance of showers. Very unusual for this time of year,” he said.
    Martin straightened the papers, once more carefully aligning the bottom of the pages with the edge of the table in front of Trixi. He gave the stack of papers three gentle pats with the palm of his hand and said, “It may sound like I’m bragging, but the truth is, this is the best edition yet. Every article is based on solid facts.”
    Trixi swallowed, took a few deep breaths and a couple more swigs of cola, but she still couldn’t speak.
    Martin knew he didn’t have much time before Trixi would unleash her own barrage of words, so he stood up and pointed across the table at her. “We’re supposed to be working together on the newspaper, so to keep Ms. Baumgartner happy, here’s your part. All you have to do is take the paper to the office, get a security code number for the photocopier from Ms. Baumgartner, print one hundred copies and sell them in the front hall tomorrow at recess and lunchtime. That’s it. Nothing more. You don’t have to do anything else.”
    Martin turned, ran across the computer lab and out the door, slamming it for effect. Once he was outside the room, he collapsed against the wall and exhaled like he was blowing up some gigantic imaginary balloon.
    He’d done it! He’d shown Trixi who was the boss! He’d shown her that Martin Wettmore was the one in charge. Martin undid the top button of his shirt, hitched up his pants and smiled. Nothing was going to stop the Upland Green Examiner from being Martin Wettmore’s newspaper. Not even Trixi Wilder.

    By the time Trixi could finally talk, Martin was long gone. She picked up the paper and flipped through the pages. “Who would ever be interested in this garbage?” she shouted to the empty room. “And no one orders me around! What does he think I am? His personal secretary?” Trixi slammed the table with her fist. The can of Zappo cola jumped, wobbled and tipped over. As a dark brown, gooey liquid oozed across the tabletop, the computer-room door swung open. Trixi looked up to see Ms. Hart, the computer teacher. Her eyes went back and forth between Trixi and the puddle of Zappo cola.
    â€œWhat is the meaning of—?”
    â€œMs. Hart! Did you see Martin Wettmore running out of here? He spilled his soft drink all over the table and ran out without cleaning it up!”
    Ms. Hart narrowed her eyes and folded her arms, giving Trixi a look she’d seen from adults way too often. Trixi knew it was time for some serious damage control. The Zappo cola was already starting to turn the tabletop an odd color, so she grabbed the closest thing she could find and started mopping up the pool of sticky liquid.
    When all the spilled drink was cleaned up, she tossed the lump of pulpy paper into the garbage. “Martin’s school newspaper has never been so useful,” she said.

    The next day, an historic event took place at Upland Green School. Trixi Wilder visited the principal’s