Fran Manushkin - The Big Stink

Today, said Miss Winkle, we will study our of smell.

I should get my cat, said JoJo. Her is smelly.

No thanks, said Miss Winkle.

My dads gym socks are , said Katie. I can bring them.

No thanks again, said Miss Winkle.

Our noses can pick out a smells, said Miss Winkle. Lets see if you can guess some. Pablo will pass them out.

Pablo was the new boy. He was kind of quiet.

Katie Woo sniffed and said, This smells like a pencil.

Smart sniffing! said Miss Winkle. But polar bears have better noses than humans. They can smell a seal through three feet of ice.

My dog can smell a burger in his sleep, Pedro. He smelled his box. I smell a potato chip, he said.

Pew! yelled Barry. I got onions!

Then it was time for lunch. Pedro and Pablo ate together.

Pedro traded half of his cheese sandwich for part of Pablos taco.

After lunch, everyone played soccer. When Pablo got the ball, Roddy yelled, Beat it, ! Youre too small to play with us.

Pedro didnt say anything.

After lunch, Miss Winkle told the class, While I was eating, I was thinking of funny ways we talk about smells. When we dont trust someone, we say, I smell a rat.

Hey, said Pedro, sniffing, I smell something stinky right now.

Me too, said JoJo.

Me three, yelled Roddy.

Maybe, said Miss Winkle. Im not sure.

Everyone began sniffing and searching.

Its not coming from Binky, said Barry. His cage is clean.

So is our turtles, said Katie.

Its Pablo! Roddy pointed. Our classroom never smelled until he came.

Everyone stared at Pablo. He looked like he might cry. Nobody said anything.

At first, Pedro was quiet too.

But then he stood up. He said, Pablo does not stink. But I know what does: Its when we dont stick up for someone who is being picked on.

Roddy turned red. He said, I was only joking.

No you werent, said Katie. And that hurt.

Im sorry, Roddy told Pablo.

They shook hands on it.

Suddenly Katie yelled, I know what that smell is: Its a egg.

Ew! said JoJo.

Pew! yelled everyone else.

We have to find it! said Pedro. He and Pablo searched together.

Pablo pointed. Thats where its coming from: Miss Winkles closet!

Miss Winkle ran over and opened the door. She grabbed her purse and found something in the bottom.

Oh my! she said. Heres the rotten egg!

I brought it for lunch yesterday but I ate a hot lunch instead. I have a cold today, so I couldnt smell it.

Miss Winkle said, Roddy and Pablo, please toss out this rotten egg.

Easy peasy, said Roddy.

Easy peasy. Pablo smiled.

After school, they played soccer. Roddy told Pablo, You are small, but quick!

Pablo told Roddy, You are pretty good too.

Sometimes, said Roddy.

When Pedro got home, he told his dad, Ask me how school was today.