WARNING: Do not read this story right after eating. In fact, don\'t read it right before eating, either. In fact, just to be safe, don\'t read this story if you\'re ever planning to eat again.

Miss Mush wiped her hands on her apron. She smiled at the children who were lined up at the cafeteria. It warmed her heart to see how much they liked her food.

49

Maurecia was first in line.

"And what would you like today, Maurecia?" Miss Mush asked. She knew the name of every child in Wayside School.

Maurecia looked at the sign.

Special Today: Mushroom Surprise

"Just milk," said Maurecia. "I brought my lunch."

Miss Mush smiled and gave Maurecia a carton of milk.

Joy was next in line.

"And what would you like, Joy?" asked Miss Mush.

"Milk," said Joy.

Miss Mush smiled and gave Joy a carton of milk. "And what would you like, Jason?"

"Milk, please," said Jason.

"Just milk," said Dameon.

"Milk," said D.J.

"Milk," said Leslie.

It was almost Ron\'s turn. He hadn\'t brought a lunch. He normally brought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to school, but there hadn\'t been a single slice of bread in his house this morning.

"I know!" his mother had said. "Ill give you some money and you can buy a nice hot lunch from Miss Mush!" She thought it was a brilliant idea.

50

"Can\'t I just have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the bread?" Ron had asked. Now he looked up at the sign.

Special Today: Mushroom Surprise

He wished he weren\'t so hungry.

This was the eighteenth day in a row that the special was Mushroom Surprise. It was called Mushroom Surprise because it would have been a surprise if anybody had ever ordered it. No one ever did- except Louis, of course. That\'s why they\'d had it for eighteen days. There was always plenty left over.

"Milk," said Terrence.

"Milk," said Sharie.

"Milk," said Calvin.

"Milk, please," said Bebe.

"And what would you like today, Ron?" asked Miss Mush.

Ron took a breath. "Mushroom Surprise," he squeaked.

Tears of joy filled Miss Mush\'s eyes. She blew her nose on her apron, then said, "One Mushroom Surprise, coming right up!"

Tears came to Ron\'s eyes too, but for a different reason. He looked at the Mushroom Surprise. It was sort of green.

So was Ron.

51

Miss Mush proudly dumped a hot lump of Mushroom Surprise on a paper plate and handed it to Ron. He put it on his tray, then pushed it over to the cash register, where he paid for it.

The news quickly spread around the cafeteria, then up and down the stairs and out to the playground.

"Ron or............