JUMP

This is another story connected to Chapter 1 of Sideways Stories from Wayside School. Before we dive into the fan‑fiction, let’s take a quick look at the first chapter again.

CHAPTER 1. MRS. GORF — SUMMARY

Mrs. Gorf teaches the class on the thirtieth story of Wayside School, but instead of helping her students learn, she uses her strange magical powers to turn them into apples, one by one. She lines the apples up on her desk, where they sit silently, unable to do anything. When every child has been transformed and Mrs. Gorf is preparing to leave the school forever, Todd suddenly realizes how they might force her to change them back.

For several days now, Mrs. Gorf had been turning the students in her class into apples. Joe was the first kid to become an apple. John and Todd followed almost immediately, and Stephen changed soon after. He was terrified.

Every child who was transformed felt the same way. At first, they were so scared they couldn't think straight. Then the fear sank into sandness: a heavy, hopeless feeling. They were stuck, helpless, and unable to do anything about it.

Todd felt that way too. He didn't want to talk to anyone. He was frightened, upset, and miserable. His whole life had been taken away, and he had no idea how to get it back. Then one night, while the other apples were asleep, Todd noticed something strange. His whole body felt numb, like he couldn't feel anything at all, but somehow it hurt to stay still. So, he tried to move. Just a little.

POP. He made a tiny hop.

Todd froze. Then, amazed, he tried again. This time he jumped so high he landed back on the desk with a loud thud. He stayed perfectly still, afraid he'd wake the others.

But inside, he was thrilled. The apples weren't completely powerless after all. And that's when he came up with a plan.

When morning came, Todd waited for the others to wake up. As soon as they stirred, he cleared his throat.

"A-hem. Guys!"

"Oh my gosh, Todd!" Stephen screamed. "You scared me! My heart almost jumped out of my chest!"

"What chest, Stephen?" Todd muttered. "We're apples. And we need to do something about it."

"Relax, Todd," Joe whispered. "Some people are trying to sleep."

"Trying to sleep?" Todd snapped. "Wake up, Joe. We're in trouble."

"Trouble?" Joe repeated. "What kind of trouble? Stop it, Todd. No one's in trouble."

"No one's in trouble?" Todd said. "Joe, look at yourself. You're an apple."

"I know," Joe laughed. "I've been an apple for three days. Best three days of my life."

Todd stared at him. "Are you crazy? What do you mean?"

Joe yawned. "What do I mean?" He was very sleepy.

"Yes, Joe!" Todd shouted. "What do you mean by the best three days of your life?"

"Well, we don't have to study," Joe said. "No homework either. We're  on vacation."

"Oh my gosh, Joe," Todd groaned. 

"Who doesn't like vacation?" Joe asked.

"We're not on vacation!" Todd roared. "We're stuck on Mrs. Gorf's desk on the thirtieth story of Wayside School!"

"I know Todd," Joe said. "I'm not stupid."

"No one said you're stupid," Todd replied.

Joe pointed behind him. "Maurecia and Joy think I'm stupid."

"Joe's right," Maurecia admitted. "But I'll stop saying that. I promise."

"Okay, nobody's stupid," Todd proclaimed. "But that's not the problem. We have something bigger to worry about."

"Don't worry, Todd," Joe said. "I count twenty-four apples on this desk. That means only three kids are left in the classroom."

Todd blinked. "Yeah, so?"

"She'll turn them into apples today," Joe said. "Then she'll have to turn us back into children."

"No, she won't!" Todd blurted. "Mrs. Gorf hates children. She hates being a teacher too!"

Maurecia nodded. "Todd's right. Mrs. Gorf is crazy. Once everyone is an apple, she'll grab her bag and go home."

"She's a monster!" Todd declared. "She'll fly back to her lair and we'll never see her again."

"Oh my gosh!" Stephen screamed. "I don't want to be an apple forever. I'm scared!"

"We're all scared," Todd said. "But we have to act before she leaves. Nobody else knows how to wiggle their ears."

"I know how to stick out my tongue," Joe chuckled.

"Everyone can do that," Todd said. "But you can't stick your tongue now, can you? You're an apple!"

"That's why people think you're stupid, Joe," Joy muttered.

"See, Todd?" Joe complained. "She's doing it again!"

"That's because we're in trouble and you keep talking about silly things," Todd said. "We may never become children again."

"Then we're doomed," Joe whispered. "We can't do anything, can we?"

"Actually, we can," Todd said. "We can jump and hit her in the face."

"Really?" Eric Bacon asked. he loved jumping, even though he wasn't very good at it. "Who's going to do that?"

"We all are," Todd said. "I'll jump first. But one apple isn't enough."

"Of course not," Kathy agreed. "Maybe the three Erics should go next. They're all fat. That'll hurt a lot."

"How many times do I have to tell you, Kathy?" Eric Bacon shouted. "I'm the skinniest boy in class!"

Kathy laughed. "But you're the biggest apple on the desk. You're fat now, aren't you?"

"Guys, stop fighting," Todd pleaded. "We need to focus on Mrs. Gorf. She's the enemy."

"I'm ready," Stephen said. 

"I'm ready too," Joe added. "Let's do this."

"Okay," Todd said. "The sun's up. She'll be here any minute. When I bop her in the face, I want all of you to follow. Got it?"

Everyone cheered.