Explanation

— Narration

Illustrated by Tim Heitz

"**Explanation**" is the first chapter of *Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger*.

## Synopsis

Wayside School re-opens after two hundred and forty-three days.

## Plot

This chapter begins with the narrator stating that for two-hundred and forty-three days after the events of the previous book, an upside-down sign stating Wayside School was closed for repairs was hung in front of the building. Sometimes, children would come by and look at the sign, then sadly walk away, others would stand on their head first. Louis was the school's only repairman, but never would say hi to the students, fearing he'd cry if he saw them, thinking about them all going to terrible schools. According to the chapter, no two students were sent to the same school. Thinking about them, Louis works harder at cleaning, while sleeping in the teacher's lounge, until he's finally able to get rid of all the cows in the school and Wayside is finally ready to reopen. Louis prepares to reopen the school, when suddenly he hears a "moo" somewhere, but he isn't sure where it's coming from. He is certain there are no cows left, so he simply believes the moo is in his head and takes down the sign. The narrator briefly reminds the reader that Wayside School was built sideways, Mrs. Jewls teaches the class on the thirtieth story, and non-existent Miss Zarves teaches the class on the non-existent nineteenth story.

Louis hears a voice behind him and sees Sharie. He has trouble seeing her face through the hood of her giant overcoat, but he is able to tell it's her. She jumps into his arms and remarks she can finally get some sleep now that she's back at Wayside. On the playground, many old friends get together, like Joe and John, Calvin and Bebe, and the Three Erics. Kathy also makes sure to greet everyone, insulting them as they walk by. Terrence is surprised to hear that Kathy is glad to see him, and Kathy says so because she figured he'd be in jail at this point. Everyone sees Todd running across the playground and stop to greet him, but he keeps running until he reaches the school building, at which point he kisses the school. The narrator then remarks that Todd was sent to the most horrible school he had ever been to: the reader's.

## Characters

* Louis
* Cows
* Mrs. Jewls (mentioned)
* Miss Zarves (mentioned)
* Sharie
* John
* Joe
* Bebe Gunn
* Calvin
* Eric Fry
* Eric Bacon
* Eric Ovens
* Kathy
* Myron
* Dameon
* Allison
* Terrence
* Todd
* Jason
* D.J.

## Trivia

* This is the first chapter of *Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger*.
* While immediately following "Conclusion", technically it is the first chapter chronologically after "Wayside School is Falling Down", as Louis had just got rid of all the cows that Mrs. Jewls inadvertently lured into the school by ringing her cowbell so many times.
* The same words reminding the reader about Wayside school are on the back cover of *Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger*. Except "me" is replaced with Calvin as a nod to "Calvin".
* Since they've been sent to different schools, the children may have learned that the school that Louis mentioned in the story he told in "Louis" actually exists.
* In this chapter, as Louis thinks he cleared the school of cows, he keeps hearing a "moo", but doesn't know where it's coming from. This foreshadows the nineteenth chapter of the book "Time Out", where it's revealed that there's still a cow on the nonexistent nineteenth floor.

## Gallery

Joel Schick illustrationAdam McCauley illustration
### Foreign editions

Peter Allen illustration (UK)Peter Allen second illustration (UK)Unknown illustrator ( Chinese Edition )