Louis (book chapter)

— Narration

Illustrated by Tim Heitz

"**Louis**" is the thirtieth and final chapter of *Sideways Stories from Wayside School*.

## Synopsis

Louis tells a story to Mrs. Jewls's class about another school they find very weird.

## Plot

This chapter introduces Louis, the yard teacher at Wayside School who makes sure the students have fun at recess and lunch, but not too much fun (which might explain why he has a limited number of green balls). Alongside that, it mentions that he is the one that wrote the book (alluding to the real author, whose name is also Louis). One day, a blizzard happens even though it's June, so Louis keeps all the kids indoors for recess. Mrs. Jewls tells the class that because the students aren't allowed outside, they must return to the classroom once they finish lunch. The students walk down to the lunchroom, where they see Miss Mush serving Tuna Surprise. Knowing that it would taste gross, they decide not to eat it and go back upstairs with nothing else to do.

Fortunately, Louis has come up to the thirtieth floor to tell the kids a story, and Mrs. Jewls requests they all be on their best behavior. When Louis comes in, no one is so happy to see him. Bebe Gunn and Eric Fry want the story to be a good one, and Todd hushes everyone down so they can listen to Louis tell it. Sharie hushes down Louis a little because she's trying to sleep. Louis sits down while all the students gather around for his story. Louis begins the story by describing a normal school much like their own, but every class is on one story on the ground (just like how the school was intended to be built). He informs that to them this school may sound strange and silly, but that when he told students at other schools about the kids at Wayside, they thought Wayside's students were all silly (which is the same thing he told the readers at the beginning of the book). Mrs. Jewls's class seems to express disbelief at this statement.

Louis proceeds to tell them that this school isn't the same as Wayside - at that school, students were never turned into apples, and they never sold their toes, traded names, read upside down, turned mosquito bites into numbers, counted the hairs on their head, or tasted ice cream flavors named after them, and dead rats didn't try to sneak into class, the walls didn't laugh, and two plus two always equaled four. The students are baffled and shocked that a school like that could exist and Allison asks Mrs. Jewls if the school Louis described is real, but Mrs. Jewls assumes it's not and thinks Louis is just making up a fairy tale. Some students enjoy the story while others don't, but Mrs. Jewls notes to Louis that as entertaining as it may be, she needs to tell her students the truth rather than make things up. The class boos as Louis leaves to tell his story to the kids on the floor below, ending the chapter and the book itself.

## Characters

* Louis
* Mrs. Jewls
* Miss Mush
* Bebe Gunn
* Eric Fry (as "Butterfingers")
* Mac
* Todd
* Sharie
* Jenny
* Dameon
* Stephen
* Joe
* Leslie
* Maurecia
* Deedee
* Allison
* Kathy
* Rondi

## Trivia

* This is the final time any of the Erics' nicknames are mentioned in the *Wayside School* series.
* It is unknown if booing something is a sign of approval or disapproval within Mrs. Jewls's class. The story Louis tells the students receives mixed reception from them, and in "A Package for Mrs. Jewls," they boo when they receive the computer, which they dislike.
* This chapter confirms Louis is based off of Louis Sachar.
* When Louis describes what happens at the normal school, events from several other chapters are mentioned.
* Louis seems to know about the children turning into apples.

## Gallery

Dennis Hockerman illustrationJulie Brinckloe illustrationAdam McCauley illustration
### Foreign editions

Peter Allen illustration (UK)Satoshi Kitamura illustration (Japan)