Mush

— Narration

Illustrated by Tim Heitz

"**Mush**" is the ninth chapter of *Wayside School Is Falling Down*.

## Synopsis

Ron surprises everyone by ordering and eating the Mushroom Surprise.

## Plot

This chapter opens with a warning, stating that the reader should never read this chapter after eating, before eating, or if they ever plan to eat again.

Afterwards, the story begins with Miss Mush wiping her hands on her apron, as she smiles looking at the children. The narrator states she's glad to see how much the children like her food, but little does she know that some of them don't even bother ordering it because the meals she usually prepares are incredibly disgusting, so most of the students just order milk, having brought their own lunches from home. Ron, however, is afraid, because he didn't have any bread to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, so he has to order the Mushroom Surprise instead. It was the eighteenth day the special was the Mushroom Surprise because no one but Louis would ever order it. After a few more students order milk, it's finally Ron's turn, and he orders the Mushroom Surprise. Miss Mush cries tears of joy, happy to see a student actually order her food for once. Ron also cries for an entirely different reason. The Mushroom Surprise looks green, and so does Ron.

Ron pays for the food, and quickly the news spreads around Wayside School. Bebe Gunn quickly runs down to the teachers' lounge on the twelfth floor so she can tell Mrs. Jewls. In the cafeteria, everyone gathers around Ron's table as they watch him eat. Deedee is curious what the surprise in the Mushroom Surprise is. Leslie theorizes that maybe the surprise is that it actually tastes good, but Mac believes that the surprise is that it's a surprise if you manage to finish the meal alive. Jason points out that Louis eats it regularly, and he's alive, but Allison is certain that he's immune to it for eating it so long. Ron digs his fork into the Mushroom Surprise and takes a bite, Deedee announces that he ate it for anyone that can't see, causing reactions of shock and horror. Ron notes it doesn't taste too bad, like a mixture of bananas and spinach. Deedee asks him what the surprise is.

Suddenly, Ron enters a strange trance, causing his face to flush and his eyes to change color. Then his body starts shaking like a washing machine on spin cycle. Deedee worries that Ron will throw up, but instead, he falls in love with her, wraps his arms around her neck, and kisses her mouth. Suddenly, he snaps out of the trance and sits down as his eyes change back to normal, and Deedee is disgusted. Everyone asks him if he knows what just happened, but Ron has no memory of him temporarily falling in love with and kissing Deedee. He simply states he ate the Mushroom Surprise, and that it tasted like hot dogs and grape jelly. He questions what the surprise is, despite him experiencing it a few seconds ago, and digs his fork into the Mushroom Surprise again, causing everyone to run away as quickly as possible. Mrs. Jewls comes in to see Ron eat the Mushroom Surprise. Mrs. Jewls asks how it tastes, and what the surprise is. Ron suddenly falls into the same trance as before, and the chapter ends as his face flushes and his eyes change color again.

## Characters

* Miss Mush
* Maurecia
* Joy
* Jason
* Dameon
* D.J.
* Leslie
* Ron
* Ron's mother (mentioned)
* Louis (mentioned)
* Terrence
* Sharie
* Calvin
* Bebe Gunn
* Mrs. Jewls
* Deedee
* Mac
* Allison
* Dana

## Trivia

* This marks the first appearance of the Mushroom Surprise in the *Wayside School* series and its only appearance in the book series.
* Presumably, this chapter takes place eighteen days after "A Package for Mrs. Jewls," as Miss Mush is seen preparing mushrooms in that chapter.
* The episode, Todd Falls in Love, is similar to this chapter. Here, it is Todd that eats Mushroom Surprise and for different reasons, the effects here are only temporarily.

## Gallery

Joel Schick illustrationAdam McCauley illustration
### Foreign editions

Peter Allen illustration (UK)Satoshi Kitamura illustration (Japan)Unknown illustrator (China, Simplified Chinese)