Charlie Bingham Gets Clocked

By Maggie M. Larche

Featherbrained, lovable Charlie Bingham just wants a peaceful day at school with Miss Walker, the teacher he loves. But when his best pal Brad accidentally steals Miss Walker's prize possession, an antique alarm clock, things get messy. Pretty soon, Charlie, Brad, and their friend Alyssa are racing to return the clock without being caught in a madcap adventure that's full of laughs. Ages 8-12.

"Charlie Bingham Gets Clocked" by Maggie Larche is an exceptionally well written and rollicking great read from beginning to end. Very highlyrecommended for children ages 7 to 12 and certain to be an enduringlypopular addition to both school and community library collections." - Midwest Book Review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maggie M. Larche
• Release date: Jan 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311305237

Maggie M. Larche

Maggie M. Larche loves to sing, read, and swing right alongside her kids. All of her stories feature courageous, smart, funny kids, because that's who her readers are!She is the author of the award-winning Striker Jones series, a groundbreaking approach to teach economics to children through mystery stories. She lives on the beautiful Gulf Coast with her family.Sign up for her mailing list at www.maggiemlarche.com and get a free download of one of her newest books!

Book preview

Charlie Bingham Gets Clocked

By Maggie M. Larche

Leopold Press

Copyright © 2015 Maggie M. Larche

Cover illustration by Bojan Radovanovic

Smashwords Edition

Chapter 1

If I’d only gotten ugly old Mrs. Mushwort as my teacher, none of this would have happened. She wore big glasses and had hair on her upper lip, and I never would have fallen in love with her.

Instead, I got Miss Walker. She had green eyes and a bright smile, and I, Charlie Bingham, had it bad.

So when I accidentally stole one of her prized possessions, things got messy. Fast.

Let me set the scene. Midmorning, early in the school year. All of us kids were defining our vocabulary words. Not the most exciting way to spend a morning, that’s for sure, but things were about to pick up. I just didn’t know it yet.

I sat behind my best friend, Brad. Brad was one of the smartest kids in the class. Book-smart, that is. In other ways, he could be pretty dim. Sort of thick in the old noodle, as my mom sometimes said.

Miss Walker called Brad to her desk. I had nothing better to do than schoolwork, so I watched. Over the past several weeks, I had gradually shifted my desk to face the teacher’s corner, so by then I had a good view.

Brad took a chair across from Miss Walker.

Brad, started Miss Walker, I’ve got exciting news for you. How would you like to be on the class Knowledge Bowl team?

I grinned. I could tell from Brad’s face that this was not exciting news. And I wasn’t surprised.

You see, Brad gets nervous. About almost anything. He gets nervous when he forgets his homework, when he meets new kids, even when he has to raise his hand to go to the bathroom. Put him in front of people, though, and he reaches whole new levels of crazy.

One time he gave a group presentation on the five senses. In the time it took him to walk from his seat to the front of the class, he developed the worst case of hives our school nurse had ever seen. With his bright red rash and gross bumps, it was actually a pretty good lesson on the senses, too.

So, I knew that the thought of joining the Knowledge Bowl team would make him want to pass out.

Brad stared at Miss Walker. I don’t know, Miss Walker. I think you should maybe pick someone else.

She smiled. Now, Brad, I know you’re not always comfortable with these kinds of things, but I think it will be good for you. And you’ll really help out the team. What do you say?

Well, what could he say? You don’t tell someone like Miss Walker, no.

Brad looked like he’d been hunted down, but he managed to croak out, Ok. I guess so.

Wonderful, she said. Now let me get your size, so I can order you a team t-shirt. She moved around some papers on her desk. Now where did I put that form? Hold on a second, Brad. I think I left it on the podium.

Ok, he mumbled. She left him