����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������TheKingofMirthTheKingofMirthbyClaireDanielillustratedbyDuaneSmithCopyright©byHarcourt,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher.RequestsforpermissiontomakecopiesofanypartoftheworkshouldbeaddressedtoSchoolPer-missionsandCopyrights,Harcourt,Inc.,6277SeaHarborDrive,Orlando,Florida32887-6777.Fax:407-345-2418.HARCOURTandtheHarcourtLogoaretrademarksofHarcourt,Inc.,registeredintheUnitedStatesofAmericaand/orotherjurisdictions.PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaISBN10:0-15-351683-6ISBN13:978-0-15-351683-2OrderingOptionsISBN10:0-15-351216-4(Grade6AdvancedCollection)ISBN13:978-0-15-351216-2(Grade6AdvancedCollection)ISBN10:0-15-358166-2(packageof5)ISBN13:978-0-15-358166-3(packageof5)Ifyouhavereceivedthesematerialsasexaminationcopiesfreeofcharge,HarcourtSchoolPub-lishersretainstitletothematerialsandtheymaynotberesold.Resaleofexaminationcopiesisstrictlyprohibitedandisillegal.Possessionofthispublicationinprintformatdoesnotentitleuserstoconvertthispublication,oranyportionofit,intoelectronicformat.1234567891017912111009080706“Doyouknowwhatthedinosaursaidtothechicken?”Tonyasked.Theyoungchildrenwhoweregatheredaroundhimlookedbashful.Theyremainedsilentasstones.“Oh,comeon,takeaguess!”hepleaded.“Whatdidthedinosaursay?”onelittlegirlfinallysaid.“Youlooklikedinnertome!”Tonysaidandthenlaughed.ThethreechildrensimplystaredatTonyandthenbeganfilteringbacktootherpartsoftheplayground.“DidIsaysomethingwrong?”TonyaskedAlicia,hissister,whohadseenthewholeincident.“IknowthatI’mayearyoungerthanyou,”Aliciasaid,“butIthinkIcanansweryourquestion.”Aliciastaredatherolderbrother’scostume.Tony’shairwascoveredwi...