Illustration by Tim Heitz
"Louis" is the thirtieth chapter of Sideways Stories From Wayside School.
Summary[]
Louis tells a story to Mrs. Jewls' class when recess is canceled due to a blizzard (despite it being the middle of June). The story is about a bunch of normal kids in other schools, whom the children at Wayside consider weird.
Characters[]
- Louis
- Mrs. Jewls
- Maurecia
- Bebe
- Eric Fry (referred to as "Butterfingers")
- Mac
- Todd
- Sharie
- Jenny
- Dameon
- Stephen
- Joe
- Leslie
- Deedee
- Allison
- Kathy
- Rondi
Plot[]
Louis is the yard teacher at Wayside School, and it's his job to make sure everyone has fun at lunch and recess, but not too much fun (which might explain why he has a limited number of green balls). But most importantly, Louis is the person who 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, and comes up to the classroom on the thirtieth floor to tell all the children a story. Louis sits down while all the students gather around for his story. Louis's story is about a normal school that isn't the same as Wayside - at that school, students were never turned into apples, sold their toes, traded names, or tasted ice cream flavors named after them, and dead rats didn't try to sneak into class. The students find this story baffling, and Mrs. Jewls thinks Louis is just making up a fairy tale. The class boos as Louis leaves to tell his story to the kids on the floor below, ending the chapter and the book itself.
Memorable Quotes[]
- Narrator: Louis had a red face and a mustache of many colors. He was the yard teacher at Wayside School. It was his job to see that the children didn’t have too much fun during lunch and recess. And if you haven’t already guessed, he is the one who wrote this book.
Notes & Trivia[]
- This is the final chapter of Sideways Stories from Wayside School.
- In the first book, this chapter has the second-highest number of characters mentioned, at eighteen, but the most that actually appear, since five of the characters in "Nancy" are only mentioned.
- 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.