Horrible Harry and the Battle of the Bugs

by Suzy Kline

  Mary stared at Harry. “Really? You’re going to mention mayonnaise and olive oil in our science project?”

  Harry and I looked at each other and laughed. This was going to be fun!

  Epilogue

  We entered our head lice project in the county science fair and won third prize! Mr. Cardini, our principal, Mrs. Cherry, and Mrs. Flaubert came to the science fair with our parents, and they were all really proud. Mr. Cardini asked us to share our prize-winning science project with South School on the schoolwide morning TV show. He said we were very brave to talk openly about it. He also said that some people choose to keep it confidential, and that’s okay, too.

  Our trifold science project stayed in the library so kids could see it every day. It was like our fight against lice could continue on with our project.

  The best part was what happened to us at recess the day after our TV show.

  This fifth grader came up to us on the playground. “You don’t know me,” he said, “but I want to thank you guys for doing that science project on lice. I had it, too. I’ve never told anyone about it because I thought only losers got lice. Now I don’t feel that way anymore. You four guys all had it, studied it, and won a prize about it at a science fair! That’s so cool! Winners get lice, too. Thanks!” And he ran off.

  “I feel like we just got a group hug from that kid!” I said.

  “It was better than a group hug,” Mary said. “Because there was no . . .”

  Then she pointed to her head.

  “Head-to-head contact!” Harry, Song Lee, and I chimed in.

  And we all laughed.

  Ten lmportant Questions About Head Lice

  Question 1: How do you get head lice?

  False: By touching someone who has lice or by using something that person used, like a pencil or Parmesan cheese.

  True: By head-to-head contact or occasionally by sharing combs and hats with someone who has lice.

  Question 2: How many children get head lice in the United States?

  False: It is rare to get head lice.

  True: Millions of children get head lice every year.

  Question 3: What are lice?

  False: Bugs that can fly and spread disease.

  True: Tiny crawling insects about the size of a sesame seed that don't spread disease. Lice can’t hop, jump, or fly. A single one is called a louse. It feeds on tiny amounts of blood only from human scalps.

  Question 4: What are nits?

  False: Bugs.

  True: Lice eggs and their shell casings. They are usually yellow or white. Nits are attached with a sticky substance to the hair shaft.

  Question 5: Who gets lice?

  False: People with dirty hair and messy rooms. Neat people who wash their hair every day never get lice.

  True: Anyone who has head-to-head contact with people who have lice can get it themselves, no matter how neat and clean they are.

  Question 6: Do head lice make your head itch?

  False: Yes. That’s how you know if you have head lice. Your head itches.

  True: Not always. Some people with lice itch; others don’t.

  Question 7: What should you do if you have lice?

  False: Don’t tell anyone. Ignore it!

  True: Talk to a school nurse and your doctor. Head lice can be treated at home by your parents with special shampoos and fine-toothed combs.

  Question 8: What can you do to prevent head lice from returning?

  False: Throw out all your bed linens, towels, brushes, combs, hats, and scarves.

  True: Wash clothes, towels, hats, and bed linens in hot water and dry on high heat. Items you can’t wash, like some stuffed animals, can be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks. The lack of oxygen will kill any leftover nits.

  Question 9: How should you act toward someone who has lice?

  False: Make fun of them.

  True: Be kind and understanding.

  Question 10: What was the hardest part about having head lice for us?

  False: It hurts to have someone comb out the nits.

  True: Two things: getting whispered about when we returned to school, and feeling grossed out about having bugs in our hair!