Body Switchers from Outer Space Read Free Page A

thumbprint.”
    â€œOpen the door?” I protested. “I can’t even walk yet!” But I could walk better. The lag time between my thinking of an action and doing it was getting shorter.
    â€œIt’ll get easier. Just don’t think too hard,” he reassured me.
    I wandered around, getting used to the feel of Chad’s body. I checked out some of the weird machines. I was leaning over a little square yellow one with two big black patches on it when Chad yelped, “Don’t touch that!”
    I stepped back. “Why not?” I asked.
    â€œIt’s not finished. It still malfunctions,” he explained. His voice squeaked just the way mine did when I was really nervous.
    â€œOops,” I said, and grinned.
    â€œAnd keep away from the yellow circle,” he instructed.
    â€œFine, fine, fine.”
    I went back to walking. Strolling. Then, okay, I admit it, skipping. Let me tell you, I was beginning to feel good. So this is what strong feels like, I thought. I can definitely get used to this!
    â€œCome on, you’ve wasted ten minutes already,” Chad whined. “We only have an hour.”
    It was weird. He was such a cool person when he was in the body I was using. But now that I was him and he was me, he sounded really irritating and uncool.
    I bounded over to the wall and pressed my thumb on the yellow-green patch.
    The door whooshed open.
    I loved that door! I wondered if I could get Chad’s dad to install one at my house.
    I jumped through the door, landed perfectly, then jumped again just because it felt great.
    â€œYesss!” I exclaimed.
    â€œClose the door,” Chad said.
    I pressed the yellow-green patch on the outside of the shed, and the door vanished.
    â€œListen,” Chad said. “I want to look around as you. You can go do what you want for an hour. Make that fifty minutes.” He checked his watch. “Let’s meet back here at four-thirty so we can switch back. What time do you have?”
    I glanced at my watch. “Quarter to four.”
    â€œGood. Don’t be late. Otherwise—big trouble!” Then he turned and dashed off.
    My eyes followed him down the driveway. He moved like an athlete. He almost made my body look good.
    I sneaked away from the house. I didn’t want to run into Chad’s parents.
    For one thing, I wouldn’t recognize them.
    But even worse—what if they told me to get inside and start on homework? Do chores? What a waste of my hour that would be!
    I hit Fear Street running.
    Now that I was used to this body, I could appreciate what a good deal I had gotten. Everything worked so well!
    I ran fast and didn’t get out of breath. I didn’t trip over cracks in the sidewalk or fall over the curb.
    I raced down Park Drive and up Hawthorne. My muscles pumped like a lean mean machine.
    I cruised by Shadyside Middle School. Some kids were playing basketball in the school yard. “Hey, Chad!” they yelled. It took me a second, but then I realized they were talking to me! “Come on over and play!”
    These were cool kids! The kind of kids who wouldn’t even say hello to Will!
    I ran onto the court and someone tossed me the ball. I caught it like it was part of me. I threw it and it went right through the hoop without touching the rim. Swoosh! Right through the net.
    I wanted to stay in Chad’s body forever!
    We played Horse for a while. I put the ball through the basket every time. Without even trying!
    I was having so much fun I never noticed the time.
    â€œChad! Chad!”
    I glanced toward the familiar voice and saw Chad in my body. His face was red. He was waving frantically at me.
    â€œCome on , Chad! We’re going to be late!”
    â€œLate for what?” asked David Slater. “Where are you going with that dork?”
    â€œGotta go,” I said. I heaved the ball at him. Hard. It caught him right in the chest and knocked the wind out of