Halloween Party Read Free

orange juice and said “Kiss Me, I’m a Martian.”
    â€œHey, Schorr,” said Terry.
    â€œYo, Terry,” said Ricky. He set a rumpled paper sack down on the lab table separating them. “I heard you and Niki got invited to Justine’s party.”
    â€œThat’s right,” said Terry.
    â€œSo did I,” said Ricky.
    â€œHuh? No bull?” Terry was surprised. He couldn’t imagine why Justine had chosen him and Niki, but it was even weirder that she had asked Ricky and Trisha. None of them hung out together.
    â€œI wonder who else is going,” Ricky said. “Have you heard?”
    â€œNope,” said Terry. “How’s your biology project coming?” he asked, deliberately changing the subject.
    â€œI’m just about done,” said Ricky. “In fact, I’ve got it in here.” He pointed to the paper sack.
    Terry looked at the sack in disbelief. It was throbbing and beginning to inch across the lab table. “I hate to tell you,” he said, “but your science project seems to be trying to escape.”
    Ricky opened the sack. Instantly a small green frog leapt out and began hopping along the table. Terry grabbed for it and held it distastefully in his hands. “This is your biology project, Schorr?” he said. “A frog?”
    â€œIt’s not the whole thing,” said Ricky, looking hurt. He reached in the bag and pulled out a jar of murky water. “My project is on metamorphosis,” he said. “I’ve got tadpoles in here.”
    Terry gazed at the jar doubtfully. “You mean you had tadpoles,” he said. “Those aren’t moving.”
    â€œLet me see,” said Ricky. He took the jar and studied it closely, turning it first one way and then another. Then he shook it. “I guess I should have cut air holes in the lid,” he said finally. “Oh, well, that’s life, huh? Here today, slimy and disgusting tomorrow. I can always pick up some more at the pond.” Terry handed him the frog, and he shoved it and the jar of dead tadpoles back into the sack.
    â€œGreat project, Schorr,” Terry said sarcastically.
    â€œJust call me Mr. Wizard,” Ricky said.
    â€œSo who else is invited to the party?” Ricky asked after a moment.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Terry. “Trisha McCormick. I don’t know anyone else.”
    â€œMurphy Carter,” said Ricky.
    Murphy Carter was the first name on the list that made sense to Terry. Murphy was a linebacker on the football team and was known as an all-around party guy. But he had nothing in common with the rest of them.
    Terry was about to ask Ricky more when Mr. Rothrock came in, ready to talk about genetics, and for the next forty minutes Terry forgot all about the party. But after school, walking outside to meet Niki, he passed a crowd gathered on the front steps. Lisa Blume was talking to a small crowd of students. Niki caught up with him on the sidewalk and took his elbow.
    â€œHi, Terry,” she said. “How was your day?”
    â€œWeird,” said Terry honestly. “How about you?”
    â€œPretty weird too. I feel like a celebrity because of the invitation to the party.”
    â€œWhich way do you want to walk home?” Terry asked.
    â€œI guess by the— Wait a minute,” said Niki. “Lisa’s reading off a list.” She squinted to where Lisa was speaking. Maybe to make up for her deafness, Niki’s eyesight was great, and she could read lips across a room. “She’s figured out everyone who’s invited to the party,” Niki said. “It’s nine people . . . . ”
    â€œOnly nine?” said Terry.
    â€œThat’s what she says. There’s you and me, Trisha, Ricky Schorr, Murphy Carter, Angela Martiner, Les Whittle, David Sommers, and—and Alex Beale.”
    â€œAlex? Oh, wonderful,” Terry muttered sarcastically. For