Night of the Creepy Things Read Free

face, but he didn’t scream.
    At that moment, Belzer stumbled into the room. He carried a huge metal bucket. He dropped it in front of Beast.
    â€œI picked as many as I could find,” he said.
    â€œGood work, Belzer,” I said. I touched knuckles with him.
    Belzer was sweating and panting hard. Guess the bucket was heavy.
    â€œWhat’s in there?” Feenman asked. He leaned forward and stuck his face into the bucket. “Ohhh, yuck! That’s totally sick !”
    â€œNo way it’s sick,” I said. I reached in. “Haven’t you ever seen a toadstool before?” I held up a mushroom.
    â€œGross,” Chipmunk said, hiding his eyes.
    â€œThe toadstool is actually a member of the marsupial family,” Billy the Brain said. “It’s related to the Australian kangaroo. Its brain is located under the floppy cap, which protects it.”
    â€œWow. Billy knows everything !” Crench said.
    â€œBilly, I thought a toadstool was a mushroom,” I said.
    Belzer shook his head and moaned. “All I know is, the stupid things squirted toadstool juice all over my school blazer.”
    Poor guy had brown stains up and down his jacket.
    â€œIt’s worth it, Belzer,” I said, slapping him on theback. “This is gonna help us win the Horror Movie Contest.”
    â€œI don’t get it,” Crench said. “You’re gonna make a movie about a bucket of disgusting toadstools?”
    â€œBetter than that,” I said. “Listen up, dudes. Listen to pure genius. Our video is going to be called Attack of the Toadstool People .”
    They stared at me. Feenman and Crench stopped punching each other’s shoulders.
    â€œWe’re gonna paint faces on all the toadstools and shoot them up close,” I said. “The toadstool people will attack the school—and Beast will be their leader.”
    Feenman frowned. “Beast? Why Beast? Don’t you want a human star?”
    â€œAre you kidding?” I said. “We can’t lose with Beast as the star. He already scared B. A. Gool!”
    Chipmunk hugged himself. I could see he was shivering. “Too scary for me,” he said. He dove under the bed.
    â€œChipper—come out of there!” I cried. I tried to pull him out by the feet.
    â€œLet go, Bernie. I’m not coming out till themovie is finished!” he called in a soft, trembling voice.
    â€œHel-lo?…Bernie? I think the movie is finished,” Feenman said.
    I spun around. “Huh? What do you mean?”

    Feenman pointed at the bucket. Empty.
    Beast had a big grin on his face. “All gone,” he said.
    Beast ate the entire bucket of toadstools.
    He wiped his mouth with the back of one hand. “I like ’em better with sauce!” he said.

Chapter 6
A TTACK OF THE A PPLES F ALLING ON Y OUR H EAD
    I took a walk on the Great Lawn. Walking always helps me think. I needed a new movie idea—something Beast wouldn’t eat.
    It was a clear, cool October night. Stars twinkled in a cold, black sky. The apple trees along the path shivered in the breeze. Every once in a while I heard the thud of an apple hitting the ground.
    Attack of the Apples Falling on Your Head ?
    No. Not scary enough.
    I had my head down, eyes on the grass, thinking hard. And I bumped right into Jennifer Ecch.
    â€œRaise your head. Look into the camera,” she said.
    â€œExcuse me?”
    She had a camcorder pressed to her face. She had it pointed at me. I tried to duck away, but she followed me with the lens.
    â€œSugar Nose, aren’t you thrilled that I’m making a movie about you?” Jennifer asked.
    â€œDon’t call me Sugar Nose,” I groaned.
    Jennifer is the biggest, hulkiest, strongest girl in school. For exercise, she pulls trees out of the ground! And that’s just for a warm-up!
    I call her Nightmare Girl because she’s totally in love with me. Do you know how embarrassing it is to