The Creepy Sleep-Over Read Free Page A

attention. A cat was pounding his fat paw on Dunkum’s back.
    Was Milo trying to say something? Maybe he had to go potty.
    Dunkum didn’t know what to do. So he raised his hand. Like in school.
    Miss Hershey stopped. “Yes, Dunkum?”
    â€œUh, I think your cat needs something,”he said. “Milo’s scratching my back.”
    Stacy and Abby giggled.
    Miss Hershey nodded. “Oh, Milo’s just being friendly. He likes you, Dunkum.”
    Great , thought Dunkum. I don’t like HIM !
    â€œNow, where was I?” Miss Hershey said. She faced the students. “Does anyone feel a beat, a rhythm in this poem?” Abby and Jason raised their hands. What’s she mean? Dunkum wondered. He didn’t feel any beats. He only felt tapping, from Miss Hershey’s cat!
    â€œListen now,” his teacher said. She continued.
    Soon she came to a familiar part. Dunkum knew he’d heard it somewhere. “ ‘ ’Tis the wind and nothing more!’ ”
    Milo continued his paw tapping. Dunkum wished the cat would back off! Be gone, with the wind, maybe?
    When the poem was over, Dunkumraised his hand again. “Sorry,” he said when Miss Hershey called on him. “It’s Milo—your cat—again.”
    â€œIs he bothering you, Dunkum?”
    â€œCan you make him stop tapping me?” asked Dunkum.
    Miss Hershey began to smile, then laugh. “Oh, Milo. Dear Milo,” she said. “You’ve finally found the beat.”
    â€œThe beat?” Dunkum muttered. “He’s beating on me!”
    Eric and Jason were snickering.
    But Miss Hershey explained. “Milo’s heard ‘The Raven’ many times. More times than I can count.” She went over and picked up her fat cat. “That’s wonderful, kitty,” she cooed.
    Dunkum thought of the repeated sentences. ’Tis the wind and nothing more . And . . . quoth the raven “Nevermore.” He felt a beat. Kinda. If Milo could feel it, maybe he should try, too.
    Miss Hershey opened her poetry book.She gave it to Dunkum. “Here, you read it,” she said.
    He began. “ ‘Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary . . .’ ”
    Suddenly, he stopped. “Hey! I think I hear the beat,” Dunkum said. “No, I can feel the beat!”
    â€œThat’s very good.” Miss Hershey seemed pleased.
    But Dunkum had a question. “What does ‘pondered’ mean?”
    His teacher explained. “To ponder means to think about something.”
    â€œOh,” said Dunkum. “I thought it meant to pound on someone!”
    At that, Milo leaped toward Dunkum. The cat settled next to him.
    Abby and Stacy giggled.
    But Dunkum didn’t laugh. He didn’t know what to think. So he kept his eyes on Milo. And that swishy, bushy tail.

SIX
    Miss Hershey finished her talk about Poe, the poet. Her bedtime story wasn’t so bad. Wasn’t scary at all. Dunkum thought it was interesting. Really interesting. He’d learned something new. He’d found the music in a poem. Well, at least he’d found the beat.
    Later, Eric and Jason wanted to check out the old house. They had an important mission in mind.
    Miss Hershey gave the OK. “This house is an exciting place,” she told them. “Look around as much as you like.”
    She headed to the kitchen to make hot cocoa. The deep chocolate kind.
    Abby, Stacy, and another girl stayed in the living room. They were roasting marshmallows by the fire.
    Two other classmates were playing board games.
    Dunkum hurried to find Eric and Jason. They were upstairs, opening every door. “Hey! You guys are nosy!” Dunkum said.
    Eric laughed. “We’re just looking for the bathroom.”
    â€œI already told you. She probably doesn’t have one,” Dunkum insisted. “Remember, she’s a teacher .”
    Jason jigged and jived.
    â€œYou had too much