You Can't Scare Me! Read Free Page B

around in my seat and glancing back at Courtney’s bulging lunch bag.
    I kept imagining what was about to happen. I pictured the wonderful scene again and again. I saw Courtney sitting across the table from Denise, as she always did. I saw her chattering away. I saw her reach into the brown paper bag….
    I saw the horrified look on Courtney’s face. I imagined her scream. I imagined the snake popping up from the bag, its fangs bared, its eyes glowing like hot coals.
    I pictured Courtney shrieking in fright and everyone else laughing at her, making fun of her. I imagined myself walking over casually and picking up the snake. “Why, it’s only rubber, Courtney,” I’d say, holding it up high so everyone could see. “You shouldn’t be afraid of rubber snakes. They’re harmless. Perfectly harmless!”
    What a victory!
    All morning long, Hat, Molly, Charlene, and I kept grinning at each other, casting secret glances back and forth. I don’t think we heard a single word Mr. Melvin said.
    I couldn’t tell you what spelling words were written on the blackboard. And I couldn’t tell you what kind of math was on my review sheet. It was just a blur of numbers and squiggly signs to me.
    My three friends and I spent most of the morning staring eagerly at the clock. Finally, lunchtime rolled around.
    We hung back, all four of us. We waited at our tables and watched Courtney and Denise walk together to the back of the room to get their lunches.
    We watched Courtney bend down in front of the bookshelf. First she handed Denise’s lunch up to her. Then she picked up her own bag.
    The two of them made their way to the table where they always sat. They pulled out chairs and sat down across from each other.
    This is it,
I thought, holding my breath.
    This is the big moment.

6
    My friends and I hurried to get our lunches. We didn’t want anyone to wonder why we were just standing there staring at Courtney.
    We sat down at our usual table. I kept my eyes glued on Courtney. I was so nervous and eager, I thought I would burst!
    Courtney started to open her lunch bag.
    Just then, everyone heard a low groan from the back of the room. It was Mr. Melvin. “Oh, no,” he cried. “I forgot my lunch today.”
    â€œThat’s no problem,” Courtney called back to him.
    Mr. Melvin walked over to her table. He leaned down and started talking to her. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. It’s always really noisy in the room at lunchtime with everyone talking and laughing and crinkling their lunch bags and unwrapping their food.
    Hat, Molly, Charlene, and I were the only ones in the room who were being quiet. Wewatched as Courtney and Mr. Melvin continued to talk.
    â€œWhat are they talking about?” Hat whispered to me. “Why doesn’t he let her open her bag?”
    I shrugged, keeping my eyes on Courtney. She had a thoughtful expression on her face. Then she smiled up at him.
    Then she handed him her lunch bag.
    â€œNo, really, it’s fine,” Courtney said to Mr. Melvin. “You can have some of my lunch. You know my mom always packs too much.”
    â€œOh, no,” I groaned. I suddenly felt sick.
    â€œShould we warn him?” Hat asked me.
    Too late.
    Still standing beside Courtney’s table, Mr. Melvin opened the bag and reached inside. His eyes narrowed in bewilderment.
    Then he let out a high-pitched, startled cry as he pulled the big black snake out.
    The lunch bag dropped to the floor. The rubber snake wriggled briefly in his hand.
    Molly was right. It was
very
real looking.
    Mr. Melvin let out another cry, and the snake dropped to the floor.
    The room filled with startled shrieks and cries.
    Courtney leaped up from her seat. She gave Mr. Melvin a gentle shove to move him out of the way. Then she began stomping on the snake. Fierce, hard stomps.
    Heroic stomps.
    A few seconds later, she picked the snake up and flashed Mr.