Free The Beast with 1000 Eyes by Laura Dower

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    â€œWe’d better destroy this reel once and for all,” he said. “You want to do the honors, Stella?”
    I took the reel in my hand and began to pull out the tape. Then I glanced up at Poe, sitting on a shelf. Having a sharp-beaked crow in the castle was helpful at that moment. Poe was more than happy to help us tear into the reel, too. I tossed the film into the air. Poe caught some film in his beak.

    â€œSo long, Eyeball Beast!” Damon screeched as the film quickly unspooled off the reel. We cheered and stomped on the loose ends. Then we tossed the remains into a garbage bag.
    â€œFinally!” I cried. “We killed the B-Monster. We destroyed the reel. Now we can call Leery.”
    We headed into the screening room for our big conversation with the one and only Oswald Leery—and maybe a penguin or two.
    With Walter’s help, Lindsey downloaded a whole mess of digital photos of the eyeball monster, the pink mist, and one extreme close-up of the amulet.
    We had quite a story to tell.
    Through the Antarctic static, Leery appeared on-screen again in his parka. It felt a little bit colder in the room when his image showed up. The iceberg behind him shone bright white and his breath was pure steam. It was cold there, for sure, but Leery spoke to us as warmly as ever.
    â€œAnother fine job, Monster Squad,” he said. “I can’t express enough thanks for all you’ve been doing to help destroy the B-Monsters on the loose. Because of your brave actions, Riddle is a whole lot safer. Slimo, Mega Mantis, and now . . . the Beast with 1000 Eyes. I am impressed.”
    Then, from behind me, Great Auntie San San pushed forward a little bit closer to the screen.
    â€œOswald,” she said meekly.
    â€œSANDRA? Is that you?” Leery recognized San San’s voice right away. He got this weird expression on his face.
    I was about to explain why San San was there, but Great Auntie San San placed her hand on my arm gently to let me know she’d handle this on her own.
    â€œYes, it is me, Oswald. Sandra Lee. My niece found me and asked me to help out. Yes, I know about your little experiment. You have assembled a team of champions, Oswald. It reminds me of our days together making the movies . . .”
    I got a little concerned because Leery wasn’t saying anything. His expression was expressionless.
    â€œWalter,” I whispered, “can you get more of a close-up on Leery? What’s he doing?”
    Walter zoomed in. We all let out a little gasp. Leery’s face appeared frozen from the cold—but he was crying! Each teardrop turned to little icicles on his cheek.
    â€œI’m so sorry, Sandra,” Leery said. “I know how hard it has been all these years, keeping my secrets. I am sorry for putting you through that. And I am grateful for your help.”
    San San smiled. “Just how many of these B-Monsters are on the loose in Riddle anyway, Dr. Leery?” she asked.
    Leery smiled back. “One at a time! That’s about all we can handle!”
    â€œOh no!” Damon let out a wail. He pointed to the screen. “Over there! Behind Leery! It’s another B-Monster—coming up from the water!”
    I squinted to see exactly what Damon was talking about. Then I let out a laugh.
    â€œThat’s no monster! That’s a seal!” I said.
    We all chuckled. Then San San took her hand in mine and stood close to the microphone so Leery could hear as clearly as possible. She apologized to Leery for stealing the amulet from the set of the movie. She wanted to give back the relic after all these years, but Leery wouldn’t take it. He insisted that San San keep it. It was, he said, a part of a B so it belonged to the Queen B.
    All at once, my cell phone rang in my pocket. I checked the display. It was my alarm again, reminding me of something important.
    KARATE MEET.
    I nearly screamed.
    Karate? Karate! I had almost forgotten about