Free Boogers from Beyond #3 by M. D. Payne Page A

“You’re so mean!!!”
    â€œI’m. Not. Goingtodie.” Nabila gasped. “Feeling better . . . already.”
    â€œCome on, Grandfather,” said Richard. “They’ve had enough.” Richard sneezed himself out of the room with a huge ACHOOO.
    â€œAnd so have I,” came Richard’s voice from the hallway.
    â€œWhere do they go, anyway?” I asked as the rest of the family floated into the hall, some through the open door, and some through the walls.
    Shane sneezed.
    â€œWhat the heck is going on?” Ben said. “I’m feeling better than I have in weeks, and everyone else is sneezing or having allergy attacks—even the ghosts!”
    â€œOkay, everyvone,” Grigore said as he entered the room with a basket. “I’ve found vone of our furry little friends.”
    â€œWait, what?” I asked. “We’ve already got Claudine
and
Sir Kibblebreath.”
    â€œHuh . . . ,” Grigore said as he put down the basket. “But . . .”
    We all peered into the basket to see . . .
    Another kitten!
    â€œWhat the . . .” Gordon was astonished.
    Grigore sneezed, his dentureless lips flapping like a whoopee cushion.
    â€œWere there two kittens when they arrived?” I asked Grigore.
    â€œNo,” he said. “Just vone. Of each. Two in total.”
    Grigore scratched his bald head, trying to figure it all out.
    â€œAre you sure?” I asked.
    â€œGentlemen,” said Director Z as he stormed into the room. “Are you responsible for the puppy which is currently in my office?”
    â€œNope,” said Shane. “We’re just responsible for this one.”
    â€œThat one looks exactly like him,” said Director Z, pointing at the puppy in my arms. “Yes, that’s the one. How did you get him out of my office? I just locked him in there so he wouldn’t be eaten by the residents.”
    â€œSo there must be two of each,” I replied.
    â€œWhat?” asked Director Z, annoyed. “Please tell me what’s going on here. I don’t think it wise to have animals at this facility.”
    â€œWe’re not sure what’s going on,” said Shane, “except that Grigore found a puppy and kitten at the door, with a thank-you note from the PTA. And he brought them in.”
    â€œJust two, though, I svear!” Grigore said.
    â€œBut then how are there four animals now, Grigore?” demanded Director Z.
    â€œI don’t know,” whined Grigore.
    â€œDe. Mented,” chirped Gordon.
    â€œStop it,” Ben said, and kicked Gordon in the shin.
    â€œYeah, you show him,” said Nabila.
    â€œFeeling better?” I asked Nabila.
    â€œWhat happened to Nabila?” asked Director Z.
    â€œThat little beast bit me,” said Nabila, pointing at the puppy. “And I had a very bizarre allergic reaction.”
    â€œWe’ll have the witches take a look at that,” said Director Z. “Or would you like Leech Lady to take a little blood from the wound?”
    â€œI’ll go see the witches,” said Nabila, and she made her way out of the room.
    â€œChris, I need you to get these animals out of the house at once,” Director Z said.
    â€œOkay,” I said. “I’ll tell my mother she needs to pick me up early. Maybe we can take them back where she got them. Shane, can you help?”
    â€œSure thing,” said Shane. “The sooner the better. I’m starting to get hives.”
    â€œGordon and Ben,” said Director Z, “can you please help the chefs prepare dinner? It’s taco night, so things might get messy, between the olives, onions, eye-of-newt, and other toppings crawling all over the place.”
    Director Z, Shane, and I were left alone.
    â€œYou swear you didn’t have anything to do with this?” he asked.
    â€œWhy would I?” I replied. “Feeding