Free R. L. Stine_Mostly Ghostly 07 by Freaks, Shrieks

they? I wondered.
    Had they tracked down that evil creep Smollet? They had to keep their promise. No way could I keep on going with this chimp brain inside me.
    I pictured myself in school. Sitting in class. Pouring water over my head. Doing cartwheels. And spitting in Ms. McDonald's face.
    “I need to get my brain back to normal!” I shouted.
    Several magicians turned and gaped at me.
    “Sorry,” I said. “That's part of my act. Brain magic. Ha, ha. Hoo hoo.”
    I hurried across the street to my mom's car.
    Now it was time for Traci's cousin's birthday party.
    My big chance to be at a party with the coolest girl in school.
    Could I keep my monkey brain under control?

T RACI'S COUSIN S TELLA GREETED me at her door. She was a tiny girl with curly brown hair and pointy ears that poked out of her hair and stood straight up like mouse ears.
    I knew she was a sixth grader like me. But she looked about four years old. And she was wearing a frilly, lacy party dress that made her look like some kind of doll that should be kept on a shelf.
    “Hoo hoo. Happy birthday,” I said. I handed her the present Mom had wrapped for me.
    “Thanks,” Stella said. “What is it?”
    “I don't know,” I said. “Something my mom picked out.”
    She tossed it into the house. “Do you have your flashlight?” she asked. “You can't come in unless you have it. It's a flashlight party.”
    I held up my flashlight. “Hoo hoo,” I said. I hopped up and down and scratched Stella under the chin.
    “That's not funny,” she said. “Traci said youwere kind of odd.” She pushed open the screen door. “I guess you can come in.”
    “Thanks,” I said. “Hoo hoo. Traci said you were really awesome.”
    That was a total lie, but I was trying to be nice. I mean, it was her birthday and everything.
    “Traci thinks I'm a wimp,” Stella said. But a smile spread over her tiny face. “We're going to play Spin the Flashlight later. I'll show her who's a wimp!”
    Spin the Flashlight?
    This really
was
a flashlight party! My first!
    Stella led me into the living room. It was decorated with pink and yellow balloons everywhere. And it was crowded with kids.
    “Traci is already here,” Stella said. She pointed. I saw Traci, her back to me.
    “Hoo hoo,” I said.
    Stella squinted. “Why do you keep saying that, Max?”
    I shrugged. “Just a bad habit,” I said.
    I started across the room. Kids were shining their flashlights into each other's eyes and laughing. Two boys were using their flashlights to poke each other in the stomach.
    I knew they had to be sixth graders. But they all looked totally babyish.
    “Hi, Traci,” I said.
    She turned around—and
smiled
at me!
    I nearly fainted. Traci Wayne
smiled
at me!
    “Max,” she said, “compared to the drippy nerds in this room, you're almost okay.”
    Wow!
A compliment!
    “Hoo hoo,” I said. I pulled up my shirt and scratched my belly with both hands.
    Traci groaned. “I take back what I just said,” she said.
    Stella hurried over. “Max, why did you do that?”
    “I'm a party animal,” I said.
    “It's time for our flashlight games,” Stella said. She turned and shouted for everyone to pay attention. “Flashlight games, everyone! This is going to be way cool!”
    “Hoo hoo,” I said.
    Traci leaned close and whispered in my ear. “Max, I'm warning you. Don't embarrass me.”
    “No problem,” I said. I stuck out my tongue and spit all over her.
    “Uck!” Traci cried, wiping my spit off her chin. “How funny are you? Not!” She hurried to the other side of the room.
    I clenched my hands into fists. I knew I had to hold myself in. I had to be totally on guard at all times. No
way
did I want Traci to know about my little monkey problem.
    I hung back and stayed quiet when the games began. But to my shock, the games went on for
hours.
You have no idea how many flashlight games there are!
    Stella and most of the other kids seemed to be having a great time. Traci stayed against the