Free Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? by R.L. Stine Page A

and felt another hard bump as my shoe sent the ball flying—
into the net!
    And then I went crashing through the net. I stood roaring, ripping the net to pieces.
    The shouts of the crowd broke through the yellow haze. And I was back. Yes. It was me again. My teammates were crowding around me, slapping me high fives, pounding my back.
    I had tied up the game with less than five secondsto go. The Terrible Tiger Cubs were going home without a victory. And once again, Max the Monster had triumphed.
    Traci Wayne ran up and slapped me on the shoulder. “Max, you're the
man
!”
    Did she really say that? Or was my imagination running away from me? Traci Wayne wouldn't say that to
me
—would she?
    Dad wrapped me in a bear hug, so tight my tongue popped out of my mouth. I expected him to say something about how proud he was or how surprised. But instead, his words filled me with dread:
    “They need you at the Plover School, Max. You'll be a superstar at that school!”
    No. Oh no.
    All my fear suddenly came crashing down on me. It was a big moment of victory. But it wasn't
my
victory.
    It was the ghoul's victory.
    Rain started to pour down. Everyone ran toward the parking lot. But I dropped to my knees on the grass and let the cold raindrops soak me.
    I need help, I told myself.
    I need to get rid of this ghoul. Get rid of Phears. Get rid of all the talk about that horrible Plover School.
    Nicky? Tara? Where are you?
    You promised to help me. And you didn't show.
    I really need your help now. We need to help each other.
    So where are you? Why didn't you keep your promise?

25
    “N ICKY, WE HAVE TO hurry,” Tara said. “We promised Max we'd be at his game.”
    “I keep drifting in and out,” I said, trying to shake myself awake. “It's like I take short naps or something.” I pounded my fists together. “I
hate
being a ghost.”
    Tara stood in front of Max's dresser mirror. She leaned toward it and started to straighten the sleeves of her sweater. She sighed. “I hate it too, Nicky. I keep forgetting that I have no reflection. Every time I look into a mirror and don't see myself, I feel really sad.”
    Phears' cat let out a low sad whimper. It seemed to be right on the other side of the wall. But I knew it might be deep inside the mysterious tunnel.
    “Poor Max,” I said. “He's so scared of going back in that tunnel.”
    Tara turned to me, tugging at the floppy hat on her head. “I don't blame him. Who knows what kind of creatures are in that tunnel? I wish we could go with him. You know. Help him. But youremember what Lulu said. She said only living people can go in—and come back out.”
    I swallowed. “Once we have the cat, your plan will work, Tara. I know it will. Phears will be desperate to have his cat back. And he'll help us find Mom and Dad.”
    Tara shook her head. “It's our only chance. Mom's note just isn't helpful at all. And we don't have any other clues.”
    I pulled Tara away from the mirror. “Come on. Let's go find Max.”
    We started to the door—but stopped when we saw the little white mouse. It stood in the doorway on its back legs and sniffed the air with a twitching pink nose.
    “Look, Nicky. Isn't he cute? He's so tiny.”
    “I don't think Max's parents would be too thrilled to know they have mice,” I said.
    Tara bent down to see the little guy better. “He looks like a cartoon mouse,” she said. “Look at those little round button eyes.”
    She reached her hand down to pick it up—and the mouse
exploded
.
    The blast made me cover my ears. It rocked the room— and pieces of mouse blew all over me. Frantically, I brushed mouse fur and guts off my shirt with both hands.
    Thick smoke filled the bedroom. Tara and I started to choke.
    “Nicky—what's happening?” Tara gasped.
    I didn't have a chance to answer. The smoke swirled around a tall figure. Hidden in the haze, I recognized Phears! He looked exactly as Max had described him.
    He raised his arms and his cloak slid around him