Free Ghoul Trip by Peter Bently

Chapter 1
    A Night at the Fair

    BEEP! BEEP!
    Miss Gargoyle looked around at her class of young vampires. “Okay, everyone!” she said. “The school bus is here. Let’s all make our way out in an orderly line!”

    Lee Price stuck his hand up.
    â€œMiss Gargoyle,” he asked eagerly. “Why do we have to take the bus to the county fair? Why don’t we just fly ?”
    With a sudden POP! Lee turned into a bat and fluttered around the room.
    â€œYes, Miss Gargoyle, flying would be much quicker than the bus,” chimed in Bella Williams.
    â€œ And better for the environment,” added Billy Pratt. “Bats don’t make smelly fumes.”
    â€œExcept when they’ve had beans for dinner,” quipped Lee.
    The class burst out laughing. Even Miss Gargoyle couldn’t help grinning. She was looking forward to tonight’s school trip to the county fair just as much as the children. When she was a little girl, her dad had worked on the ghost train. She used to ride for free until her dad got fired for being too scary.

    â€œWe’re taking the bus because it’s dark and I don’t want anyone to get lost on the way,” she said. “Besides, I don’t think it’s a great idea if twenty-five bats land in the middle of the fair and suddenly turn into a bunch of little vampires, do you? You know what Fangless folk are like. Now come along, the bus is waiting.”

    Lee turned back into his normal shape and followed the rest of the class out to the school bus. The side of the bus said:
    St. Orlok’s
    Elementary School
    It used to say for Vampires too, but the school principal, Mrs. Batty, had it painted over after several terrified Fangless drivers accidentally drove into street lights.
    â€œCome on, Billy and Bella, let’s sit at the front!” said Lee. “Uh-oh, here’s old Gore. What does he want?”

    Billy and Bella turned to see Mr. E. Gore, the school janitor, hurrying across the school yard toward them.
    Mr. E. Gore was not a vampire but a zombie. He was also the gloomiest, grouchiest, grumpiest, and grinchiest ghoul in town.

    â€œLook,” said Lee. “What’s that on Gore’s face?”
    â€œIt looks like a new nose,” said Bella. “It’s a darker green than his old one.”
    â€œAnd less warty,” said Billy. “I wonder where he got it?”
    â€œMiss Karkoyle! Miss Karkoyle!” hollered Mr. Gore. “Shtop! Vait a moment!”
    â€œUh-oh,” said Billy nervously. “Do you think he found that stink bomb we left in his trunk?”
    â€œMaybe,” said Lee. “But he wouldn’t dare moan about that. He was fast asleep when he should have been “Maybe,” said Lee. “But he wouldn’t dare moan about that. He was fast asleep when he should have been working.”

    â€œMiss Karkoyle!” puffed Mr. Gore glumly. “Haff you locked ze classroom?”
    â€œNo, Eric,” said Miss Gargoyle coolly. “Why?”
    â€œI must lock it at vonce!” wailed Mr. Gore. “All zese robberies in ze town! Another von just last night at Chaney Street Elementary! All zeverevolves’ face brushes, stolen during casketball practice!” Chaney Street was the werewolf school down the road. “And zen last veek, at Amenhotep High, ze spare bandages, all shtolen! Zerevere bits of mummies dropping off everyvhere!”

    He stroked his new nose, which was stuck on with a bandage.
    â€œAha,” said Lee. “So that’s where he got it from.” Amenhotep High was the high school for mummies.
    â€œAll zese schools being robbed!” said Mr. Gore. “Alvays at night! Very suspicious!” He lowered his voice to a creepy whisper that was still loud enough for everyone to hear. “D’you know sumsink, Miss Karkoyle? I know who ze robbers are!”
    â€œReally?” said Miss Gargoyle. “Who?”
    Mr. Gore