Free The Attack of the Aqua Apes by R.L. Stine Page A

didn’t want to look either. “If we don’t, we’ll always be afraid Mac’s going to come after us.”
    Scott took a deep breath and started peeling off the tape.
    Glen jumped off the bed in a panic. “What if he isn’t a crystal, huh? What if he’s in there just trying to psych us out?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Scott stopped peeling the tape.
    â€œWhat if he’s clinging to the sides of the stupid thing so we can’t hear him moving around when we shake it?”
    â€œThere’s nothing in there for him to cling to,” Scott answered. And just to make sure he shook the jar again—as hard as he could.
    Scott started peeling off the tape again. Andwith every layer he unwrapped, he could see Glen turning whiter and whiter.
    What if Glen was right? What if opening the jar was a big mistake?
    Scott’s hands were trembling as he pulled off the last piece of tape.
    â€œIf you open that up,” Glen warned, “and he’s in there—we’re dead.”
    Scott knew that was true. But he had to do it. He had to know once and for all that Mac was out of their lives for good.
    Scott held his breath. But as he pulled the lid off, the air that was trapped inside of his chest escaped in a huge sigh of relief.
    â€œGlen!” Scott cried out excitedly. “It worked!”
    â€œWe did it!” Glen exclaimed. He high-fived Scott. “We got rid of Mac!”
    For a minute the two boys sat on the bed, staring into the jar. Scott couldn’t believe that it was finally over. He couldn’t believe that the only thing left of the monster they had created was a tiny little black crystal.
    â€œSo what are we going to do with it?” Glen asked, finally breaking the silence.
    â€œNothing,” Scott answered, as he reached for the lid of the jar. “We’re never going to do anything with it ever again.” Scott closed thecookie jar. “Until the day we die, Mac is staying a crystal. And he’s staying right here.”
    Scott buried the jar in the back of his closet.
    The battle was finally over.
    The swimming, waving, disgusting little pig-monkey of a monster was definitely out of their lives for good.

26

    â€œD on’t even think about it!”
    â€œAw, come on, Glen,” Scott begged. “Look how cool this is.” Scott bit the inside of his lip so he wouldn’t crack up in Glen’s face.
    Glen didn’t even bother glancing at the ad Scott was waving in front of his nose. He just stared at Scott—as if he were insane.
    â€œWonder worms, Glen,” Scott said, as he pointed to the ad in the comic book. “We’ve got to get them!”
    â€œAre you out of your mind?”
    Scott cracked up. He couldn’t keep a straight face any longer. “Gotcha!”
    â€œNot funny.” Glen sighed. “Are we going to the mall or what?” he asked.
    â€œYeah. Yeah.” Scott laughed as he threw the comic book down on his bed. “We’re going. Just let me get my jacket.”
    Things are finally back to normal, Scott thought as he made his way to the closet. The video game place at the mall even had a new manager, so he and Glen could hang out there again.
    Scott pulled open his closet door.
    â€œNooooo!” Scott screamed.
    Nothing in his closet was where it had been when Scott took off for school that morning. All his clothes were hanging neatly. And all the shoes were lined up on the floor.
    And the cookie jar was nowhere to be seen.
    â€œWhat? What?” Glen yelled.
    â€œMy mother cleaned my closet!” Scott exclaimed. He didn’t have to say another word for Glen to know exactly what the problem was.
    â€œMom!” Scott hollered, as he and Glen raced out of the room and down the stairs. “Mom!”
    â€œI’m in the kitchen,” she called back.
    â€œMom!” Scott ran into the kitchen with Glen right behind. “Mom,” Scott