Free Liar Liar by R.L. Stine Page B

saying into the phone. “Stella, tell me something I don’t already know. Nothing changes. Really.”
    I tapped her on the shoulder.
    A mistake.
    She let out a startled squeal and dropped the phone. “Ross—what on earth!”
    â€œSorry, Mom,” I said softly.
    â€œWhat are you doing up so early? You scared me to death!” Mom exclaimed.
    She picked up the phone and returned it to her ear. “Sorry, Stella. It was Ross. What were you saying?”
    â€œI want to tell you something,” I said. “Something kind of crazy.”
    She shrugged and pointed to the telephone. I could hear Stella’s voice at the other end. She sounded like a quacking duck.
    â€œGo make yourself some cereal,” Mom whispered, waving me away.
    â€œOkay,” I said. “But I need to tell you something.”
    â€œI know, I know,” she said into the phone. “You’re not the only one, Stella. It happens. It happens a lot.”
    I went to the cabinet. I pulled down a bowl and a box of cornflakes. “I really have to talk to you,” I told Mom.
    She lowered the phone from her ear. “Stella got another call. She put me on hold. What do you want to tell me?”
    â€œWell …” I shoved the cereal box away. I didn’t really know where to begin. I knew I had to tell it right. I had to make her believe me.
    â€œAre you in trouble, Ross?” Mom asked, her face wrinkling in concern.
    â€œWell … yes and no,” I said. “You see, Mom—a strange thing happened to me.”
    â€œHow strange?” She had the phone pressed to her ear, but she was studying me, her eyes locked on mine.
    â€œPretty strange,” I said. “You see, you’re not really my mom. I—”
    â€œOh, Ross! Not another one of your crazy stories!” she cried. “It’s too early! Go back to sleep, okay? You’ve got another hour to sleep.”
    â€œJust listen to me,” I said. “I know I’ve made up a lot of things in the past. But not today. Today I’m really serious, and I really need your help, okay?”
    I took a deep breath. I stared at the cereal box. For some reason, I couldn’t look at her. I didn’t want to see her face in case she didn’t believe me.
    â€œJust let me tell the whole thing, Mom. And please believe me,” I begged. “Please. I’m not making this up.”
    I stared at the cereal box. “The portal was open, and I slipped into a parallel world,” I continued. “You probably know all about parallel worlds. Ross—I mean, the other Ross, your Ross—said he studied them in school. Well, that’s what happened to me.”
    I took a deep breath. “I’m Ross, but I’m not the same Ross you know. I belong in a different world. I’m what you call an Intruder. And I need to get back there fast. I need you to believe me, Mom, so I can get back there. If you come upstairs, I can prove it to you. The other Ross—your Ross—is still in bed. Sleeping.”
    Whew. I got it all out.
    I took a deep breath and hesitantly raised my eyes from the cereal box to Mom. “Do you believe me?” I asked in a whisper. “Do you? Will you come upstairs?”

I held my breath. “Mom?”
    She hung up the phone. “What is it, Ross?” she snapped.
    â€œDo you believe me?” I repeated.
    â€œBelieve what? I have to run over to Stella’s house. She’s very upset.”
    She waved me away. She hadn’t heard a word I said.
    â€œJust stop in my room before you get dressed,” I begged. “I have something to show you. It’s an emergency!”
    â€œI’m not getting dressed, Ross. I’m only going next door.” Mom grabbed her raincoat from the coat closet and threw it over her bathrobe. “Stella has an emergency. A real emergency. She doesn’t make up stories.”
    Mom stepped out the back