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Chapter One
DUMB MOVIE
    â€œWant to see
Revenge of the Ghost
tomorrow?” Kate asked her best friend Jake.
    â€œSure,” said Jake.
    Kate and Jake loved
Revenge of the Ghost
. They’d seen it three times already, but they still loved watching it.
    They loved to scream when the ghost appeared in the captain’s room.
    They loved to screech, “I’m back,” when the ghost screeched, “I’m back.”
    They loved to howl when the ghost took off his head and carried it down the hall like a hat.

    â€œSee you tomorrow at two,” said Kate.
    â€œI’ll bring potato chips,” said Jake. Jake always brought potato chips.
    The next day, Kate filled a bowl with popcorn and a plate with chocolate chip cookies. She’d helped her mom bake the cookies that morning. The house still smelled of chocolate. It was the best smell in the world.
    At two fifteen, Kate looked out the window. She didn’t see Jake, but she wasn’t worried.
    Jake was always late.
    Last week his excuse was that he didn’t have any clean underwear. The week before he said the zipper on his pants broke. Kate smiled. What crazy excuse would he have today?
    Kate opened the door and peeked out. There was Jake! He was walking down the street with his mom and a tall boy. The tall boy had red hair and freckles just like Jake.
    Who was he?

    â€œSorry we’re late,” said Jake. “But my cousin Lionel just came over. He’s moving to our neighborhood next week.”
    â€œHow nice,” said Kate’s mom.
    â€œCan he watch the movie too?” asked Jake.
    â€œOf course,” said Kate’s mom.
    Lionel plunked down on the couch in the den. Jake flopped down beside him. Kate slipped the movie into the player. Then she curled up in the big chair.
    The movie began.
    â€œI’ve seen this movie before,” said Lionel. “It’s dumb.”
    â€œI know,” said Jake, “but it’s funny.”
    The ghost floated into the captain’s room.
    Kate screamed.
    â€œAre you scared of the ghost?” Lionel asked her. “He doesn’t even look like a ghost.”
    â€œYeah,” said Jake, “he looks fake.”
    Kate glared at Jake. “He looks real to me,” she said.
    The ghost screeched, “I’m back,” but Kate didn’t screech. She felt silly screeching alone.

    Jake didn’t look like he was going to screech. He didn’t look like he was even watching the movie.
    He was too busy talking to Lionel.
    â€œThis movie is really dumb,” said Lionel. “Want to play video games?”
    â€œWe don’t have any,” said Kate.
    â€œYou’re kidding,” said Lionel.
    â€œWe have some at my house,” said Jake. “We can play them later.”
    â€œGreat,” said Lionel.
    The ghost took his head off and carried it in his arm.
    â€œThis is the stupidest movie in the world,” said Lionel.
    Jake nodded. “I know,” he said. “It’s really dumb.”
    How could Jake say that? thought Kate. He loved
Revenge of the Ghost
.
    Lionel picked up a handful of potato chips and crunched them in his mouth. Then he made a face like a clown. Jake laughed.

    â€œShhh,” said Kate, but Lionel crunched some more potato chips. He made a face like a baboon.
    Jake laughed and laughed.
    Kate glared at Lionel, but Lionel kept crunching.

    â€œCut it out!” said Kate.
    â€œSorry,” said Lionel. “I forgot you were watching the movie.”
    â€œI can’t anymore,” said Kate. “It’s over.”
    â€œHey, Jake,” said Lionel. “Want to go to your house and play video games?”
    â€œSure,” said Jake. “I’ll call my mom.”
    Soon Jake and Lionel left.
    Kate ran to her room and flung herself on her bed.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” asked her mom.
    â€œI hate Lionel,” said Kate. “He said the movie was dumb, and he