Read Scare School for Free Online Page B

them bring out their ladders.
    But I was too excited. Too worried. Too desperate.
    “You’ve got to be alive. You’ve got to!” I shouted up to the rabbit.
    Or did the imp kill it first? And then tie it to the flagpole?
    With a loud cry, I took a running leap onto the pole. I wrapped my hands around the cold metal. Gripping it tightly, I pressed my sneakers against the pole-and pushed myself up.
    Sliding my hands up, I pulled myself higher. My sneakers slipped over the smooth metal pole.
    I glanced down. I was nearly halfway up the pole.
    With a groan, I forced myself higher. My hands were rubbed raw. I tightened my legs around the pole.
    I’m not much of a climber. I’ve never been into climbing trees. And I’d never shinnied up a flagpole before.
    But get me angry enough—and I can do anything.
    As I pulled myself higher, I stared up at the rabbit.
    I could see one dark eye. The eye was open.
    Did that mean the rabbit was alive?
    A blast of cold wind made the flagpole sway.
    My hand slipped.
    I made a frantic grab for the pole, and started to slide back down.
    “Noooo!” A cry escaped my throat as I squeezed my legs tighter. And held on for dear life.
    I stopped to catch my breath. My hands were cold and raw. My legs ached.
    I gazed up at the rabbit, only a few feet above me.
    And saw its nose twitch.
    Yes!
    It’s alive, I realized.
    The eye stared down at me. I could see its whole body heaving beneath the thick rope. The long ears stood stiffly, straight back.
    The poor thing looks scared to death, I thought.
    I raised my hand. Gripped the pole. Moved my legs up. Raised my other hand. Pulled myself up.
    And touched the rabbit.
    “Whoa.” Its little heart was beating so hard.
    Holding on with one hand, I worked at the rope with the other hand. It slipped off easily and fell to the ground.
    The rabbit started to fall, too.
    Its ears flew straight up. Its eyes went wide.
    I grabbed it and tucked it under my arm.
    Then, gripping it tightly in my armpit, I began to lower myself slowly, carefully, down the pole.
    In the school windows, I could see crowds of kids and teachers watching me. They stood pressed to the glass, staring as if watching some kind of show.
    I saw the secretary from the office and a few teachers come running out of the building.
    “What are you doing up there?” the secretary shouted.
    “Young man—come down right now!”
    “What do you think I’m doing?” I shouted down to them.
    A few seconds later, my sneakers touched the ground. I dropped to my knees and struggled to catch my breath, to stop my heart from racing so fast.
    The teachers huddled around me.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Are you hurt?”
    “What were you doing up there?”
    “Your parents will have to be told about this, young man.”
    I pulled the ebony rabbit from under my arm. Itsfur had been squeezed flat by my tight grip.
    “Safe and sound!” I said breathlessly.
    And then I saw the square tag tied around its neck. A square tag with some writing on it.
    Holding the rabbit gently in one hand, I lifted the tag. And read the message scrawled in red ink: Have you learned an IMPortant lesson? Give me my tail!

14
    Tonya and Simpson surrounded me in the hall after school.
    I had the rabbit safely in its cage and was about to carry it home. But my two new friends blocked the way.
    “Don’t tell your parents,” Tonya warned. “I know you’re angry, but don’t tell them about the imp.”
    I glared at her. “You’re kidding—right? Of course I’m going to tell them what happened. Someone has to do something about the imp.”
    Frowning, Simpson grabbed my arm. “There is nothing you can do, Sam.”
    “He is too powerful,” Tonya said.
    “I can be powerful, too!” I cried. “Especially when I’m this angry!”
    Tonya slapped her hand over my mouth. “Shut up, Sam. What if he hears you?”
    I tugged her hand away.
    “I don’t care!” I shouted. “I don’t care if he hears me or not! He’s a little creep, and