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CHAPTER 1
    Mum came off the phone.
    “That was Eugene’s mum,” she said. “They’re going away for the weekend so she’s asked if Eugene can stay with us.”
    Bertie looked up. “You mean for a sleepover?”
    Mum nodded.
    “Yessss!” yelled Bertie, showering thetable with toast crumbs.
    “What about me?” grumbled Suzy. “Don’t I get a sleepover?”
    “Not this time,” said Mum. “It’s only Eugene, you’ll hardly notice him.”
    Bertie stuck out his tongue. A whole weekend! This was going to be great. They could stay up late, build a den, make the world’s stinkiest stink bomb … but hold on…
    “What about Darren?” he said. “Isn’t he coming too?”
    Mum shook her head. “One friend’s enough,” she said.
    “But I’ve got
two
friends,” argued Bertie. “I can’t leave Darren out.”
    It wouldn’t be right. They were the famous three. The three desperados – they always stuck together.
    Bertie clasped his hands. “Please! Just this once!” he begged.

    Mum sighed. She guessed one more wouldn’t make much difference.
    “All right!” she said. “But no staying up till all hours of the night.”
    “We won’t,” promised Bertie.
    A sleepover with his two best friends for a whole weekend! This was going to be
epic
!

    Darren and Eugene arrived on Friday night with their sleeping bags. Eugene had a gift from his mum – one of her famous chocolate cakes. Bertie’s eyes lit up.

    “Uh-uh, don’t touch,” warned Mum. “We’ll save this for Sunday tea.”
    Bertie took his friends up to his room. He had even tidied up – at least he’d swept his toys under the bed, which was the same thing.
    Eugene and Darren unpacked their bags. Bertie picked up a computer game lying on top of Darren’s sleeping bag.
    “What’s this?” he asked.
    “
Zap the Zombie
! Haven’t you played it?” Bertie and Eugene shook their heads.
    “It’s the best game ever,” said Darren. “You have to splat the zombies in the haunted house before they disappear.”
    “Zombies give me nightmares,” said Eugene anxiously.
    “They’re only cartoons,” said Darren. “Anyway, you’ll love it.”

    ZIP! ZOOP! SPLAT!
    “Yahoo!” cried Bertie as another zombie was splatted.
    Mum poked her head into the lounge. “What’s all the noise?”
    “It’s just a game,” said Bertie.
    “It’s brilliant!” said Darren. ZOOP!
    “
Zap the Zombie?
Where did you get this?” asked Mum, inspecting the box.
    “Darren brought it,” replied Bertie.
    Mum turned off the TV. “You’re not playing that,” she said. “It looks completely revolting.”
    “But Mum…” moaned Bertie.
    “No buts. I don’t want you getting nightmares. Why don’t you play Snap?”
    She swept out, taking the zombie game with her. There was a gloomy silence.
    “Nightmares! As if!” said Bertie.

CHAPTER 2
    CREAK! CREAK!
    Bertie and his friends crept down the stairs. It was ten o’clock and they were on a raid. Mum and Dad were watching TV in the lounge. Suzy was in bed.
    “Hurry up!” whispered Bertie.
    They tiptoed past the lounge and stole into the kitchen. Bertie opened thefridge door. The chocolate cake was on the top shelf.
    CLICK! The kitchen light went on.
    “Can I help you?” asked Mum.

    “We were just … er … getting a drink,” gulped Bertie.
    “Yes,” said Darren. “Eugene was thirsty, weren’t you?”
    “Was I?” said Eugene.
    “Well, you won’t find squash in the fridge,” said Mum. “And if you’re after chocolate cake, forget it. It’s for Sunday tea.”
    Bertie closed the fridge door. “But we can’t get to sleep!” he moaned.
    “Try staying in bed,” said Mum.
    “We’re starving!” pleaded Bertie.
    Mum rolled her eyes. “Go back to bed. I’ll bring you some snacks in a minute.”
    Snacks! Brilliant!
thought Bertie. He knew for certain there were Monster Munchie bars in the cupboard.
    Five minutes later Mum knocked on the door. She set down a plate.
    “Fruit?” groaned