Be Careful What You Wish For by R. L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

bewildered.
    “I — I’m sorry,” I stammered, feeling my face turn hot. “I — I thought you were someone else.”
    It was a different woman.
    I felt so embarrassed, I just wanted to die!
    Behind her, I saw two blond-haired kids tossing a Frisbee back and forth at the edge of the woods. “Tommy — don’t throw it so hard. Your sister can’t catch it!” the woman instructed.
    Then she turned back to me. “What did you say about wishes? Are you lost?” she asked, studying my face with concern.
    I knew I was still blushing, but I couldn’t help it. “No. I thought you were —” I started.
    “Tommy — go chase it yourself!” she shouted to her little boy. The two kids started squabbling. She hurried over to settle it.
    “Sorry I bothered you,” I called. “Bye.” I turned my bike around and started pedaling rapidly toward home.
    I was embarrassed that I’d said such a stupid thing to a total stranger. But mainly I was disappointed.
    I really had expected the strange woman to be there.
    Where else could she be?
I asked myself.
    I remembered that I had shown her the way to Madison Road.
Maybe,
I decided,
I will get lucky and run into her there.
    It was a real long shot. But I was desperate.
    I turned my bike around and made my way to Madison. The wind had picked up, and my face began to feel cold and raw. I was riding against the wind, and the sharp cold was making my eyes water.
    Even through the blur, I could see that the woman was not hanging around on Madison, waiting for me to show up.
    Two mangy brown mutts trotted side by side across the street, their heads bowed against the wind. They were the only living creatures I saw.
    I rode slowly back and forth a few times, my eyes searching the rambling old houses of the neighborhood.
    A total waste of time.
    I was completely frozen. My ears and nose tingled with numbness. My watering eyes sent cold tears rolling down my cheeks.
    “Give up, Sam,” I instructed myself aloud.
    The sky darkened. The storm clouds hovered low above the shivering trees.
    Feeling miserable and defeated, I turned and headed for home. I was pedaling furiously down the center of the street, trying to keep my bike upright in the gusting wind.
    I stopped when Judith’s house came into view. It was a long, low, redwood ranch-style house set back from the street on a wide, sloping front lawn.
    Maybe I’ll stop for a minute and see how Judith is doing
, I decided.
    It’ll give me a chance to get warm, too,
I thought. I reached up a hand and felt my nose. Totally numb.
    Shivering, I rode up the driveway and lowered my bike to the ground. Then, trying to rub some feeling into my poor nose, I jogged up the walk and rang the bell.
    Mrs. Bellwood seemed very surprised to see a visitor. I told her who I was and that I just happened to be riding by. “How is Judith feeling?” I asked, shivering.
    “About the same,” she replied with a worried sigh. She had Judith’s green eyes, but her hair was nearly entirely gray.
    She led me into the hallway, which felt toasty and warm. The house smelled of roasting chicken. I suddenly realized I was hungry.
    “Judith! You have a visitor!” Mrs. Bellwood shouted up the stairs.
    I heard a weak reply, but couldn’t make out the words.
    “Go on up,” Judith’s mother said, putting a hand on the shoulder of my coat. “You look so cold,” she added, shaking her head. “Be careful, dear. You don’t want to get sick, too.”
    I climbed the stairs and found Judith’s room at the end of the hall. I hesitated at the doorway and peered in.
    The room was dimly lit. I could see Judith lying in bed, on top of the quilt, her head propped up on several pillows. Books and magazines and a couple of school notebooks were scattered over the bed.But Judith wasn’t reading. She was just staring straight ahead.
    “Stork?” she cried, seeing me in the doorway.
    I entered the room, forcing a smile to my face. “How are you feeling?” I asked softly.
    “What