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

are
you
doing here?” she asked coldly. Her voice was hoarse.
    “I — I was riding my bike, and —” I stammered, staying by the door. I was startled by her anger.
    “Riding your bike? In this cold?” With great effort, she pulled herself up to a sitting position. Leaning against the headboard, she glared at me suspiciously.
    “I just wondered how you were,” I muttered.
    “Why don’t you just fly away, Byrd!” she growled nastily.
    “Huh?”
    “You
are
a witch — aren’t you!” she accused.
    I couldn’t believe she was saying these things. I was stunned. Shocked! It was no joke. I could see clearly that she was serious!
    “You
did
cast a spell on us. I know it!”
    “Judith — please,” I cried. “What are you
saying?”
    “We did a unit on witches in social studies last year,” she said in her hoarse voice. “We studied spells and things.”
    “That’s crazy!” I insisted.
    “You were jealous of me, Sam. Of me and Anna and everyone else,” Judith accused.
    “So?” I cried angrily.
    “So, all of a sudden all the girls on the team feel weak and sick. Except for you, Sam. You feel fine — right?”
    “Judith, listen to me —” I pleaded.
    “You’re a witch, Sam!” she screamed, her weak voice breaking. She started to cough.
    “Judith, you’re talking like a crazy person,” I insisted. “I’m not a witch. How could I be a witch? I’m sorry you’re sick. Really, I am. But —”
    “You’re a witch! You’re a witch!” Judith chanted, her voice a shrill whisper. “I’ve talked to all the girls. They all agree. You’re a witch. A witch!”
    I was so furious, I thought I’d explode. I had my hands balled into tight fists. My head was throbbing.
    Judith had been talking to all the other girls, spreading this story that I was a witch. How could she do such a crazy thing?
    “A witch! You’re a witch!” she continued to chant.
    I was so upset, I totally lost it. “
Judith
—” I shrieked. “
I — I never would have done it to you if you hadn’t been so horrible to me!”
    I realized immediately that I’d made a terrible mistake.
    I had just admitted to her that I
was
responsible for her being sick.
    I had just blurted out that I
was
a witch!
    But I was so furious, I didn’t care.
    “I
knew
it!” Judith croaked in her hoarse voice, her green eyes glowing excitedly, pointing an accusing finger at me.
    “What’s going on here? What’s all the shouting?” Judith’s mother appeared in the room, her eyes flashing back and forth between Judith and me.
    “She’s a witch! A witch!” Judith screamed.
    “Judith — your voice! Stop!” Mrs. Bellwood cried, running to the bed. She turned back to me. “I think Judith is delirious. She — she’s saying such crazy things. Please don’t pay attention. She —”
    “She’s a witch! She admitted it! She’s a witch!” Judith shrieked.
    “Judith — please. Please, you have to calm down. You have to save your strength,” Mrs. Bellwood pleaded.
    “I’m sorry. I’ll go now,” I said sharply.
    I darted out of the room and ran down the stairs and out of the house as fast as I could.
    “A witch! A witch!”
Judith’s hoarse chant followed me out.
    I was so angry, so hurt, so humiliated, I felt about to explode. “I wish Judith would
disappear
!” I screamed. “I really do!”
    “Very well. That shall be your second wish,” said a voice behind me.
    I spun around to see the strange woman standing at the side of the house, her long black hair fluttering behind her in the gusting wind. She held the glowing red ball high. Her eyes glowed as red as the ball.
    “I shall cancel your first wish,” she said in her shaky old lady’s voice. “And I shall grant your second.”

17
    “No — wait!” I cried.
    The woman smiled and pulled her shawl over her head.
    “Wait! I didn’t mean it!” I cried, running toward her. “I didn’t know you were there. Wait — OW!”
    My foot caught on a loose stone in the walk, and I