Friend Or Fiend? by Judy Blume Read Free Book Online Page A

my class made a circle like when we were in kindergarten. But instead of “Duck, duck, goose,” Lila called, “Friend, friend, fiend!” She tapped me for fiend. I had to run around the circle trying to catch her. It didn't feel good. It didn't feel funny. Then everyone did it. Even Justin. And he's supposed to be my best friend. That was the worst.
    At dinner, the Great One looked at me and said, “What's wrong?”
    “Who says any thing's wrong?” “I can tell.”
    Mom said, “Is something wrong, Jake?” “I made a mistake in reading group.” I pushed my pasta around on my plate.
    “Everyone makes mistakes,” Mom said. “Not this mistake.”
    “I'm sure it wasn't that bad,” Dad said.
    “Oh, yes it was!” I told him.
    Mom, Dad, and the Great One waited for me to tell them more. But I didn't. The Great One started guessing. “Did you say a bad word? Is that it?”
    “No.”
    “Did you leave out a word?” “No.”
    “Did you mix up two words?” “Maybe,” I said. How did she know that was it? “Everyone does that,” she said. “It's no big deal.” But it was a big deal to me.
    The next day at school when Maggie saw me she said, “Hi, fiend!” Everyone laughed.
    On the playground I didn't play any games. I climbed to the top of the monkey bars and stayed there.
    “Help . . . fiend!” Victor called, pointing to me.
    Everyone laughed again.
    The next day at morning meeting, Mary asked if I could give the weather report. I shook my head even though I knew the weather. So Justin got to be weather reporter instead. And Dylan got to ask the riddle of the day. “When is it dangerous to play cards?”
    I knew the answer, but I wouldn't raise my hand. I was never raising my hand again. So Mary called on Marco. He said, “When the joker is wild.”
    Everyone clapped for Dylan's riddle and Marco's answer.
    Later, Mary sat next to me during reading time. She said, “What are you reading, Jake?”
    I showed her the book. Reptiles Around the World.
    “You want to read just to me?” she asked. I shook my head.
    “You want to keep reading to yourself?” I nodded. “Okay,” Mary said.
    I didn't tell her I was never reading out loud again.
    On the school bus going home I sat next to Justin. But I didn't talk. I faced away from him and looked out the window. So Justin joked around with Dylan, who sat behind him. When we got off the bus Justin said, “Guess what I'm going to be for Halloween?” “What?” I said.
    “A fiend). Isn't that the best idea?”
    I didn't answer. I ran the rest of the way home. I could hear Justin calling, “Jake-- wait for me! Jake--” But I didn't wait.
    At home, I got a big piece of paper and wrote:
    That night, when Mom finished reading to me, I said, “Justin's going to be a fiend for Halloween.”
    “What are you going to be?” she asked.
    “Nothing. I'm not going trick-or-treating.”
    Mom looked at me. “Okay, but if you change your mind I'll help with your costume.”
    “I'm not wearing a costume.” Mom kissed me good night. When she was gone, I got out of bed and tiptoed to my
    closet. I reached up and grabbed my Wolfman mask. Grandma bought it for me over the summer. It's pretty scary. I pulled it on. “What do you think, Fluzzy? Do I look like a fiend?” Fluzzy yawned. What does he care about fiends? Then I yanked off the mask and got back into bed. Bruno was waiting for me. Bruno is my best friend now.
    On Halloween night the Great One danced into the living room. She was wearing a tutu, cowboy boots, and a red wig. She carried a
    magnifying glass. “How do you like it?” she asked.
    “What are you sup- posed to be?” “You can't tell?”
    I didn't answer She sighed. "I
    guess you're just not old enough to know."
    “Know what?”
    “Spy Dancer.”
    “Who's Spy Dancer?”
    “Never mind!”
    She turned and twirled to the front door. She was going trick-or-treating with her friends. "We could go trick-or-
    treating too," Dad said to me.
    “I'm