I Live in Your Basement by R. L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

time for you to start taking care of me.
    I’m waiting for you in the basement.
    Keith

 
 
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    A few minutes later, Mom and Gwynnie walked into the room.
    “We brought you a treat,” Gwynnie announced. She handed me a Milky Way bar,
my favorite.
    “The nurse said you can eat whatever you want,” Mom said. She stepped up to
the bed. “Was the doctor here? What did he say?”
    “He said I can probably go home in the morning,” I told her. “But, Mom—?”
    She narrowed her eyes at me.
    “Aren’t you going to eat the candy bar?” Gwynnie asked.
    “Later,” I replied sharply.
    “But it’s your favorite!” Gwynnie insisted.
    I knew what she wanted. She wanted a bite!
    I ignored her and gazed up at my mother. “Mom, Dr. Bailey gave me this
letter. I don’t understand where it came from. It’s from that boy Keith. You
know. The one in my dream. But that’s impossible. How—?”
    “What letter?” Mom interrupted. “Show it to me, Marco. Let me read it.”
    I reached for the letter. I had set it down on top of the blanket.
    No. Not there.
    I fumbled around the bed for it.
    No.
    I sat up and searched. Had it fallen on the floor?
    No. I didn’t see it there.
    I lifted the pillow and peered underneath. I tugged up the sheet and blanket
and searched in the bed.
    “That’s so weird,” I murmured, shaking my head. “I had it in my hand. And I
just set it down a minute ago.”
    Mom and Gwynnie exchanged glances.
    “No. Really!” I protested.
    “Maybe you should get back into bed,” Mom said. “I don’t think Dr. Bailey
wants you walking around yet.”
    “But I’ve got to find that letter,” I insisted.
    “Your candy bar is melting,” Gwynnie said.
    “I don’t care about the stupid candy bar!” I screamed. “I got a letter from
that boy who says he lives in our basement. And I want to prove it to you!”
    “Stop screaming, Marco,” Mom scolded. “You’re not thinking clearly. You need
to rest.”
    “But—but—” I sputtered.
    I turned to the door as Dr. Bailey poked his head in. “There you are!” he smiled. “Marco, are you out of bed already? Feeling
stronger, huh?”
    “Dr. Bailey—tell them!” I cried. “You just brought me a letter—right? Tell
them about the letter you brought me.”
    Dr. Bailey’s heavy black eyebrows rose up to his forehead. “Letter?” he
asked. “What letter?”

 
 
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    That night, I tried not to fall asleep. I didn’t want any more nightmares. I
didn’t want to see that boy Keith again. And I didn’t want to see my sister or
anyone else opening their mouth and turning inside out.
    I kept my eyes wide open and stared at the gray sky out the window. And
listened to the sounds of the hospital outside my room.
    But I fell asleep, anyway. And slept hard, without a single dream.
    When I awoke the next morning, Mom and Gwynnie were already in my room. Mom
was packing my bag.
    I groaned and pulled myself up on one elbow.
    “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” Mom said cheerfully. “Dr. Bailey says you can go
home this morning.”
    “Great!” I cried, my voice still hoarse from sleep. My head ached. My hand
shot up to the bandage on the side of my head.
    “Don’t touch it,” Mom warned. “Your head will hurt for a while. But you’re
okay.”
    I lowered my legs to the floor. I felt a little dizzy, but I stood up.
    “Dr. Bailey says you can go back to school as soon as you feel strong
enough,” Mom said.
    “You’re so lucky!” Gwynnie exclaimed. “You missed all the tests—and a
really bad-news assembly with bagpipe players.”
    “Get dressed,” Mom instructed.
    She didn’t have to tell me twice. I practically dove into my clothes.
    I was so happy to be going home, I wanted to sing and dance. I even hugged
Gwynnie, for the first time in my life! “I’m sorry I dreamed you weren’t my
sister,” I told her.
    “Yuck! Don’t hug me again,” Gwynnie replied, making a face. “You’re scaring
me, Marco. You’d better