Liar Liar by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

shaking, my whole body trembling, I walked up to them. “What just happened?” I asked. “Did you see—?”
    â€œDon’t touch us!” one of them screamed.
    They both raised their hands as if shielding themselves from me.
    â€œKeep back! Don’t touch us!”
    â€œBut—but—” I sputtered. “What’s wrong? What’s happening?”

The two boys scrambled away. One of them dropped his candy bar. He didn’t stop to pick it up.
    I ran all the way home. Gasping for breath, sweat pouring down my face, I burst into the house.
    â€œMom? Where are you? Mom?”
    â€œIn the dining room,” she called. “Jake and I started without you.”
    I lurched into the dining room. Mom and Jake sat at one end of the long table. Jake opened his mouth wide and showed me a disgusting, chewed-up blob of spaghetti inside.
    I ran up beside Mom’s chair. “I—I have to talk to you,” I said.
    â€œSit down,” Mom said sharply. “What took you so long? Mr. Lawrence will be here any minute.”
    â€œListen to me!” I cried. “Something strange is going on and—”
    â€œYour face is strange!” Jake shouted. He burst out laughing at his own dumb joke.
    â€œAt least my nickname isn’t Rat Face!” I shot back. “Hi, Rat Face! What’s up, Rat Face!”
    â€œI’m not a Rat Face! You’re a rat! You’re a whole rat!” Jake screamed. “Go eat some cheese, Rat!”
    â€œStop it! Stop it right now!” Mom cried. She turned to me. “Where’s the milk?”
    â€œThat’s what I’m trying to tell you,” I said breathlessly. “I couldn’t—”
    â€œYou came home without milk?” Mom sighed. “Sit down, Ross.” She pushed me toward my seat. “Don’t talk. Try to eat something before your lesson.”
    â€œBut—But—”
    â€œDon’t talk! Just eat!” She scooped a mound of spaghetti onto my plate. Then she piled on a ton of brussels sprouts.
    Yuck.
    The smell made my stomach lurch.
    Mom leaned over the table, watching me. “Go ahead. Try the sprouts. I know you love them.”
    â€œWe have to talk—” I started. “You see, I don’t like brussels sprouts. I’m trying to tell you—”
    She shook her head. “Stop it. Not a word. I’ve heard enough of your crazy stories to last a lifetime. Just eat.”
    I had no choice. I speared one of the disgusting, squishy balls on my fork. I raised it slowly to my mouth.
    I felt sick. My stomach tightened.
    I started to gag.
    Mom stared across the table at me.
    I held my breath. And slid the brussels sprout into my mouth. So squishy and slimy and sour …
    I swallowed it whole.
    Mom sat back in her seat. “Good?”
    I couldn’t reply. I was trying with all my strength to keep from puking.
    The front doorbell rang. I saw Amelia, the housekeeper, hurry to answer it.
    â€œThat’s Mr. Lawrence,” Mom said. “Hurry, Ross. Get into your karate robe. You’ll have to eat later. We’ll keep dinner warm for you.”
    I gulped down a glass of apple juice, trying to get the brussels sprouts taste out of my mouth. “Uh … maybe I should skip the lesson tonight,” I said. “I have a big homework project, and—”
    â€œMr. Lawrence drove all the way from Burbank,” Mom said. “Get upstairs and get changed. What’s wrong with you tonight?”
    That’s what I want to know! I said to myself as I hurried to my room.
    What’s wrong with me tonight?
    I stared at the white robe hanging on my closet door. Which way does the belt go? I wondered. Does the collar stay up or down?
    How am I going to fake my way through this lesson? I asked myself. I can’t. I don’t know anything about karate. And I’ve never seen this Mr. Lawrence before in my life.
    Why did Mom say