Mean Ghouls by Stacia Deutsch Read Free Book Online Page A

“They’ve been mad at me for years. But now they don’t like you more.” Megan cringed. She hadn’t meant to make them hate her.
    The class bell rang and the boy said, “You saved my zombie-life.” He stood on tiptoes and kissed Megan’s cheek before running off to join his friends.
    â€œI can’t believe the Mean Ghouls would pick on a little kid.” Megan turned to Happy. “If the Bs can change from unpopular to popular, I wonder what it would take to change them back.” She bit the inside of her cheek, then, realizing if she made a sore it might never heal, stopped.
    â€œI can only think of one way to knock them down,” Happy replied. The Bs were standing at the end of the hallway, staring at Megan.
    Megan knew what that one thing was.
    She had to find the missing zombitus cure and send the Bs back to the middle schools they came from.

Sam was her partner in home ec. They were making a pie out of rotten strawberries with moldy tomatoes and overripe avocados. As the smells of the spoiled fruit wafted through the air, Megan found herself drooling.
    â€œWe have to cook it first,” Sam said as Megan popped a furry green strawberry into her mouth and moaned.
    â€œJust making sure the strawberries are safe,” Megan said, tipping her head over her shoulder at the Bs. “I hear the Ghouls have a plot to poison you.”
    â€œFunny.” Sam laughed. “It’s not me they are after.” He added with a wink, “New Girl.”
    Megan frowned. “True.”
    â€œSorry for how things turned out.” Sam said. “I warned you when you got here, but maybe I should have been more specific. Or defended you in some way.”
    â€œIt’s okay.” Megan picked up a bowl and began to smash the strawberries into a thick pulp. “I can handle myself.”
    â€œAll you have to do is hang in there,” Sam said. “Eventually they’ll forget about you. Or sooner or later someone newer than you is bound to do something they think is worse than giving Gertrude back her letter.”
    Megan didn’t like that thought. She’d rather take on the Bs than pass them off to another kid.
    Looking over her shoulder, Megan noticed that Happy was paired with Brooke. They were chatting as they both scooped avocado from the skin. Megan felt a little like Happy was hanging with the enemy, but Mr. Franko, the home ec teacher, had chosen the pairs.
    Mr. Franko was the only teacher on staff who wasn’t a zombie. He’d been a TV chef on a reality show until the entire cast got the virus. For somereason, Mr. Franko was immune. He came to ZA with his staff, who were all now employed at the castle. “The researchers have been testing Mr. Franko to understand why he hasn’t gotten the disease,” Sam explained.
    â€œMaybe Mr. Franko is part of the cure?” Megan asked. “He might remember what tests they ran on him.”
    Sam shrugged.
    â€œOh!” Megan remembered what she’d forgotten in the bathroom with Happy. “What about Visitors’ Day?” She asked the question quickly so she wouldn’t forget it again.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Sam looked at her blankly.
    â€œWhen is it?” Megan asked. “I can’t wait for you to meet my mom and dad and my best friend, Rachel.” Every name made Megan more and more excited. Going home would be better, but having them come visit was pretty good. “Zach is going to love coming here.”
    â€œI don’t know when it is,” Sam admitted. “I don’t invite anyone anymore.”
    Megan stopped crushing strawberries. “Why not?”
    â€œNo one’s around for me to invite,” Sam said in a monotone that made him sound like Happy. “Youshould go introduce yourself to Mr. Jones. He can tell you when it is.”
    Megan hadn’t made an appointment because she was nervous to meet him.
    â€œAfter