My Best Friend Is Invisible by R. L. Stine Read Free Book Online

definitely was not
in the mood to measure Simon.
    “My project is a loser.” Simon lowered his eyes. “A total loser.”
    It was hard not to feel sorry for Simon. He was so serious about his science
project.
    I tried to cheer him up. “Simon, we just don’t grow that fast,” I said.
“Maybe you should study something else. How about measuring a puppy? Puppies
grow faster than we do. Much faster.”
    “But we don’t have a puppy,” Simon replied.
    “How about Brutus? You can measure Brutus,” I said, guiding Simon out of my
bedroom.
    “Brutus isn’t going to grow any more,” Simon whined. “You know that. He’s too
old.”
    “I’ll think about it,” I told him. “I’ll try to come up with something you
can study. But I need to think—alone.”
    I gave Simon a soft shove out of my room. Then I closed the door.
    I flopped down on my bed. And pulled the covers over my head.
    I wanted to disappear.
    I couldn’t face anyone—not Roxanne, not my teacher, not the librarian. Not
the whole seventh grade.
    I heard a noise.
    I whipped off the blanket—and saw my window sliding up. “Phew. Why is it so
hot in here?” a familiar voice demanded.
    “Oh, noooo,” I groaned. “You’re back?”
    “Lighten up, Sammy. Why don’t we go out and play some ball or something? Take
your mind off things. I’m a really good pitcher.”
    “Brent—you have to leave.”
    “Good idea. Let’s leave this stuffy house. We’ll go out. Get a pizza. I’m
hungry,” he said. “You must be hungry too.”
    “I mean it. You have to go,” I said softly. I didn’t want to hurt his
feelings. I just wanted him to go.
    “But I don’t want to leave,” Brent replied. “I want to be your best friend. I
really do.”
    “I can’t be your best friend,” I told him. “It’s not working out.”
    “Just give it a chance,” he insisted. “We’re going to have a great time
together. You’ll see….”
    “Sammy! Time for dinner!” Mom called up the steps.
    “I’m going downstairs to eat,” I told Brent. “And when I come back—”
    “Don’t worry, I’ll still be here,” he said cheerfully.
    He’s never going to leave, I realized as I headed down for dinner. Never.
What am I going to do? How am I going to get rid of him?
    There was only one thing to do.
    I took my seat at the dinner table. “Mom. Dad. I have something important to
tell you.”
    My parents gazed up from their plates.
    I took a deep breath while they waited for me to go on.
    “There’s an invisible kid in my room—and I need your help. I have to get
rid of him!”
    I had to tell Mom and Dad.
    I didn’t know what else to do.
    Mom and Dad were really smart—for parents. They were scientists, after all.
They’d know how to get rid of Brent.
    “Not now, Sammy,” Mom said impatiently. “Your father and I had a very hard
day today. We worked for hours on the Molecule Detector Light—and it’s still
not working properly.”
    She sighed. “After dinner we’re going down to the basement to work on it some
more. So eat quickly. We don’t have time for your wild stories.”
    I felt a kick under the table. “Cut it out, Simon.” I glared at my brother.
    “It wasn’t me.” Simon smirked. “It was the invisible kid!”
    Great. Simon, the serious mutant, is trying to be funny.
    I kicked Simon back.
    “Hey—that hurt!” he whined.
    “It wasn’t my fault. Your legs are in the way. They must be growing. Quick!
Measure them!” I snickered.
    “Ha ha.” Simon rolled his eyes. “Is the invisible kid as funny as you are?”
He kicked me again.
    “Simon—” I started.
    “Cut it out, you two!” Dad shouted.
    I turned to Dad. “But there really is an invisible kid. You’ve got to believe
me. I need your help.”
    “Not tonight,” Dad groaned. “Please. Your mom and I had such a terrible day.”
    I tried again. “He could be dangerous. He’s upstairs and—”
    “Sammy—not another word. I mean it,” Dad said. “No more crazy