The Ooze by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

that. It makes me feel like such a baby. “He’s probably nervous. It’s his first Science Bowl, after all.”
    â€œI’ll give you a hint,” Dad said. “It has to do with what you are to me.”
    I spooned some jelly on my toast and took a huge bite. Think, I told myself with each chew. Think, think, think. What was I to Dad? His kid. What could that have to do with Galileo?
    â€œNow I’ll give you a hint,” Michelle volunteered. “It doesn’t have to do with what I am to Dad.”
    Michelle’s hint only made me more confused. Why wouldn’t they leave me alone?
    â€œYou can do it, son ,” Dad said.
    I tried to smile at him. But I had no idea what the answer was. Galileo. Galileo. It sounded like the name of one of those Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
    â€œThe sun sure is bright today,” Michelle said. “I love the sun . Don’t you, Al?”
    I drank my whole glass of orange juice without taking a breath. But when I set my glass down, Mom, Dad, and Michelle were staring at me. Waiting for my answer.
    Michelle shook her head in disgust and shoved Science Teasers back over to me. “Galileo’s earth-shaking discovery was that the earth revolves around the sun .” She said each word slowly and clearly.
    I pretended not to hear her. I pretended to study Science Teasers so my family would lay off. But I could only understand a couple of words on every page.
    â€œYou want to make Mom and Dad proud, don’t you?” Michelle asked. She never gives up. “And don’t forget Mr. Gosling. You want him to be proud, too, don’t you?”
    Mr. Gosling was my science teacher. I felt my head start to throb. What Michelle said made me think of something. Something important. But what?
    Mr. Gosling, I thought. Something about Mr. Gosling.
    What do I know about him? Not much. He’s smart. I know that, I thought.
    That’s it. He is smart. He isn’t getting stupider and stupider. If I show the ooze to him, maybe he can help me!
    I finished the rest of my breakfast as fast as I could. I stuck my plate and orange juice glass in the dishwasher, but I stuck my spoon in my pocket.
    I spotted the plastic container Mom kept her coupons in on the counter. Perfect. When no one was looking, I emptied the coupons into a drawer and stuck the container under my shirt.
    â€œBe right back,” I announced. “I left my notebook in the basement.”
    The cooler was still under the table, just where I left it. I opened the lid. Only a crack. I couldn’t let the ooze splash me—the way it did the day before. I couldn’t afford to get any stupider.
    I peeked into the cooler. Whoa! The ooze had grown. And it had more veins. Lots more throbbing veins.
    My heart pounded as I stared at the disgusting glob.
    I started to jab the spoon in—but the ooze jerked away from it. It moved from the spoon—before the spoon even touched it.
    I slammed down the lid and jumped back in fear.
    This stuff was disgusting and creepy. Totally creepy.
    My hands started to tremble as I inched toward the cooler again. Don’t think about it, I told myself. Just scoop some up. All you need is a little bit on the spoon.
    I opened the lid again, shoved the spoon deep into the quivering mass, and dropped a blob of it into the container.
    I clamped the lid on and made sure it was sealed tightly. Then I smuggled the ooze back upstairs and slid it into my backpack.
    â€œWish me luck,” I said as I slipped the backpack over my shoulder.
    â€œGood luck.” Michelle laughed. “You’re really going to need it!”
    Mom gave me a hug and my plastic lunch container with a sandwich inside. “Good luck, Al!”
    Dad shook my hand. “We’ll be in the audience cheering you on!” he said.
    I nodded. And as I walked to school, I tried not to think about my parents . . . watching me in horror . . . as I gave