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

how will that help you get rid of Angel?”
    I patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll see,” I said. “You’ll see….”

Chapter 20
T ELL M E A NOTHER O NE
    â€œThis is so totally awesome!” Angel whispered. “I’ve never played cards before. Bernie, you’ll have to show me which end to hold.”
    â€œNo problem,” I whispered back.
    Like I believed him. Hah.
    â€œYou’ll probably win a hundred dollars,” I said, leading him across the grass. “You’ll clean us all out.”
    He laughed. “I just want to play for the fun of it. Not for the money.”
    Tell me another one, Angel. Wow. This guy could lie!
    A bright half-moon shone down on us. It was nearly midnight. The trees were still. The grass glowed with dew.
    Sherman Oaks and his pals were waiting behind the Student Center. He had set up a card table and some lights.
    Sherman was already shuffling the Uno cards. “Ten dollars,” he said, holding out his hand. “It’s ten dollars to get into the game.”
    â€œThis is so totally exciting!” Angel exclaimed. “Look at me. I can barely breathe!”
    He took the cards away from Sherman and started shuffling them. “What do you say we make twos and threes wild and jokers high?” he said.
    I started to get the idea that maybe Angel had played cards before.
    Guess what? He won the first hand. And the second hand. After about an hour he had a big stack of ten-dollar bills on the table.
    â€œBeginner’s luck,” he said. “That’s all it is. Just beginner’s luck.” He shuffled the Uno cards again.
    Time to get down to business. I slipped away andcalled Mrs. Heinie on my cell phone. I disguised my voice. I told her I was a concerned citizen. I said there was a card game going on behind the Student Center.
    Then I went back to the game. This isn’t gonna be pretty, I told myself.
    Mrs. Heinie came bursting up to us just as Angel won yet again. This time she let out a HUMPH that nearly blew over the card table.
    â€œAngel! I’m SHOCKED at you!” she screamed. “I-I-I can’t believe YOU’RE here after Lights Out, gambling with these boys!”
    Angel’s mouth dropped open. “Huh? Gambling? Bernie told me they were raising money for the animal shelter in town!”
    Good one, huh?
    Mrs. Heinie spun around to me. “Bernie, I knew you were at fault! Angel was a good boy until he met you ! Look what you’ve done to him.”
    She narrowed her eyes at me. She bit her bottom lip. I could see she was thinking hard.
    Finally she said, “I’m sorry, Bernie. I have no choice. I can’t let this continue.”

    I lowered my head. “What are you going to do to me? Kick me out of school? Send me home?”
    â€œOf course not,” Mrs. Heinie replied. “I’m going to get Angel his own room—as far away from you as possible!”
    Yesssssssssssssssss!
    â€œNo—please!” I pretended to beg. “Please don’t take Angel away. I have big plans for him! I have plenty more things I want to teach him.”
    â€œNo way,” Mrs. Heinie said. “Angel is not going to have any more to do with you, Bernie. You’ll never even see him!”
    Yesssssssssssssssss!
    â€œPlease don’t take him away,” I said. “I love sharing my room with him. I want to teach him all my secrets.”
    â€œHUMPH!” She grabbed Angel by the shoulders and pushed him away. Angel hurried back to grab the big stack of money he’d won. Then he hurried off with her.
    I waited till they disappeared into the darkness. Then I leaped onto Feenman’s shoulders and started to celebrate.

    My room was mine again. My LIFE was mine again. And it was so easy —easy if you’re a GENIUS!
    Was I happy?
    Does a bear eat potato chips in the woods?
    I cheered. I shouted. I sang! I let Feenman carry me around for