Why I Quit Zombie School by R. L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

were much worse,” he said. “Wow. I remember the incredible food fights we used to have. The whole lunchroom would be covered in slop.”
    “Kids will always be kids,” Mom said. “Just look at them.”
    “But — but — but —” I sputtered. “Don’t you see? These aren’t normal kids. They —”
    “Of course they are,” Dad said. He tugged my arm and guided me to the doors. “What could be more normal? Come on. Let’s go. Mom and I want to see your room.”
    “Take us around the school. Give us the full tour,” Mom said.
    I sighed. So far, I was a total failure. How could I convince them they were in a zombie school?
    This was my only chance to prove I wasn’t making up a horror story. I had to convince them. My life depended on it.
    I led them upstairs past the Study Room. Through the glass door, I could see zombie kids studying in there, tapping away on their laptops.
    Angelo wandered past. He waved and called out my name.
    “A new friend?” Mom asked.
    “He’s on the soccer team,” I said. “But if he finds out I’m alive, he’ll probably kill me.”
    The bell rang overhead just as I said that. Mom and Dad didn’t hear me.
    “I like the calm atmosphere here,” Dad said. “Everyone moves so slowly. No one is in a hurry. It’s a very relaxed place.”
    “Dad, they’re moving slowly because they’re undead,” I said. “That’s as fast as they can move.”
    They both laughed.
    “You’re not convincing us,” Mom said. She glanced at her watch. “You don’t have much time left to show us your proof.”
    “I know,” I said.
    We stepped into the Center Court in the middle of the school. I looked up at the balcony. And suddenly I knew.
    I knew I was going to convince my parents this was a zombie school.
    They were about to see the proof with their own eyes.

19
    A few kids gathered in the court. They moved in front of us. They all had their eyes on the balcony.
    A few seconds later, a girl peered over the railing. She had short blond hair tied in pigtails. She wore a black sweater over black jeans.
    “Watch,” I told my parents. I motioned to the balcony. “Just watch this. It’s going to be horrible. But maybe you’ll believe me.”
    The girl started to pull herself up to the top of the balcony wall.
    “Oh. Hey,” Dad said. He fumbled in his pants pocket. He pulled out his phone. “Oh. Sorry. I have a call.”
    He started to raise the phone to his ear. But it slipped out of his hand.
    The phone hit the hard floor with a
clang
.
    The blond-haired girl leaped off the balcony and hit the floor. She thudded heavily, and she bounced twice before landing in a heap.
    “Did you see —?” I started. Then I gasped.
    Both of my parents had their backs turned. They were both bending over to pick up Dad’s phone.
    “I’ll bet it was Jamie,” Dad said. He grabbed the phone and studied it.
    “Is it okay? Did it break?” Mom asked.
    “Didn’t you see her jump!”
I screamed.
“Didn’t you see what just happened?”
    Dad squinted at the phone screen. “It seems to be okay,” he said.
    “Check the call log,” Mom said. “Was that Jamie calling?”
    I totally lost it. I started screaming my head off. “That girl jumped off the balcony!” I cried. “Didn’t you see her?”
    Kids turned to look at me. I realized it was dangerous to scream.
    “Where?” Mom asked. “Who jumped? Where?”
    I pointed. The blond-haired girl was climbing to her feet. She brushed off the front of her sweater. She started to walk away.
    “She couldn’t have jumped,” Mom said. “Look. She’s walking away. Why would you say such a crazy thing?”
    “Matt, it’s time to drop the whole zombie thing,” Dad said. “We gave you a chance. Now it’s just getting tired.”
    I failed again. Failed. Failed. Failed.
    I wanted to jump up and down and scream and throw myself into the wall and — and —
    Wait. One last try. One last chance to save my life.
    I knew who could help me. I knew who could