02 - Stay Out of the Basement Read Online Free PDF Page B

peanut
butter.
    “I know,” Margaret said impatiently. “That’s just an example.”
    “So what are you trying to say?” Casey asked. “That Dad is out of his tree?
That he’s gone totally bananas?”
    “I—I don’t know,” Margaret answered in frustration. “Watching him gulp down
that disgusting plant food, I—I had this horrible thought that he’s turning into a plant!”
    Casey jumped up, causing his chair to scrape back across the floor. He began staggering around the kitchen, zombielike,
his eyes closed, his arms stretched out stiffly in front of him. “I am The
Incredible Plant Man!” he declared, trying to make his voice sound bold and
deep.
    “Not funny,” Margaret insisted, crossing her arms over her chest, refusing to
be amused.
    “Plant Man versus Weed Woman!” Casey declared, staggering toward Margaret.
    “Not funny,” she repeated.
    He bumped into the counter, banging his knee. “Ow!”
    “Serves you right,” Margaret said.
    “Plant Man kills!” he cried, and rushed at her. He ran right into her, using
his head as a battering ram against her shoulder.
    “Casey—will you stop it!” she screamed. “Give me a break!”
    “Okay, okay.” He backed off. “If you’ll do me one favor.”
    “What favor?” Margaret asked, rolling her eyes.
    “Make me another sandwich.”
     
    Monday afternoon after school, Margaret, Casey, and Diane were tossing a
Frisbee back and forth in Diane’s backyard. It was a warm, breezy day, the sky
dotted with small, puffy white clouds.
    Diane tossed the disc high. It sailed over Casey’s head into the row of fragrant lemon trees that stretched from behind
the clapboard garage. Casey went running after it and tripped over an in-ground
sprinkler that poked up just an inch above the lawn.
    Both girls laughed.
    Casey, on the run, flung the Frisbee toward Margaret. She reached for it, but
the breeze sent it sailing from her hand.
    “What’s it like to have a mad scientist for a dad?” Diane asked suddenly.
    “What?” Margaret wasn’t sure she heard right.
    “Don’t just stand there. Throw it!” Casey urged from beside the garage.
    Margaret tossed the Frisbee high in the air in her brother’s general
direction. He liked to run and make diving catches.
    “Just because he’s doing strange experiments doesn’t mean he’s a mad
scientist,” Margaret said sharply.
    “Strange is right,” Diane said, her expression turning serious. “I had a
nightmare last night about those gross plants in your basement. They were crying
and reaching for me.”
    “Sorry,” Margaret said sincerely. “I’ve had nightmares, too.”
    “Look out!” Casey cried. He tossed a low one that Diane caught around her
ankles.
    Mad scientist, Margaret thought. Mad scientist. Mad scientist.
    The words kept repeating in her mind.
    Mad scientists were only in the movies—right?
    “My dad was talking about your dad the other night,” Diane said, flipping the
disc to Casey.
    “You didn’t tell him about—going down in the basement? Did you?” Margaret
asked anxiously.
    “No,” Diane replied, shaking her head.
    “Hey, are these lemons ripe?” Casey asked, pointing at one of the low trees.
    “Why don’t you suck one to find out?” Margaret snapped, annoyed that he kept
interrupting.
    “Why don’t you ?” he predictably shot back.
    “My dad said that your dad was fired from PolyTech because his experiments
got out of control, and he wouldn’t stop them,” Diane confided. She ran along
the smooth, closely cropped grass, chasing down the Frisbee.
    “What do you mean?” Margaret asked.
    “The university told him he had to stop whatever it was he was doing, and he
refused. He said he couldn’t stop. At least that’s what my dad heard from a guy
who came into the salesroom.”
    Margaret hadn’t heard this story. It made her feel bad, but she thought it
was probably true.
    “Something really bad happened in your dad’s lab,” Diane continued. “Someone got