50 - Calling All Creeps! Read Online Free PDF

paper?” she demanded in an urgent whisper.
    “Huh? No,” I replied, climbing onto the edge of my bed. “When they started to
pass out the newspapers, I got called to the library. The librarian wanted to
ask me about a bunch of books I lost. When I came back to the room, all the papers were gone.”
    “So you didn’t see the paper?” Iris asked shrilly.
    “No,” I repeated. “I didn’t get my copy. Is it great? Can you read the
message at the bottom okay?”
    “Well…” Iris hesitated.
    “Is it great?” I asked excitedly.
    “Not exactly,” Iris replied softly. “Actually, Ricky, you’re in… major
trouble.”
    “I’m what?” I squeezed the phone to my ear. She was talking so softly, I
could barely hear her. “Iris… I’m what ?”
    “In major trouble,” she repeated.
    A chill swept down my back. “Major trouble? But—why, Iris? What do you
m-mean?” I sputtered.
    “The message—” she started.
    Then she stopped. Silence on the other end.
    “Iris—I can’t hear you!” I said. “Iris—?”
    “Uh-oh,” she murmured. “I’ve got to get off. My dad is screaming at me.”
    “But, Iris—” I insisted. “Why am I in trouble? You’ve got to tell
me!”
    “I’m getting off!” I heard her call to her father. “It was only a
short call, Dad. I know it’s midnight!”
    “Iris, please—tell me. Tell me before you hang up!” I begged.
    “Got to go. Bye,” she said. I heard a click. The line went dead.
    I slammed the receiver down angrily. What was her problem? Why couldn’t she
tell me why I was in trouble?
    I slid the phone back in place beside the clock radio and climbed into bed. I
punched my pillow a few times, puffing it up. Then I pulled the blankets up to
my chin.
    I shut my eyes and tried to calm down enough to fall asleep.
    The phone rang again.
    I sat straight up with a startled gasp. This time I managed to pick up the
phone without knocking it to the floor.
    “Iris, thanks for calling me back,” I whispered.
    “I saw your message in the school newspaper,” a voice whispered.
    “Iris—?” I swallowed hard. I knew it wasn’t Iris.
    “I saw your message,” the voice whispered. “I am calling as you instructed.”
    “Huh? You’re calling me?” I cried.
    “Yes. I’m following your instructions,” came the whispered reply.
    “Hey—who is this?” I demanded.
    “I’m a Creep.”

 
 
13
     
     
    I slammed down the phone.
    Then I settled back into my bed. I puffed up my pillows again, and pulled the
blanket over my shoulders.
    The wind howled outside my bedroom window. Shadows cast by the street lamp in
front of our house danced over my wall.
    My brain was spinning.
    Who was that?
    I couldn’t be sure, but it sounded like a boy. Why did he call me ? The
message I put in the newspaper gave Tasha’s phone number.
    I didn’t have long to think about it. The phone rang again.
    I grabbed up the receiver before the first ring ended. My eyes shot to the
bedroom door. If Mom or Dad heard me getting these calls, I’d really be
in major trouble!
    “Hello? Who is it?” I demanded.
    “Hi. I’m a Creep.” A different voice. A boy. Speaking softly.
    “Huh?” I gasped.
    “I’m a Creep. I called as soon as I saw your orders.”
    “Give me a break!” I cried. I slammed down the phone.
    “What is going on?” I muttered out loud. I sat staring at the phone. Watching
it in the dim light. Waiting.
    Was it going to ring again?
    “Ricky—!” a voice boomed.
    I jumped a mile.
    The ceiling light clicked on. Dad stood in the doorway in his blue-and-white
striped pajamas. He scratched his cheek. “Ricky—what are all those calls
about?” he demanded.
    I shrugged. “Calls?”
    He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously. “I heard the phone ring three
times,” he growled.
    “Oh. You mean those calls!” I tried to sound innocent. But I knew I
didn’t stand a chance.
    “You know you’re not allowed to get calls after ten,” Dad said sharply.