Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet Read Online Free PDF Page B

in Chunk. 
“It was creepy.  He just stares at you the whole time with his serial-killer
eyes.”  Chunk pried his eyes as wide as they could go to emphasize his point.
    “He does that to me, too,” said Jack.  “He looks at me like I
just took a dump on his mother’s grave or something.”
    “I’m telling you guys,” continued Chunk, “Mr. Shepherd has
KILLED people before.  I’m convinced.  He’s got that crazy
‘I’m-gonna-rip-out-your-lungs-and-gaze-into-your-gaping-chest-wound’
stare.  I bet you he eats them after he kills ‘em, too.”
    “You say that about everyone you don’t like,” complained
Norma.  “According to you, half the student body are a bunch of serial-killer
cannibals.”
    “Did you know human flesh has almost no nutritional value?”
intoned Gothy.
    “I’m serious about this,” said Chunk defensively.  “That
dude has definitely eaten people before.”
     “In Japan,” chimed in Yoshi, “teachers very strict.  Many
like Shepherd.”
    “No wonder you wanted to get out of the country,” quipped
Jack.  “Can you imagine a school full of Mr. Shepherds?”  The very thought sent
a cold shiver down Jack’s spine.
    “Well, hey,” said Peter.  “Maybe Yoshi could give you some
advice on how to deal with Shepherd if he’s had to put up with hard cases like
him for so long.”
    “Good idea,” said Matt.  “How’d you deal with your teachers
back in Japan if they were so strict?”
    “You do your work, obey rules, be good student,” said Yoshi,
smiling.
    Everyone took a second to look at Jack.
    “Sorry, buddy,” said Matt good-naturedly.  “You’re screwed.”
    With that, the whole group shared a laugh.  Even Jack had to
admit there was no way he could do what Yoshi was suggesting, even if he
tried.  For whatever reason, Jack was never much for work, rules, or even being
much of a student for that matter.
    As Chunk started doing an impression of what Jack would act
like in a Japanese school, Jack caught a glimpse of Anna sitting by herself at
a table near the far wall.  She was huddled away with a brown bag lunch of
chips, juice, and what looked like a small Tupperware container of leafy
greens.  As usual, she was reading, sitting in the same place she always did,
by herself. 
    Before every lunch period, Jack would try to think of a way
to talk to her.  But no matter what scheme popped into his mind, each one had
the fatal flaw of actually requiring Jack to WALK up to her and open his mouth
in a way that made words come out.  Many times he had almost done it, but for
some reason, he’d always chickened out at the last minute, with the hope things
would be different the next day.
    But they never were.
    “Uh-oh,” said Peter.  “Looks like it’s that time again.”
    Jack turned back from Anna to the group.  “Huh?” he asked. 
“What time?”
    “You know,” teased Matt.  “The time where you stare
longingly at the girl of your dreams, try and muster up the courage to finally
go over and talk to her, and then totally do nothing .”
    “Gimme a break,” said Jack.  “Like any of you have the
stones to do it.”
    “I do!” said Chunk.  “All the ladies loooove Chunk.  Ain’t
that right, Norma baby?”  Chunk started making kissy-faces at Norma, who
abruptly threw some chips at his face.
    “You disgust me,” she hissed.
    Chunk smiled and winked at Jack.  “It’s a forbidden love,”
he said, happily munching on the chips Norma had thrown at him.
    “Love is the gateway to despair,” intoned Gothy.
    “Honestly, I don’t know what you see in her, Jack,” Norma
went on, ignoring Gothy’s morbid interjection.  “She’s a frigid, anti-social
ice queen.  She’s mean to everybody.”
    “Who cares?” cried Chunk.  “She’s haaaawt!”
    Norma punched Chunk on the arm, causing him to squeal.  “It
doesn’t matter how hot she is, stupid.  She doesn’t like anybody.  It’s
almost as if she thinks she’s royalty