[Janitors 01] Janitors Read Online Free PDF Page B

imagined and he wanted to shut it out, to pretend he was at his old school. But shutting his eyes wasn’t such a bright idea, since he was surrounded when he opened them.
    Spencer scrambled to his feet, ringed in by Dez’s friends. The bully stood right before him, an embarrassing wet mark down the front of his shorts. In his hand was a new milk carton that he tossed from left to right like a hot potato.
    “So,” Dez said. “You tried to get me with the oldest, stupidest trick in the book?” He held up his hands in mock fear. “‘Oh! Look out behind you!’” he shouted in a high-pitched voice. “That’s what you’d better be doing, Doofus. Because I’m going to be right behind you from now on.”
    “But it wasn’t a trick,” Spencer said. “I really did see something on your lunch tray. It flew off when you turned around.”
    “Whatever,” Dez said. “You made me look bad in the lunchroom and you’re going to pay for that.” Dez took a step forward. “Do you know what this is?” He held the carton close to Spencer’s face.
    “Milk?” Spencer hoped.
    “Yeah, it’s milk. But take a look at the inspiration date.”
    “Very inspiring,” Spencer said. “But it’s actually the expiration date.”
    “Whatever,” Dez said. “The point is—it’s old. Steve’s been keeping this in his desk since the first day of school. Should be nice and rotten by now. We’ve been saving it for a special occasion. This might be special enough. Unless . . .”
    “Unless what?” Spencer asked. He stared at the deadly milk carton. Swimming inside were countless bacteria and germs galore. “What do you want from me?”
    “Just a simple apology,” Dez answered. “And explain to my homies that you lied about the invisible bats.”
    “But I didn’t lie . . .”
    “Hold him, guys.”
    The nearest bullies grabbed Spencer’s arms. He tried to jerk free, but their grip was tight. Dez peeled back the cardboard flaps on the milk carton and gagged at the rotted smell. Then he slowly tipped the carton forward.
    “Wait! Wait!” cried Spencer. “I’m sorry, okay? You’re right! I didn’t see anything on your lunch tray. I never saw anything in the classroom. I lied about all of that. I was just making it up to get attention!”
    Dez grinned and stepped back. “That’s what I thought.” Spencer tried to relax as the bullies released his arms. “See, Batman,” Dez continued. “Isn’t it easier when you do what I say? We both get what we want. I get to hear you confess about your dumb lies. And you? Well, this should get you plenty of attention.”
    With that, Dez hurled the milk carton. It struck Spencer in the chest with an explosion of putrid milk. The bullies ran off, laughing and whooping.
    Spencer stepped away from the spot where the carton fell, glugging out yellowish milk. His shirt was ruined. It absolutely reeked. He wiped his face and noticed someone standing near.
    It was Daisy. She looked sad and upset. Spencer was grateful that at least one person cared. But then she opened her mouth.
    “You really did lie to me,” she said, and Spencer knew she wasn’t sad about him. “I heard you say it. You just made it all up for attention. And so you could draw on my face.”
    “Look, Daisy,” Spencer said, rising to his feet, “I never lied to you. I really did see a creature on his lunch tray. I just had to tell those guys that I made it up so they’d leave me alone.”
    “Why?” she said. “If it’s true, why did you tell them it wasn’t? No one will ever believe you if you don’t stand up for what you know is true.”
    “But you saw. They were going to dump bad milk on me.”
    “So you denied it.”
    “Yeah. I denied it to them.”
    “And they dumped bad milk on you anyway.” Daisy shrugged. “Either way, you got bad milk. Seems like it would have been better to stand up for the truth.” Daisy waved awkwardly, as if she were bidding him farewell forever.
    Spencer stood alone on