The Birthday Party of No Return! Read Online Free PDF Page B

flames.
    I knew my parents would take it back to the store and buy me a new one. But all my work was lost. My history notes were on it. And my book report that was due next Friday. And science stuff…
    My birthday party photos. The photos I snapped on the class trip…
    All lost.
    I stared down at the black, melted keys. What bad luck.
    I felt the vulture claw press against my chest. I pulled it out and studied it. It seemed okay except for the little tear on one talon.
    â€œWhat’s wrong with you?” I asked it. “Where is the good luck? You’ve got to come through for me now.”
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    That night, I couldn’t sleep.
    I felt jumpy. I couldn’t lie still. I forced my eyes shut and tried counting down from one thousand.
    But I couldn’t concentrate. I turned onto my side. Then I tried the other side.
    I felt like a restless animal in a zoo. The kind that prowls its cage, back and forth, poking its snout through the spaces between the cage bars.
    I sat up and rested my head against the head-board. The bedroom window was open, and white moonlight poured in. Silvery white moonlight almost as bright as day.
    I shut my eyes, but I couldn’t force out the light.
    I knew I was sleepy. My eyelids were heavy. I had to sleep. But my brain was spinning. And the bright white light … the light was calling me … forcing me to my feet.
    I stood up. I paced my room, my bare feet cold against the carpet. I have a long, narrow room. Not much room to pace.
    Like a caged animal , I thought again.
    I spotted my guitar propped against the closet door. I lifted it up and carried it to the bed. I propped it in my lap.
    Playing the guitar always relaxes me.
    I balanced it on my lap. Then I started to strum.
    Something was wrong. It didn’t sound right. It didn’t … feel right.
    I squinted into the moonlight. I raised my hand.
    And opened my mouth in a scream of horror.
    My hand! Where was it? What happened to my hand?
    I gaped in disbelief at the ragged talons and thick feathers. My hand had turned into a CLAW!

My talons curled around the guitar neck. The strings all started to pop.
    Pop pop poppop POP.
    The final pop was loud enough to wake me up.
    â€œHuh?”
    I stared at the ceiling. Shadows shifted above my head in a pale square of moonlight.
    I’m lying in bed , I realized.
    I was asleep.
    It was a dream. Yes?
    I raised both hands from under the covers. Yes. I had two hands. No giant bird claw.
    A nightmare. But it seemed so real. I could still see every detail.
    Still see the big feathery claw at the end of my arm wrapping around the guitar neck.
    I never have nightmares. I mean, really never. Not since I was a little kid.
    Usually, I can’t remember my dreams at all. But mostly, my dreams are about kids at school, and my parents, and playing sports. Boring stuff.
    Never nightmares. Never horrifying dreams that wake me up screaming.
    Or was I only screaming in the dream?
    I checked out my hands again. Just to make sure.
    They were fine. Perfectly normal hands.
    My heart was still beating hard. A shiver rolled down my body. It was warm in my room, especially under the covers. Why was I shivering?
    I pulled up the vulture claw to examine it.
    Yes, I wore it when I slept. I wasn’t taking chances. I wanted good luck twenty-four hours a day.
    The light from outside was dim. I raised the claw close to my face and squinted hard at it.
    I gasped when the three talons moved.
    It can’t be alive. It CAN’T be!
    â€œIt’s just the darkness,” I murmured to myself. “That nightmare — it upset me. I’m seeing things.”
    But to my horror, the claw leaped from my hand. It snapped forward — and grabbed me by the throat.
    â€œUnnnnh.” I made a choking sound as the talons gripped my skin. They tightened. Wrapped around the skin under my chin.
    Choked me.
    â€œUnnnnh.”
    Tighter. Tighter. The claw squeezed so hard, I wanted to