The Ooze Read Online Free PDF Page B

down. “I have an idea. Go downstairs and look inside the cooler. Look at the ooze. You’ll see. The ooze is just . . . ooze. It can’t do anything to you.”
    â€œWhat if it can?” I asked. “What if—”
    â€œJust do it,” Colin told me.
    I hung up and headed for the basement. Colin was right. I had to look at the ooze. See that it was just harmless glop. It was the only thing that would make me feel better.
    I opened the basement door and slowly walked down the steps. I spotted the cooler under the table—exactly where I had shoved it.
    I raised the lid of the cooler about an inch—and inhaled sharply.
    A giant glob of ooze sat on top of the paper towels.
    It was as if all the little balls that we had wiped up joined together. Joined into one huge mass of ooze.
    And now it was glowing.
    I opened the lid a little more—and saw that the glob had veins. Veins! Glowing, throbbing veins!
    I started to slam the lid down—when the lump of ooze began to bubble. A small bubble broke the surface and popped. Then another. And another.
    Bubble. Pop. Bubble. Pop.
    More and more tiny bubbles rose to the surface and popped.
    Then, without warning, a huge bubble rose up to the surface. It flipped the cooler lid wide open.
    I leaped back—back from the growing bubble. But it was too late.

9

    S plat!
    The giant bubble burst.
    A huge glob of the ooze hit my face.
    It dripped down my eyes, my nose, my cheeks. It dangled from my chin in a gooey mess.
    â€œOh, no,” I moaned. I was going to be really stupid now.
    I had to wash off this horrible stuff right away! Before it made me a total moron.
    I scrambled over to the cabinet under the sink. No more paper towels. We used them all yesterday.
    I yanked off my T-shirt and started scrubbing my face with it. The ooze was growing warm now. Warm and extra-sticky. I couldn’t get it off.
    I scrubbed and scrubbed, pressing my lips together tightly. Who knew what would happen if I swallowed some? I certainly didn’t—and I didn’t want to find out.
    My face burned and tingled as I rubbed. But I rubbed furiously until I wiped it all off.
    I shoved my T-shirt into the cooler and slammed the lid on. Then I pounded up the basement stairs and down the hall to the bathroom I shared with Michelle. I had to look in the mirror—to make sure not one drop remained.
    I locked the bathroom door behind me. Then I leaned as close to the mirror as I could. Searching for even a speck of the orange goo.
    I didn’t see any. Not a drop. But what if some had seeped into one of my ears—deep inside where I couldn’t see it?
    I pictured the slimy stuff sliding through my ear—and into my brain! I was doomed.
    I have to tell Mom and Dad, I realized. This was a serious problem.
    I knew they were going to be angry. I didn’t even want to think about what they would do to me. I would probably be grounded until I finished college—if I went to college. I might be way too stupid by then to go.
    I had no choice. I had to tell them. I needed their help. They were smart. They did research. Maybethey could figure out a way to save me from a lifetime of stupidity.
    My stomach flip-flopped as I headed to the living room to find my parents. They were both sitting on the sofa—reading scientific journals.
    I took a deep breath. “Mom, Dad, I have to talk to you,” I said. My voice shook only a little.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, dear?” Mom asked. “You look upset.”
    â€œIt’s about the ooze,” I started. “Chester and I both touched it. That’s why—”
    Dad put down his copy of Biology Today . “Ooze?” he asked. “What on earth is ooze?”
    â€œChester stepped in it,” I said. “Some of it spilled on the basement table, too. That’s how I touched it.”
    Mom and Dad glanced at each other. I could tell they were confused.
    I knew I wasn’t