You Can't Scare Me! Read Online Free PDF

face.
    I was impressed.
    I nearly dropped the plastic container when he lowered the tarantula inside. My hand was really shaking. But I managed to hold on.
    The tarantula began flopping around frantically, shooting its legs out, slipping and sliding on the slippery plastic surface.
    â€œHe doesn’t like it in there,” I said in a trembling voice.
    â€œToo bad,” Hat replied, closing the wire mesh cage lid. “Quick, Eddie — put the lid on the container.”
    I scrambled to clamp the lid on.
    I almost had it in place when I heard footsteps outside the door. And voices.
    Hat and I both gasped as we realized Mr. Dollinger was about to walk in.

10
    A feeble croak escaped my lips. The bright sunlight suddenly glared white. I felt the floor sway.
    I could feel my panic weigh me down. I suddenly felt as if I weighed a thousand pounds.
    I could hear Mr. Dollinger talking to another teacher right outside the science lab door. In another few seconds, he’d step inside, and … and …
    â€œQuick — duck under the table!” Hat whispered, his eyes wide with fright beneath his cap.
    I started to follow him under the table. But I realized it wasn’t a good hiding place at all. Mr. Dollinger would see us as soon as he went to his desk.
    â€œNo — no good!” I croaked. “No good. Uh …”
    My eyes flashed around the room. Where could we hide? Where?
    â€œThe supply cabinet!” I cried. I grabbed Hat’s arm and pulled him with me.
    The tall metal cabinet was wide enough to hide both of us.
    Could we get into it in time?
    We scrambled inside, pushing each other forward.
    I pulled the door closed. It clicked shut just as Mr. Dollinger entered the room.
    Hat and I stood trembling in the darkness of the cabinet, listening to his footsteps approach. I gripped the tarantula container tightly in one hand.
    Mr. Dollinger was softly humming a tune. I heard him stop right in front of the supply cabinet.
    My heart was pounding so loud, I wondered if the teacher could hear it through the cabinet door.
    I shifted my weight and bumped into Hat. There wasn’t another inch of space in there. I could hear Hat’s shallow breathing. I could tell he was as scared as I was.
    What if Mr. Dollinger decided to open the cabinet door?
    Please, please — just turn out the lights and go home,
I pleaded silently.
    I could hear him shuffling papers on his desk. I heard the desk drawer open and shut. I heard a book slam shut. More footsteps. Water running in one of the sinks.
    He turned off the water. He was still humming softly to himself. More footsteps. The click of the light switch.
    Then silence.
    I struggled to hear over my pounding heartbeat. Silence. No humming. No footsteps.
    Hat and I stood frozen in the darkness, listening hard. “He — he’s gone,” I stammered finally. “He left, Hat.”
    â€œPhewwww!” Hat sighed loudly.
    â€œLet’s get out of here!” I cried. I reached for the latch.
    My hand fumbled around in the darkness, sweeping over the metal door. I located a slender metal bar and pulled up on it. It didn’t budge.
    â€œHey!” I cried out. I moved my hand slowly up the door, trying to find a latch or release.
    â€œHurry up. Open the cabinet door,” Hat urged. “It’s getting hot in here.”
    â€œI know,” I replied tensely. “I — I can’t find anything.”
    â€œLet me try,” Hat said impatiently. He pushed my hand away and began fumbling with the metal bar.
    â€œThere’s got to be a latch or something,” I said shrilly.
    â€œVery helpful,” Hat grumbled. He began pounding on the door with his open hand.
    I grabbed his arm. “Stop. That won’t open it. And someone will hear you.”
    â€œ
You
try again,” he ordered. His voice sounded really tiny and afraid.
    I swallowed hard. I suddenly had a heavy lump in my throat. It felt as if my