Casketball Capers by Peter Bently

Chapter 1
    School Time

    Lee Price was nine years old. He lived with his mom and dad in an ordinary house in an ordinary street and, like most nine-year-olds, he went to school every day.
    Or rather, every night.
    That’s because St. Orlok’s Elementary School was no ordinary school, and Lee was no ordinary boy.
    St. Orlok’s was a school for young vampires. Young vampires like Lee Price.
    At St. Orlok’s, Lee and his friends learned to do all the things that vampires do.
    Like cloak-swishing…
    Scary staring…
    Tying a bow tie…
    Losing your reflection…
    Flossing your fangs…
    And cooking without garlic.
    Early one night, Lee’s mom called up the stairs, just like she did every evening.
    â€œLee! Time to get up for school!”
    Lee blinked sleepily in the bright moonlight.
    â€œAw,” he groaned. “Just five more minutes!”
    â€œNo, dear. It’s already ten past eight. If you don’t get up now you’ll be late.”
    Lee got dressed and went down to the kitchen for breakfast.

    Dad was getting ready to go to work. He patted Lee on the head.
    â€œSee you later, Lee,” he said. “Have a good night at school. And good luck in the game. Don’t let any of those werewolves near the casket!”

    â€œThanks, Dad, I won’t,” grinned Lee, gulping down a mouthful of blood-orange juice.
    Lee was on the St. Orlok’s school casketball team. Casketball was the vampire version of basketball. Today they were playing in the Junior Interschool Series against the werewolves of Chaney Street Elementary School.

    With a little POP! Dad changed into a bat and fluttered out of the kitchen window.

    Then Lee remembered.
    â€œHey, Mom! We’re starting bat lessons today! We’re learning how to turn into bats and how to fly. I can’t wait!”
    â€œCome on then,” said Mom, looking at her watch. “Got your casketball uniform? Good. Now put your cloak on and run upstairs to comb your hair. And don’t forget to brush your fangs.”

Chapter 2
    Bat Lessons
    Mom left Lee at the gates of St. Orlok’s. She gave him a peck on the cheek, said, “See you at half past three,” then with a POP! she turned into a bat and flapped back home.

    Lee ran to join Bella Williams and Billy Pratt, his best friends at school. They were all in Miss Gargoyle’s class and were very excited about their first bat lesson.
    â€œBeing a bat will be great,” said Lee. “We’ll be able to fly to the tops of trees instead of climbing them.”
    â€œNo way!” said Billy, who didn’t like heights. “The best thing will be flying really fast.”

    â€œDid you know that there are over a thousand types of bats?” said Bella. “Mom bought me a book about it. I wonder what kind we’ll turn into…”

    â€œDuh,” said Lee. “Vampire bats, of course.”
    Lee, Billy, and Bella reached their classroom just as Miss Gargoyle was about to take attendance.
    â€œSettle down now, children,” said Miss Gargoyle. “Tonight I will show you one of the most important vampire skills—how to turn into a bat!”

    The children all gathered around.

    â€œFirst of all, you must think really hard about being a bat,” said Miss Gargoyle. She closed her eyes.
    â€œMy arms are not arms but bat wings. My legs are little bat legs. My body is small and furry. My head is a bat’s head with big bat ears. Got that?”
    â€œYes, Miss Gargoyle,” chorused the class.
    â€œNext, I say these words to myself—
    I’m a bat, a bat is me,
    A bat is all I want to be.”

    With a soft POP! Miss Gargoyle changed into a little brown bat flapping in front of the blackboard.
    â€œSee?” squeaked Miss Gargoyle. “To change back, just say—
    Pointy fangs
    and swishing cape.
    It’s time to take on
    vampire shape.”

    With another POP! Miss Gargoyle