Casketball Capers by Peter Bently Page B

dive-bombing…

    looping the loop…

    and dodging things with his eyes shut.
    â€œNot bad,” said Boris with a grin. “Not bad at all. For a vampire.”
    Just then the school clock struck one.

    â€œYikes!” cried Lee. “That was loud!” Then he remembered. “One o’clock! I’ll be late for class! See you soon, Boris. And thanks for the tricks!”

Chapter 4
    Growler the Fouler

    Lee zoomed out of the belfry and back to his classroom. The others had already started to practice hanging upside down.
    â€œCome along now, Lee Price!” said Miss Gargoyle sternly. “You’re late. Don’t hang around. Or rather, DO hang around. Hurry up and find an empty place.”

    Billy and Bella had saved Lee a space on the curtains.
    â€œWhere were you hiding?” whispered Bella.
    â€œYeah, we couldn’t find you anywhere,” said Billy.
    â€œI was in the clock tower,” said Lee. “I met this real bat called Boris. He’s so cool.”
    He was about to tell them more when they heard a toot-toot and saw a bus driving through the school gates.
    â€œLook,” said Bella. “The werewolves are here!”

    â€œAha!” said Miss Gargoyle, fluttering over to the window. “Lee, Billy, and Bella, you’d better go and get ready for the game. The rest of us will be waiting to cheer you on!”
    By the time the St. Orlok’s team got changed, the Chaney Street werewolves were already out on the field warming up under the floodlights.

    Lee jogged over to Ollie Talbot, his friend on the werewolf team.
    â€œHi Ollie,” he said. “Guess what? We had our first bat lessons today!”
    â€œCool!” said Ollie. “So this means you’re even battier than usual.”
    â€œHa-ha, very funny,” groaned Lee. Ollie was always making terrible jokes.

    Just then, a big werewolf pointed at them and sneered.
    â€œUh-oh, here comes Robbie Growler,” sighed Ollie. “Just ignore him.”

    â€œWhat! Growler the Fouler?” said Lee.
    â€œThat’s him,” said Ollie. “The dirtiest player in Chaney Street. He’s our new shooter.”

    There were two forwards, called shooters, on each team, and they scored most of the points. The vampire shooters were Bella, who was tall for her age, and an older girl named Naz Patel.

    There were also three dodgers, whose main job was to keep the ball away from their own casket and pass it, dribble it, roll it, or throw it into the hands of the shooters.
    Billy, who was small and very fast, was a fantastic dodger. The sixth player on each side was the ghoulkeeper, who defended the casket. That was Lee’s job.
    â€œHey, Ollie,” cried Growler. “Why are you talking to that sucker, huh? Get it? Sucker! Huh-huh-huh!” He loped up the field, snickering stupidly.
    Lee was furious. He picked up a stick.
    â€œLee, no!” gasped Ollie. “He’ll make mincemeat out of you!”
    Lee grinned.
    â€œDon’t worry, I’m not going to hit him. Just watch.”

    Growler turned around and snarled. Lee whistled as if he were calling a dog, then threw the stick toward him.
    â€œHere boy!” he called. “Good boy! Fetch!”
    The vampires all laughed, and so did Ollie and most of the other werewolves—when Growler wasn’t looking.

    Bella and Billy were in stitches. Growler glared at Lee.
    â€œCome here, you little squirt,” he growled. “I feel like a snack.”
    â€œNow, now!” said Mr. Tut, the

    mummy referee. “There’ll be none of that, please! I want a good, clean game!”

Chapter 5
    Mr. Tut in a Tangle

    The two casketball teams took up their positions. Mr. Tut blew his whistle and the game began.

    Billy got the ball and whizzed past the three werewolf dodgers before bouncing it to Naz Patel.
    The vampires cheered Naz on as she charged toward the Chaney Street casket—with