Party Poopers by R.L. Stine Page A

I’ll sell all two hundred. Easy. This party is gonna make me RICH!”
    Feenman clicked the flashlight on. He frowned at it and clicked it again. “Bernie,” he said, “this flashlight doesn’t work.”
    â€œYou’ve got to slap it a few times,” I said. “What do you want for a dollar?”
    Feenman slapped the end of the flashlight, and the light flickered on. “Cool,” he said. “What’s in the other box?”
    I tugged open the carton and pulled out a sweatshirt. “You know how cold it gets late at night. I’m gonna sell at least a hundred of these—at five dollars each.”
    â€œWow,” Feenman said. “Let me see the front.”
    I held up the sweatshirt. It had a big picture of my smiling face on it. And it read: I PARTIED ALL NIGHT WITH BERNIE!
    â€œFeenman,” I said, “can anyone resist a sweatshirt like this? Of course not.”
    I folded up the sweatshirt and dropped it back into the carton. “Kids will also want to buy the flashlights so they can see their new sweatshirts! It’s a perfect combo!”
    â€œBrilliant!” Feenman cried. “Bernie, you’re a genius!”
    â€œWe’ll be rich. RICH!” I cried. “All of us dudes at Rotten House—we’ll be rolling in money! Of course, I’m only doing this for my guys.”
    Feenman scratched his head. “You mean you’re gonna share the money with us?”
    â€œMaybe five or ten dollars,” I said. “Don’t thank me, Feenman. I know I’m too generous . It’s my biggest fault.”
    I dragged Belzer to his feet. “Take the boxes to the dorm,” I said. “And be careful with them. I spent three months’ allowance on this stuff.”
    â€œHunh-hunh.” Belzer staggered off with the cartons. Good kid, Belzer.
    Feenman shook his head. “Bernie, you spent three months’ allowance? What if no girl asks you to the All-Nighter? You’re totally sunk .”
    I put a hand on his shoulder. “Are you kidding? A dozen girls are dying to ask me. Maybe two dozen. But they’re holding themselves back. Because they know April-May June wants to ask me first.”
    And then I saw her crossing the grass. I saw her blond ponytail bobbing in the sunlight. Her blue eyes sparkling, her mouth in a happy smile.
    Was she thinking about me ?
    â€œTake a lesson, Feenman,” I said. “Watch how I allow April-May to ask me to the party.”
    I took off, trotting to catch up to her.

Chapter 4
T HREE N OSTRILS ?
    â€œApril-May—hi!” I called. “Wait up!”
    She kept walking. I guess she didn’t hear me.
    â€œWait up!”
    She walked a little faster. She probably didn’t know it was me.
    I had to run full speed. I caught up with her and spun her around. I flashed her my most adorable smile, the one with the dimples. “Hi ya, babes. Whussup?”
    She gave me a warm greeting. “Take a hike, Pond Scum.”
    I laughed. “Did anyone ever tell you that you have an awesome sense of humor?”
    She pulled a fat wad of pink bubble gum from her mouth and stuck it onto my forehead.

    I know what it means when girls tease you that way. It means they really like you !
    â€œApril-May, you look totally excellent today,” I said.
    â€œYou look like the breakfast I just threw up,” she replied.
    I laughed again. “Funny. I love a good laugh in the morning.”
    â€œWant a good laugh, Bernie? Go look in a mirror!” she said.
    I had to run again to catch up to her. I knew all her hard-to-get tricks.
    â€œYou’re so shy,” I said. “Don’t be ashamed. I’m shy, too.”
    She pulled the bubble gum off my forehead and shoved it back into her mouth.
    â€œI know how much you want to ask me to the All-Nighter,” I said. “So don’t be shy. Just go ahead and ask me.”
    She rolled her beautiful eyes.