21 - Go Eat Worms! by R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead)

sarcastically. “You guys must think we’re really dumb.”
    “No way we’re going to believe you caught a giant worm!” Regina added,
shaking her head.
    “You didn’t see it?” Todd cried weakly. “You really didn’t see it?”
    “We’re not making it up!” Danny shouted angrily. “It grabbed Todd. It was
huge and brown and slimy! It was pulling Todd down.”
    “Give us a break,” Beth groaned.
    “Go eat worms,” Regina said.
    They hoisted up their giant robin and continued their slow trek toward the
street.
    Todd watched the bird’s wide shadow roll over the grass. The shadow that had
saved his life.
    Then he turned to Danny with a weary shrug. “Might as well go home,” he said
softly. “I’m not sure I believe it myself.”
     
    Todd tossed all of his worms into the garden that afternoon. He told everyone
he never wanted to see a worm again.
     
    When Danny came over to Todd’s house a few weeks later, he found Todd down in
the basement, busy with a new hobby. “What are you doing?” Danny asked.
    Todd’s eyes remained on the fluttering creature inside the glass jar on the
worktable. “I’m chloroforming this butterfly,” he told his friend.
    “Huh? What do you mean?” Danny asked.
    “I dipped a wad of cotton in chloroform and dropped it into the jar. It will
kill the butterfly. Watch.”
    When the gold-and-black butterfly stopped fluttering, Todd carefully opened
the jar. He lifted the butterfly out with long tweezers and gently spread its
wings. Then he hung it on a board by sticking a long pin through its middle.
    “You’re collecting butterflies now?” Danny asked in surprise.
    Todd nodded. “Butterflies are so gentle, so pretty,” he said, concentrating
on his work.
    “Todd has changed a lot,” Regina announced, appearing at the bottom of the
stairs. “He isn’t into gross anymore. Now he’s into things that are soft
and beautiful.”
    “Let me show you some of my most beautiful butterfly specimens,” Todd told
Danny. “I have a few monarchs that will knock your eyes out.”
     
    Everyone was happy about Todd’s new hobby. Especially Regina. There were no
more cruel practical jokes played in the Barstow house.
    Then, one night, Todd gazed up from his worktable—and uttered a horrified cry as he saw the big creature fluttering
toward him.
    An enormous butterfly.
    As big as a bedsheet!
    Carrying an enormous silver pin.
    “What are you going to do ?” Todd cried.
     
     
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