Be Careful What You Wish For by R. L. Stine Page A

off, I dreamed about Judith.
    “You look tired, dear,” my mom said at breakfast.
    “I didn’t sleep very well,” I confessed.
    When I headed out the front door to go to school, Judith was waiting for me by the driveway.
    She smiled at me and waved cheerily. “I thought we could walk to school this morning,” she chirped. “But if you want to ride your bike, I’ll be happy to run alongside.”
    “No!” I shrieked. “No! Please — no!”
    I totally lost it. I just couldn’t stand it anymore.
    I dropped my backpack and started to run. I didn’t know where I was running. And I didn’t care.
    I just knew I had to run away from her.
    “Sam — wait! Wait up!”
    I turned to see her chasing after me. “No — please! Go away! Go
away!”
I screamed.
    But I could see her pick up speed, her sneakers thudding against the sidewalk, starting to catch up.
    I turned into someone’s yard and ran behind a hedge, trying to lose her.
    I didn’t really know what I was doing. I had no plan, no destination. I just had to
run!
    I was running through backyards now, across driveways, behind garages.
    And Judith followed, running at full speed, her short ponytail bobbing as she ran. “Sam — wait! Sam!” she called breathlessly.
    Suddenly, I was running through woods, a thick tangle of trees and tall weeds. I weaved through them, first this way, then that, jumping over fallen branches, plunging through thick piles of dead brown leaves.
    I’ve got to lose her!
I told myself.
I’ve got to get away!
    But then I stumbled over an upraised tree root and fell, sprawling facedown on the carpet of dead leaves.
    Typical klutz move.
    And a second later, Judith was standing over me.

26
    I glanced up from the ground and saw to my shock that it wasn’t Judith.
    Clarissa hovered over me, her red shawl tight around her shoulders, her black eyes staring intently.
    “You!” I cried angrily, and started to scramble to my feet.
    “You are unhappy,” she said softly, frowning.
    “Your wishes have ruined my life!” I cried, furiously brushing dead leaves off the front of my sweater.
    “I don’t want you to be unhappy,” she replied. “I was trying to repay your kindness.”
    “I wish I’d never met you!” I cried angrily.
    “Very well.” She raised the round red crystal ball in one hand. As she raised it, her dark eyes began to glow, the same scarlet color as the crystal. “I will cancel your third wish. Make one final wish. Since you are so unhappy, I shall grant you one more.”
    I could hear the crunching of the leaves close behind me. Judith was catching up.
    “I — I wish I’d never met you!” I cried to the Crystal Woman. “I wish
Judith
had met you instead of me!”
    The crystal glowed brighter until the red light surrounded me in its glare.
    When it faded, I was standing on the edge of the woods.
    Whew
! I thought.
What a relief! What a great break!
    I’m so lucky!
    I could see Judith and Clarissa standing in the shade of a wide tree. They were huddled together, talking intently.
    This is the perfect revenge
! I told myself.
Now Judith will make a wish — and her life will be totally ruined!
    Chuckling to myself, I strained to hear what they were saying. I was dying to know what Judith would wish for.
    I’m pretty sure I heard Judith say, “Byrd, why don’t you fly away!”
    But that didn’t make any sense.
    I was so happy! So deliriously happy!
    I was free, totally free!
    I suddenly felt so different. Lighter. Happier.
    Let Judith have her wishes
! I thought gleefully.
Let her see what it’s like!
    Tilting my head, I saw a juicy brown earthwormpoke its head up from the ground. All of a sudden, I was feeling pretty hungry. I jabbed my head forward and caught the end of the worm. Then I ate it.
    Very tasty.
    I fluttered my wings, testing the wind.
    Then I took off, flying low over the woods.
    The cool breeze felt so refreshing against my feathers.
    As I fluttered my wings harder, swooping higher into the sky, I