Body Switchers from Outer Space by R.L. Stine Page A

Louder now. Coming closer—from Santa’s Village.
    I took a few steps through the village gate.
    â€œHey, is someone there?” I yelled.
    Footsteps. Slow and heavy.
    I squinted in the darkness. I saw something move—down by Santa’s sleigh.
    I could make out a shadow now—the shadow of a man. A man sitting in Santa’s sleigh.
    He stood up and stepped out of the sleigh.
    Even in the shadows I could tell he was big. Andtall. He walked slowly down Santa Street—right toward me.
    â€œWho’s there?” I shouted. “Who is it?” My voice squeaked a little.
    The man didn’t answer.
    He came closer.
    I heard his heavy shoes scrape the floor.
    And with every step he took, I heard the faint sound of jingling bells.
    Barely breathing, I stood there and watched him. Now I could make out his fur-trimmed red coat and red pants.
    Joe! The department-store Santa.
    Joe—still wearing his big white beard. Didn’t he ever take that thing off?
    â€œHey, did you unlock that door for me?” I called out to him.
    He shrugged. “Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t.”
    â€œGive me a break, Joe.” I rolled my eyes at him. “It sure took you long enough,” I complained. “I yelled my head off in there. Didn’t you hear me?”
    â€œI’m a busy guy tonight,” Joe replied. “It’s Christmas Eve, after all—the big night.”
    â€œYeah, yeah. Whatever. So you’re still mad at me for pulling your beard off,” I said sarcastically. “You wanted to teach me a lesson, right?”
    Joe walked right up to me and stared down into my eyes. He shook his head slowly from side to side. I noticed a funny little smile under his beard.
    â€œYou’ve been naughty all year, Kenny,” Joe said grimly.
    â€œNaughty?” I mimicked his voice. Then I chuckled.
    Joe wagged his finger at me, frowning.
    â€œCome on, Joe. Lighten up,” I teased. “You don’t have to drag out this Santa act for me. Christmas shopping season is over.”
    I reached up. I grabbed hold of his beard—and gave it a good yank.
    It didn’t budge.
    I pulled on it again—harder this time.
    It didn’t come off.
    No, I thought. It couldn’t be.
    Could it?

About R. L. Stine
    R. L. Stine, the creator of Ghosts of Fear Street, has written almost 100 scary novels for kids. The Ghosts of Fear Street series, like the Fear Street series, takes place in Shadyside and centers on the scary events that happen to people on Fear Street.
    When he isn’t writing, R. L. Stine likes to play pinball on his very own pinball machine, and explore New York City with his wife, Jane, and son, Matt.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
    Aladdin
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
    Copyright © 1996 by Parachute Press, Inc.
    BODY SWITCHERS FROM OUTER SPACE WRITTEN BY NINA KIRIKI HOFFMAN
    All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
    ISBN 0-671-00186-8
ISBN 978-1-4424-8739-0 (eBook)
    First Minstrel Books paperback printing November 1996
    Aladdin and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster Inc.