Read Online Be Careful What You Wish For by R. L. Stine - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: R. L. Stine
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hadn’t constantly sneered at me and said, “Byrd, why don’t you just fly away!” and all the other horrible things she’d said to me, then I never would have made any wishes about her, and I wouldn’t be all alone now.
“I hate you, Judith!” I screamed.
I jammed the last section of sandwich into my mouth — but I didn’t chew.
I froze. And listened.
I heard something. Footsteps. Someone walking in the living room.
21
I swallowed the sandwich section whole and went tearing into the living room. “Mom? Dad?”
Were they back? Were they really back?
No.
I stopped in the living room doorway when I saw Clarissa. She was standing in the center of the room, her black hair reflecting the light from the front window, a pleased smile on her face.
Her bright red shawl was draped loosely over her shoulders. She wore a long black jumper over a white high-collared blouse.
“You!” I cried breathlessly. “How did you get in?”
She shrugged. Her smile grew wider.
“Why did you
do
this to me?” I shrieked, my anger bursting out of me.
“How
could you do this to me?” I demanded, gesturing at the empty room, the empty house.
“I didn’t,” she replied quietly.
She walked to the window. In the bright afternoon sunlight, her skin appeared pale and wrinkled. She looked so old.
“But — but —” I sputtered, too furious to speak.
“You did it,” she said, her smile fading. “You made the wish. I granted it.”
“I didn’t wish for my family to disappear!” I screamed, striding into the room, my hands balled into tight fists. “I didn’t wish for
everyone in the world
to disappear!
You
did that!
You!”
“You wished for Judith Bellwood to disappear,” Clarissa said, adjusting the shawl on her shoulders. “I granted the wish as best as I knew how.”
“No. You tricked me,” I insisted angrily.
She snickered. “Magic is often unpredictable,” she said. “I figured you would not be happy with your last wish. That is why I have returned. You have one more wish. Would you like to make it now?”
“Yes!” I exclaimed. “I want my family back. I want all the people back. I —”
“Be careful,” she warned, pulling the red glass ball from the purple bag. “Think carefully before you make your final wish. I am trying to repay your kindness to me. I do not want you to be unhappy with the results of your wish.”
I started to reply but stopped.
She was right. I had to be careful.
I had to make the right wish this time. And I had to say it the right way.
“Take your time,” she urged softly. “Since this is your final wish, it shall be permanent. Be very careful.”
I stared into her eyes as they turned from black to red, reflecting the red glow of the ball in her hand, and I thought as hard as I could.
What should I wish for?
22
The light from the living room window faded as clouds rolled over the sun. As the light dimmed, the old woman’s face darkened. Deep black ruts formed beneath her eyes. Lines creased her forehead. She seemed to sag into the shadows.
“Here is my wish,” I said in a trembling voice. I spoke slowly, carefully. I wanted to consider each word. I didn’t want to slip up this time.
I didn’t want to give her a chance to trick me.
“I am listening,” she whispered, her face completely covered by shadow now. Except for her eyes, glowing as red as fire.
I cleared my throat. I took a deep breath.
“Here is my wish,” I repeated carefully. “I wish for everything to return to normal. I want
everything
to be exactly the way it was — but —”
I hesitated.
Should I finish this part of it?
Yes!
I told myself.
“I want everything to be the way it was — but I want Judith to think that I’m the greatest person who ever lived!”
“I will grant your third wish,” she said, raising the glass ball high. “Your second wish will be canceled. Time will back up to this morning. Good-bye, Samantha.”
“Good-bye,” I said.
I was swallowed up
“I hate you, Judith!” I screamed.
I jammed the last section of sandwich into my mouth — but I didn’t chew.
I froze. And listened.
I heard something. Footsteps. Someone walking in the living room.
21
I swallowed the sandwich section whole and went tearing into the living room. “Mom? Dad?”
Were they back? Were they really back?
No.
I stopped in the living room doorway when I saw Clarissa. She was standing in the center of the room, her black hair reflecting the light from the front window, a pleased smile on her face.
Her bright red shawl was draped loosely over her shoulders. She wore a long black jumper over a white high-collared blouse.
“You!” I cried breathlessly. “How did you get in?”
She shrugged. Her smile grew wider.
“Why did you
do
this to me?” I shrieked, my anger bursting out of me.
“How
could you do this to me?” I demanded, gesturing at the empty room, the empty house.
“I didn’t,” she replied quietly.
She walked to the window. In the bright afternoon sunlight, her skin appeared pale and wrinkled. She looked so old.
“But — but —” I sputtered, too furious to speak.
“You did it,” she said, her smile fading. “You made the wish. I granted it.”
“I didn’t wish for my family to disappear!” I screamed, striding into the room, my hands balled into tight fists. “I didn’t wish for
everyone in the world
to disappear!
You
did that!
You!”
“You wished for Judith Bellwood to disappear,” Clarissa said, adjusting the shawl on her shoulders. “I granted the wish as best as I knew how.”
“No. You tricked me,” I insisted angrily.
She snickered. “Magic is often unpredictable,” she said. “I figured you would not be happy with your last wish. That is why I have returned. You have one more wish. Would you like to make it now?”
“Yes!” I exclaimed. “I want my family back. I want all the people back. I —”
“Be careful,” she warned, pulling the red glass ball from the purple bag. “Think carefully before you make your final wish. I am trying to repay your kindness to me. I do not want you to be unhappy with the results of your wish.”
I started to reply but stopped.
She was right. I had to be careful.
I had to make the right wish this time. And I had to say it the right way.
“Take your time,” she urged softly. “Since this is your final wish, it shall be permanent. Be very careful.”
I stared into her eyes as they turned from black to red, reflecting the red glow of the ball in her hand, and I thought as hard as I could.
What should I wish for?
22
The light from the living room window faded as clouds rolled over the sun. As the light dimmed, the old woman’s face darkened. Deep black ruts formed beneath her eyes. Lines creased her forehead. She seemed to sag into the shadows.
“Here is my wish,” I said in a trembling voice. I spoke slowly, carefully. I wanted to consider each word. I didn’t want to slip up this time.
I didn’t want to give her a chance to trick me.
“I am listening,” she whispered, her face completely covered by shadow now. Except for her eyes, glowing as red as fire.
I cleared my throat. I took a deep breath.
“Here is my wish,” I repeated carefully. “I wish for everything to return to normal. I want
everything
to be exactly the way it was — but —”
I hesitated.
Should I finish this part of it?
Yes!
I told myself.
“I want everything to be the way it was — but I want Judith to think that I’m the greatest person who ever lived!”
“I will grant your third wish,” she said, raising the glass ball high. “Your second wish will be canceled. Time will back up to this morning. Good-bye, Samantha.”
“Good-bye,” I said.
I was swallowed up
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