52 - How I Learned to Fly by R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead) Page A
Authors: R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead)
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sight.
Finally I spotted a string of lights. A freeway! But which freeway? I
couldn’t tell!
My heart pounded in my chest. Cold beads of sweat prickled my forehead.
I’m lost, I realized, shivering in cold dread.
I am miles and miles from home.
Totally lost.
21
I landed in the tall grass on the side of the freeway.
I started to walk. Searching for a sign to tell me where I was.
I walked and walked.
The night was quiet, except for the cars that roared by—and the creepy
rustling sounds that escaped from the roadside bushes.
I stared into the bushes. Saw them move.
My heart began to beat faster.
I broke into a jog.
Cars and trucks whirred by me.
A sharp cluttering noise rang out from the dense thicket beside the highway.
I could see dark eyes glowing in the bushes.
“Hey—!”
A furry creature scuttled across my path.
A raccoon? A skunk?
I started to run.
Up ahead I finally spotted a highway sign.
I ran harder—panting now. Clouds of dirt rose up under my pounding
sneakers.
I could see the white letters on the sign—but I still couldn’t make out
what it said. As I ran toward it, a car pulled alongside me—and stopped.
I spun around—and gasped.
A police cruiser.
Yes! I thought happily. The police! They’ll help me get back home.
“Do you need help?” One of the officers stepped out of the squad car. He
tipped his cap back and stared into my eyes.
“Yes. I do. I’m kind of lost,” I told him breathlessly. “Can you take me home—to Malibu?”
“What is your name?” he asked.
“Jack.”
“Well, Jack. You’re pretty far from Malibu. How did you get here?” he asked.
I didn’t answer. What could I say? I flew here? They’d take me back
all right. And lock me up—with all the other crazy people in Los Angeles.
“Jack. Did someone drive you here?”
I shook my head no.
“Well, did you just drop out of the sky?” He sounded as if he was losing his
patience.
I shrugged my shoulders lamely.
“Get in the car, Jack,” the officer nodded toward the car door. “We’ll find
your parents for you.”
Oh, no! I suddenly changed my mind. I can’t let them take me back, I decided, shaking in panic. What will I tell Mom and Dad?
How will I explain to them how I got here?
I edged away.
The officer reached out to me. “Get in, Jack. We’ll help you.”
“Uh… no thanks,” I told him.
I raised both arms over my head.
And took off.
Gazing down—I saw the other officer leap out of the car.
The two of them stood side by side, gaping up at me with their mouths open
wide.
I followed the lights of the highway. I didn’t know what else to do. Finally
the buildings of Los Angeles came back into view. I let out a long sigh of
relief. Then I turned in midair and flew home to Malibu.
I landed quietly behind the garage. I smoothed out my hair. Straightened my
T-shirt. I took a deep breath and sneaked into the house.
I could hear my parents in the living room, talking. I stopped in the kitchen
and listened.
Were they talking about me?
Did they notice I was gone?
“I don’t know where else to look,” I heard Dad say. “I’ve searched
everywhere!”
My heart began to pound.
What am I going to tell them?
I held my breath and listened some more.
“I know! I know!” Mom exclaimed. “We have to stay calm. You’ll find a new
client soon. Someone with real talent. I just know it.”
I breathed a long sigh of relief.
They didn’t notice.
Next time, I have to be more careful, I promised myself. Much more careful.
Mia is right. Flying can be really dangerous. Especially if you don’t know
where you’re flying!
I tiptoed to my room and closed the door.
The phone rang.
“Are you ready for the big race tomorrow?” It was Wilson.
“Huh? What race?” I asked.
“I told Mr. Grossman that we’re going to put on a race for the whole school
tomorrow,” Wilson declared.
“What kind of race?” I asked him.
“A race they’ll never
Finally I spotted a string of lights. A freeway! But which freeway? I
couldn’t tell!
My heart pounded in my chest. Cold beads of sweat prickled my forehead.
I’m lost, I realized, shivering in cold dread.
I am miles and miles from home.
Totally lost.
21
I landed in the tall grass on the side of the freeway.
I started to walk. Searching for a sign to tell me where I was.
I walked and walked.
The night was quiet, except for the cars that roared by—and the creepy
rustling sounds that escaped from the roadside bushes.
I stared into the bushes. Saw them move.
My heart began to beat faster.
I broke into a jog.
Cars and trucks whirred by me.
A sharp cluttering noise rang out from the dense thicket beside the highway.
I could see dark eyes glowing in the bushes.
“Hey—!”
A furry creature scuttled across my path.
A raccoon? A skunk?
I started to run.
Up ahead I finally spotted a highway sign.
I ran harder—panting now. Clouds of dirt rose up under my pounding
sneakers.
I could see the white letters on the sign—but I still couldn’t make out
what it said. As I ran toward it, a car pulled alongside me—and stopped.
I spun around—and gasped.
A police cruiser.
Yes! I thought happily. The police! They’ll help me get back home.
“Do you need help?” One of the officers stepped out of the squad car. He
tipped his cap back and stared into my eyes.
“Yes. I do. I’m kind of lost,” I told him breathlessly. “Can you take me home—to Malibu?”
“What is your name?” he asked.
“Jack.”
“Well, Jack. You’re pretty far from Malibu. How did you get here?” he asked.
I didn’t answer. What could I say? I flew here? They’d take me back
all right. And lock me up—with all the other crazy people in Los Angeles.
“Jack. Did someone drive you here?”
I shook my head no.
“Well, did you just drop out of the sky?” He sounded as if he was losing his
patience.
I shrugged my shoulders lamely.
“Get in the car, Jack,” the officer nodded toward the car door. “We’ll find
your parents for you.”
Oh, no! I suddenly changed my mind. I can’t let them take me back, I decided, shaking in panic. What will I tell Mom and Dad?
How will I explain to them how I got here?
I edged away.
The officer reached out to me. “Get in, Jack. We’ll help you.”
“Uh… no thanks,” I told him.
I raised both arms over my head.
And took off.
Gazing down—I saw the other officer leap out of the car.
The two of them stood side by side, gaping up at me with their mouths open
wide.
I followed the lights of the highway. I didn’t know what else to do. Finally
the buildings of Los Angeles came back into view. I let out a long sigh of
relief. Then I turned in midair and flew home to Malibu.
I landed quietly behind the garage. I smoothed out my hair. Straightened my
T-shirt. I took a deep breath and sneaked into the house.
I could hear my parents in the living room, talking. I stopped in the kitchen
and listened.
Were they talking about me?
Did they notice I was gone?
“I don’t know where else to look,” I heard Dad say. “I’ve searched
everywhere!”
My heart began to pound.
What am I going to tell them?
I held my breath and listened some more.
“I know! I know!” Mom exclaimed. “We have to stay calm. You’ll find a new
client soon. Someone with real talent. I just know it.”
I breathed a long sigh of relief.
They didn’t notice.
Next time, I have to be more careful, I promised myself. Much more careful.
Mia is right. Flying can be really dangerous. Especially if you don’t know
where you’re flying!
I tiptoed to my room and closed the door.
The phone rang.
“Are you ready for the big race tomorrow?” It was Wilson.
“Huh? What race?” I asked.
“I told Mr. Grossman that we’re going to put on a race for the whole school
tomorrow,” Wilson declared.
“What kind of race?” I asked him.
“A race they’ll never
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