Don't Scream! by R. L. Stine

of the school bus and tried to hide from Mick and Darryl. But they climbed onto the bus with big grins on their faces and made their way right to me.
    Mick pulled the backpack from my hands and tossed it across the bus. Then he leaned over me. He brought his big red face so close to mine, I could smell the chewing gum on his breath.
    â€œAre you going to stand on your head again, Jacko?” he said.
    â€œCome on, Jacko. Do it again,” Darryl said. “Come out in the aisle. Let’s see you do it again.”
    â€œLook. The bee sting made me a little crazy,” I said. “I was in pain, you know? So give me a break.”
    For some reason, that made them laugh really hard.
    â€œWe want to hear you scream again,” Mick said. He snapped his finger against my nose.
    â€œOW.” I flinched and jerked my head back.
    â€œYou can do better than that,” Mick said.
    â€œGo ahead,” Darryl echoed. “Scream like a girl. Just like you did in class.”
    I crossed my arms in front of me. “No way,” I said.
    Mick snapped his finger over my nose again. “Come on, Jacko. We all want to hear you scream again. That was awesome.”
    â€œAwesome,” Darryl repeated.
    â€œI’m going to call Charlene, and she’ll throw you off this bus,” I said.
    That made them laugh even harder.
    â€œShe can’t,” Darryl said. “She’ll lose her job.”
    Mick leaned over me. “Punch Me and Pinch Me got into a canoe,” he said. “Punch Me jumped into the river. Who was left in the boat?”
    I rolled my eyes. “Pinch Me,” I said.
    â€œOkay.” Mick tightened his thumb and finger over my shoulder and gave me a pinch that brought tears to my eyes. But I didn’t scream.
    â€œTry again,” Darryl said. He glanced to the front to make sure Charlene wasn’t watching.
    â€œPunch Me and Pinch Me got into a canoe,” Mick said. “Pinch Me jumped out. Who was left in the canoe?”
    â€œNo one,” I said. “The canoe sank.”
    Mick balled his hand into a fist and gave my shoulder a punch — so hard, it changed my shirt size.
    I gasped, but I didn’t scream.
    â€œTry again,” Darryl told him.
    â€œPunch Me and Pinch Me got into a canoe —” Mick started.
    â€œPlease!” I cried. “I’ve had a bad day. What can I do to make you two go pick on someone else?”
    Mick grabbed my wrist. “You wearing the cool digital watch? We can make a trade. You give me the watch …”
    â€œAnd what will
you
do?” I asked.
    â€œI’ll wear it,” Mick said.
    â€œThat’s a trade?” I cried. “I give you the watch, and you wear it?”
    He nodded. Darryl laughed.
    â€œNo trade,” I said. “I told you guys, my grandfather gave me this watch. It’s really special to me.”
    â€œSpecial to me, too,” Mick said, rubbing his finger over the glass.
    â€œNo trade,” I repeated.
    Mick raised his big fist. “Punch Me and Punch Me got into a canoe,” he said. “Which one of them jumped out?”
    I clenched my arm muscles, getting ready for the punch.
    But Charlene came to my rescue. “Mick? Darryl? Your stop!” she shouted. “Or do you want me to drive around the block so you can punch Jack some more?”
    Charlene is a riot.
    Mick swung his fist and gave me a tap that sent me sprawling halfway down the aisle. “See you tomorrow,” he said.
    â€œNot if I see you first,” I muttered.
    â€œDid you know my family and I are moving away?” Mick asked.
    â€œHuh? Really?”
    â€œGuess you’re broken up about that,” Mick said. “Guess you’ll miss me.”
    I didn’t reply.
    He stared hard at me. “Maybe you’ll give me that watch as a going-away present.”
    â€œI … don’t think so,” I said.
    He turned and the two of them shambled off