You Can't Scare Me! by R. L. Stine Page B

the day!
    I turned and silently hurried away. I couldn’t wait to get back to my friends.
    I found them in the same spot, still huddled around the dog. “Buttercup, do your stuff!” I cried excitedly, grinning and waving as I ran up to them.
    â€œYou mean they’re there?” Hat asked, surprised.
    â€œThey’re there,” I said breathlessly, “waiting to be scared.”
    â€œGreat!” Molly and Charlene exclaimed. Charlene tried to tug Buttercup to his feet.
    â€œWait,” I said. I grabbed the brown paper bag from Hat. “Before Buttercup gets up, let’s put this on first.”
    I pulled out the can of shaving cream I had brought.
    â€œWhat’s that for?” Hat demanded.
    â€œI thought we’d smear shaving cream around his mouth,” I explained. “You know. Make him look like he’s frothing. Rabid dogs always froth at the mouth. When they see a growling dog frothing up white stuff as he attacks them, Courtney and Denise will drop dead!”
    â€œExcellent!” Molly cried, slapping me on the back. “That’s really excellent!”
    Everyone congratulated me. Sometimes I do have great ideas, I have to admit.
    Buttercup lumbered to his feet. He started pulling Charlene toward the clearing.
    â€œLet him get closer to them,” Charlene whispered loudly, as the big dog trotted through the trees, dragging her with him. “Then we’ll smear the stuff on and let him loose.”
    Molly, Hat, and I followed close behind. A short while later, we were at the edge of the clearing. We stopped behind the tall, thick shrubs and squatted down. We were completely hidden from view there.
    Courtney and Denise had stepped into the clearing. They were standing in the tall grass, their arms crossed over their chests, their heads bowed as they discussed whatever it was they were discussing.
    We could hear the murmur of their voices, but we weren’t close enough to hear what they were saying. Behind them, we could hear the creek trickling past in its muddy bed.
    â€œIt’s showtime, Buttercup,” Charlene whispered, bending down to unleash the dog. She turned back to us. “As soon as he heads into the clearing, I’ll start whistling.”
    Gripping the shaving cream can, I sprayed a thick puddle of white lather into my hand.
    Suddenly, I heard a sound behind us in the trees.
    A rustling, crackling sound. Something running over the dry leaves and twigs. A squirrel appeared in a break between the shrubs.
    Buttercup saw it, too. As I leaned over and reached out my hand to smear the shaving cream on his mouth, the big dog took off.
    I toppled over onto my face.
    I looked up in time to see the dog bolting for the trees, chasing after the squirrel.
    My three friends were already on their feet. “Buttercup! Buttercup! Come back!” Charlene was shouting.
    I climbed to my feet. I had shaving cream smeared over the front of my T-shirt. Ignoring it, I turned and ran into the trees after them.
    They were already pretty far ahead of me. I couldn’t see them. But I could hear Charlene yelling, “Buttercup! Come back! Buttercup — where
are
you?”

17
    I ran as fast as I could and caught up with my friends. “Where — where’s Buttercup?” I asked breathlessly.
    â€œOver there somewhere, I think,” Charlene replied, pointing to a thick clump of trees.
    â€œNo. I think I heard him over there,” Hat said, pointing in the opposite direction.
    â€œWe can’t lose him,” I said, struggling to catch my breath. “He’s too big to lose.”
    â€œI didn’t know he could run that fast,” Charlene said unhappily. “He really wants to catch that squirrel.”
    â€œDoesn’t he know he has a job to do?” Molly asked, searching the trees.
    â€œI — I shouldn’t have let go of the leash,” Charlene moaned. “Now we’ll never catch the big