“This is my pet snake. His name is Fang,” I said.

Ms. Winkleworth had given me special permission to bring Fang to school and give a presentation on him.

“He likes to sit in his tank, and he eats mice.”

“Does he bite?” someone asked.

I nodded. “He’s very ferocious. He just ate last night though, so we should be fine. But I wouldn’t get too close if I were you. I’m a snake wrangler, so I know what I’m doing.”

“Wow,” someone else said. It was Regina! “Can I pet him?”

“I don’t think we should open his tank in the classroom,” Ms. Winkleworth said.

“I like snakes,” said Regina. She looked over her shoulder. “But I think my brother is a little scared of them.”

Ralph was standing at the back of the classroom, as far away from me and Fang as possible.

“I’m NOT scared of that thing,” he said. “I just don’t like it, okay?” He didn’t even snort, so I knew he must have been scared.

“Since you and Zoe and Bernard caught your snake and chased away your ghost, can you come over to our house?” asked Regina. “I bet you could get rid of whatever is haunting our basement.”

“What?” cried Zoe.

“Are you crazy?” asked Bernard.

“Absolutely,” I said. I remembered what Spaceman Jack says whenever someone asks for his help. “Whatever it is, I’m sure we can handle it.”

Because I’m Sam Wu. And I am NOT afraid.10

¹⁰ I really, really, REALLY hope there isn’t actually a zombie werewolf in their basement.