CHAPTER 4
Cookie Monster
As the school bus pulled up in front of my house, Robbie said, “Talk to your mom about the sleepover, and I’ll talk to my mom.”
“Okay,” I said.
“You know you’re not going to sleep until you catch that monster,” said Robbie. “And you’ll never do it alone, so …”
Just hearing Robbie say the word “monster” made a shiver run down my spine. Max must have heard us talking, because he said, “Oh yeah, Shark Boy. Remember I want a picture of that monster in your attic next week.”
I looked at Max. I looked at Robbie. And then I grabbed my backpack and ran off the bus.
“Let me know what your mom says,” Robbie called after me.
I ran into the house and followed a delicious smell into the kitchen. My mom and Suzie were in there making chocolate-chip cookies.
“Mmmmmmm … it smells yummy in here,” I said.
I walked over to where my mom was mixing the batter, and stuck my finger into the bowl.
“Hey! Get your fat little fingers out of the bowl,” said Suzie.
“But I love eating the batter,” I said, licking my finger. I stuck my finger in again to get another taste.
“Freddy!” said my mom. “Stop sticking your dirty fingers into the bowl.”
“I don’t want your cooties in my cookies,” Suzie said, pushing me away.
“Cookies … cookies …, ” I grunted.
“What are you?” said my mom. “The Cookie Monster?”
I froze. Did she have to say that word? I had almost forgotten about the monster in the attic.
“Go wash your hands,” said my mom. “You can have some of the cookies when they come out of the oven.”
I went to the sink and washed my hands.
“What are you making cookies for?” I asked.
“Actually, they’re for me,” said Suzie. “I’m taking them to my Girl Scout picnic tomorrow, so you really can’t have too many.”
“Oh, Suzie, Freddy can have some,” said my mom. “We made plenty.”
“Robbie and I can put ice cream in between two cookies and make homemade ice-cream sandwiches later,” I said.
“You and Robbie?” asked my mom. “What do you mean?”
“I was planning on having Robbie sleep over tonight,” I said.
“Since when?” said Suzie. “You never asked Mom and Dad.”
“So, I’m asking Mom now,” I said.
“Well, she’s going to say no,” said Suzie, rolling the cookie dough into balls and sticking them on the cookie sheet.
“Why is she going to say no?” I asked.
“Because you slept on the floor last night,” Suzie said, putting the last few balls of dough on the tray.
“I did not. And you’re not my mom,” I said.
“But I am,” my mom interrupted, “and I say no.”
“See? What did I tell you?” Suzie said, grinning.
“Pleeeeaaase, Mom. Pretty please with a cherry on top?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” said my mom. “You haven’t been sleeping well the last few nights, so you’re very tired.”
“You couldn’t even get off the floor this morning,” Suzie added.
I glared at her.
“But tomorrow isn’t a school day, and I think I would sleep better with a friend in the room.”
“Nice try,” Suzie whispered to me.
I ignored her and kept talking. “I don’t think I would be as scared about the monster if I had Robbie with me.”
“It’s kind of late in the day to be making plans like this,” said my mom.
“What?” said Suzie. “You might actually consider letting Robbie sleep over? That is so not fair!”
“I didn’t say Robbie could come over,” said my mom. “Calm down, Suzie.”
“But you didn’t say no, either. Right, Mom?” I said. “Right?”
I had to convince her to let Robbie spend the night. There was no way I was going to go monster hunting by myself. “I just know I could sleep the whole night if Robbie was in the room. The monster is not going to attack me if Robbie is there.”
“Why not?” said Suzie. “He could have two juicy little boys instead of one.” She smiled an evil smile.
Did she really have to say that?
“Suzie,” said my mom, “don’t say those kinds of things to Freddy. You’re going to scare him.”
“Going to …, ” I thought. “She already has.” I didn’t think I was ever going to be able to sleep again, but I didn’t want her to know that she had me so freaked out.
“It’s okay, Mom. She doesn’t scare me,” I said, pretending to be brave. I felt my knees wobble.
Suddenly I heard a loud scratching sound.
“What’s that?” I screamed as I jumped about three feet in the air.
“Look at you, you little fraidy-cat,” Suzie said, laughing. “I just scratched my fingers on the counter, and you jumped right out of your shoes.”
“Suzie,” said my mom. “That was not nice to scare your brother like that. You need to tell him you’re sorry.”
“But it was so funny watching him jump,” said Suzie.
“Come on, Suzie. Tell Freddy you’re sorry.”
I glared at her.
She smiled at me.
“Suuuuuuzie,” said my mom. “I’m waiting.”
“Fine.” Suzie turned to me. “Sorry I made you jump, you little baby.”
“Suzie, just an ‘I’m sorry’ and nothing else,” said my mom.
“Fine. I’m sorry,” Suzie said.
“You can see that I am really freaked out by this whole thing, Mom,” I said. “I really need someone else in the room with me tonight.”
“I don’t know, Freddy …”
Just then the phone rang.
Suzie shoved me out of the way and picked it up. “Hello?” she said. She frowned and handed me the phone. “It’s for you.”
I grabbed it from her.
“Hello, Freddy. It’s Robbie. My mom says I can sleep over. What does your mom say?”
I turned to my mom. “Robbie’s mom says he can sleep over. What do you say?”
“I don’t know, Freddy …”
I gave her my sad puppy dog look.
“Oh, all right. I guess he can sleep over, but you have to promise me you two will sleep. I want you to get a good night’s rest.”
“I promise,” I said as I crossed my fingers behind my back.