by Steven Banks
I was washing the big, disgusting gravy pan—which Emma always gets out of washing somehow—when the moon came up. I put the pan down as I started to change.
“Mom!” yelled Emma. “Tom isn’t doing the dishes!”
“I’m turning into a werewolf!” I yelled.
“Stop yelling, I’m trying to sleep!” yelled Dad.
“Tom, when you’re done changing, finish the dishes, please!” said Mom.
“Okay!” I said. “When I’m done, can I go run around the woods?”
“Yes!” said Mom.
“Can you all stop yelling so I can listen to my music!” yelled Gram.
* * *
We finally finished the dishes. I raced out the back screen door and into the woods. The weather was cool and crisp and the fir trees smelled great. I ran up and down hills, jumped over fallen trees, and leapt off rocks, going really high in the air. I felt like I could run around forever. It’s a pretty awesome feeling. It’s one of the perks of being a werewolf.
After a while, I sat down on a log. I made a list, in my mind, of the good stuff and bad stuff that had happened over the past few months.
GOOD STUFF
I met another vampire: Martha Livingston.
I learned how to turn into a bat and fly.
Professor Beiersdorfer didn’t turn Zeke and me into robots.
I got to dance with Annie.
I found out I have a great voice when I’m a werewolf.
Nobody recognized me when I went trick-or-treating and I got a ton of candy.
BAD STUFF
Tanner Gantt dressed up as me for Halloween.
I was almost Professor Beiersdorfer’s pet bat.
Zeke and I came in last place for our science project.
I only have my great voice when I’m a werewolf.
An owl almost ate me.
Annie kicked me out of the band.
Annie hates me.
I got thirsty, so I trotted over to a stream and lapped up some cold, fresh water. While I was drinking, I heard a noise. Leaves crunching under somebody’s feet. The sound got closer. I slowly raised my head and looked across the stream.
I could see it clearly in the moonlight. A gray face, white fur, the left blue eye surrounded by a dark circle. It was the werewolf that bit me. He was even bigger than I remembered.
Martha Livingston had told me to run away if I ever saw him again. He looked like he could easily leap over the stream and attack me. I couldn’t outrun him, but I could turn into a bat and fly away. For once I was glad to be one-third vampire.
I quickly said, “Turn to bat —”
The wolf spoke.
“Good evening.”
Acknowledgments
These people deserve a round of special thanks.
Jud Laghi, my agent, does all the important agenting things, so I can concentrate on writing.
Sally Morgridge is everything you want and need in an editor and continues to make these books better.
The gang at Holiday House who do all the massive behind-the-scenes work to get books out to you, the reader.
Mark Fearing, for the excellent illustrations.
John Simko, sharp-eyed copyeditor, who fixes all my mistakes.
Annette Banks, teacher, tutor, critic, sounding board, dance partner, nurse, Sherpa, confidante, who thankfully said “Yes” when I asked, “Will you marry me?”
Mom and Dad, always in my heart, whose generosity and support allowed me to write this book and the first one. (I won the Parent Lottery.)
Nancy and Alan, siblings supreme. (I won the Sibling Lottery, too.)
I’m lucky to have very good friends. “You’ve got to have friends to make the day last long and 2 get through this thing we call life.”
Maryrose Wood for all the book world help. (Read her terrific books!)
Lord and Lady Marks for their very special help.
You, the person reading this right now. Keep reading, there are a lot of cool books out there!
And if you are STILL reading this, I am going to give you a sneak preview of the next book: Tom is going to meet the zombie who bit him…