I shook the flashlight

I clicked it again.

No. The light didn't flash on.

I clicked it again. Again. My heart pounding each time.

It was dead. The flashlight was dead.

The creature was escaping with my friends.

Their screams had stopped. Had he strangled them with those long, curved talons?

The wind swirled around me as I chased the monster, squeezing the flashlight in both hands. Clicking it helplessly again and again.

I didn't see the rock at the side of a driveway. With a loud cry, I stumbled over it and went sprawling onto my stomach on the ground.

The flashlight hit the pavement. Bounced hard.

And a beam of bright white light shot out of it.

Yes! It was working now!

I dove for it. Grabbed it up. Struggled to my feet.

Gasping for breath, I ran after the howling creature. I raised the flashlight. Aimed the beam of light into the creature's black, furry back.

The monster stopped. It raised its head—and opened its mouth in an angry roar.

I gasped as it whirled around to face me.

Holding the flashlight in both hands, I raised the beam of light to the panther creature's face.

It howled in pain. Raised its front paws to shield its eyes from the light.

Nicky and Tara dropped free. Toppled to the ground.

The light beam trembled. But I kept it on the monster's face.

It let out another roar, softer this time. The creature tossed its head back and shook its paws as if trying to wave the light beam away.

I expected it to turn and run. But instead, it dropped to its knees, uttering low whimpers as it sank to the ground.

I lowered the light beam. Kept it focused on the creature's head.

And watched the monster sink into the grass and start to dissolve.

As I stared in shock, it melted into a lumpy black puddle. A round black stain on the grass.

Finally, my whole body shaking, I lowered the light beam. I clicked off the flashlight and ran to Nicky and Tara.

They had climbed to their feet and were gazing around as if in a daze.

“It… it's gone!” Nicky cried.

Tara pulled off her red hat and shook out her dark hair. “Whoa … Max … you … you did it!”

Nicky and Tara were fading in and out of view. I knew that their fright had drained a lot of their energy. I could see right through them!

The darkness lifted as suddenly as it had come. And the wind stopped howling and swirling. I could see stars in the evening sky and a bright full moon.

I breathed a long sigh of relief.

Nicky tapped knuckles with me. “Way to go, dude,” he said.

Tara was still shaking her head. She brushed tears off her cheeks. “See, Max?” she said in a whisper. “There are so many ghosts and evil creatures out there. So many evil creatures who are our enemies because of the work Mom and Dad did.”

She grabbed my arm. She was so faint, I could barely feel it. “Nicky and I aren't safe,” she said. “We're never safe. And we won't be safe until we know the truth—until we know what happened to us and how we can return to life.”

She faded even more. I could barely see the two of them now. They weren't even shadows. They were wisps of faint color.

“You saw what happened just now. You've got to help us, Max,” Nicky whispered. “You've got to!”

I pictured the evil panther creature. I pictured Nicky and Tara trapped in its long claws. My friends … my best friends being carried away …

I swallowed. “Okay,” I said. “I'll do it. I'll switch brains with the monkey.”

SATURDAY MORNING I WOKE up early. I stared at myself in the dresser mirror. “Max, this could be the best or worst day of your life,” I told my reflection.

The reflection stared back at me and didn't reply.

What a day I had planned. First I'd switch brains with a chimpanzee. Then I'd perform magic in front of one of the world's greatest magicians. Then I'd go to a party with Traci Wayne.

With a day like that, it's no wonder I was talking to myself!

A few hours later, Dr. Smollet met Nicky, Tara, and me at the place where we'd first met and drove us to his lab. He seemed very cheerful. He kept talking about what a great day this would be for Nicky and Tara.

I slumped in the backseat and hardly said a word. I wanted to shove open the car door and run as far as I could.

But I'd made a promise to my friends. And I was going to grit my teeth and keep my promise.

This will all be over soon, I told myself. I forced myself to think about Ballantine and the magic tricks I had planned to show him.

As we walked through the long white halls of the lab, I heard the distant shrieks and wails of animals again. Their cages were hidden away.

Dr. Smollet led us to the same room as before. On the long table, a row of computer monitors blinked and glowed. Machines hummed against the wall.

Two tall stools had been set near the computer table. Dr. Smollet motioned for me to sit on one of them.

My legs were trembling so hard, I had trouble climbing onto the stool.

Dr. Smollet put his hand on my shoulder. “Don't worry, Max,” he said softly. “You'll be fine. You'll see.”

He typed for a few moments on the nearest keyboard. Then he hurried away to bring in Mr. Harvey.

Nicky and Tara had been admiring all the computers. When Dr. Smollet left the room, they rushed over to me.

“This is so awesome of you,” Tara said. “I can't believe you're doing this for us.”

“I can't either,” I muttered.

“We're gonna owe you—big-time,” Nicky said.

“Tell you the first thing we're gonna do for you,” Tara said. “We're gonna stay away from the magic store. Nicky and I are not going to help you with your act.”

“Oh, thank you!” I cried. “That's the best news I've heard all day. And what else are you going to do for me?”

They didn't have a chance to answer. Dr. Smollet returned, leading the chimpanzee. “Mr. Harvey is ready to go,” he said. He gave the chimp a gentle head rub.

A big, toothy grin spread over Mr. Harvey's face.

Dr. Smollet sat Mr. Harvey on the stool next to me. The chimp started to chatter and hop up and down. He reached out a big hand and mussed my hair.

“Settle down, Mr. Harvey,” Dr. Smollet scolded. “I mean it. Settle down.”

The chimp seemed to understand. He stopped chattering and dropped limply onto the stool.

“Mr. Harvey was here the day Phears did his dirty work,” Dr. Smollet said to Nicky and Tara. “Once the chimp's brain waves are inside Max, he'll be able to tell us everything he saw.”

He turned to me. “It won't take long,” he said. “As soon as we learn what Mr. Harvey knows, I'll switch the brain waves back. And you'll be back to normal, Max.”

I shoved my hands in my pockets to stop them from shaking. I don't think I'd ever been this terrified in my life.

The chimp grinned at me, stuck out his tongue, and made a spitting noise.

“Uh … I'm sorry,” I said. “I can't do this. I just remembered something I forgot to do.”

“Max, what did you forget?” Tara asked.

“I forgot to leave!”

Dr. Smollet smiled. “Funny,” he muttered. He slipped a pair of headphones over my head. I saw that they were attached to a maze of wires that ran into the computers.

“Max, don't be so nervous,” he said. “I'm a doctor, remember?”

He turned and put another pair of headphones on the chimp's head. Mr. Harvey made a spitting noise at Dr. Smollet.

“If I start spitting like that, just smack me!” I said.

I was trying to make a joke. But everyone was too tense to laugh.

“Ready for the brain waves transfer,” Dr. Smollet said.

He patted me on the shoulder. “Don't look so worried, Max,” he said. “You won't feel a thing….”

MY MOUTH SUDDENLY FELT dry as cotton. I couldn't swallow. I realized I was breathing hard, gasping for breath even though I was sitting still.

Mr. Harvey sat on the stool beside me. He held on to the headphones and bounced gently up and down.

Dr. Smollet began typing frantically on a computer keyboard. “Max, watch the monitor!” he shouted.

His voice was muffled because of the headphones I was wearing.

Nicky and Tara stepped up beside me. “This is totally awesome of you,” Tara said. “I repeat. We'll owe you big-time.”

“Yes, you will,” I agreed.

On the monitor screen, I saw my profile and the chimp's profile. Leaning over the keyboard, Dr. Smollet kept typing.

I felt a buzzing in my head. Soft at first, then louder.

On the screen, my head and the chimp's head slid closer together.

The headphones began to vibrate. I reached my hands up and pressed against them. The buzz increased to a roar.

Nicky and Tara held me by the shoulders. The three of us stared at the monitor as my head and the chimp's head moved closer … closer together … closer …

Until Mr. Harvey's head covered mine.

I felt a whoosh of wind, as if someone had blown a puff of air inside my head.

It lasted only a second. A strange, frightening feeling that made my whole body shudder.

I gripped the headphones as if holding on to a lifeboat. And suddenly, I felt as if I was underwater. The air seemed to ripple like water. And I felt light, floating.

The monitor screen blurred. The white lab walls gleamed brighter and brighter until they washed everything else from my sight.

I blinked—and everything slowly drifted back into focus.

“Max? Are you okay?”

I could hear Tara's voice. But it sounded very far away.

“Max? Max?”

I blinked a few more times. Then I glanced around, struggling to see clearly, my head still buzzing.

Mr. Harvey hadn't moved from the stool next to me. He still gripped his headphones and bounced up and down. Dr. Smollet was typing on his keyboard. Nicky and Tara stood next to me, their faces creased with worry.

I stuck my tongue out and made a loud spitting noise at them.

Oh no! Why did I do that?

“Sorry,” I said. I tugged the headphones off.

“Max? How do you feel?” Dr. Smollet asked. He stepped over to my stool and took the headphones from me. “Are you okay?”

“I guess,” I said. “I don't feel very different.”

“Oh, thank goodness!” Tara cried.

“Hoo hoo hoo,” I said.

Huh? Monkey noises?

Dr. Smollet smiled and nodded. “I think the transfer is working,” he said.

“I still feel like me,” I said. “I don't really feel hoo hoo hoo very different.”

I tested my memory. I remembered my name … my address … my phone number.

Yes! I was still Max Doyle.

The brains didn't switch. I was still me!

I suddenly thought about lunch. Would there be a banana?

Dr. Smollet kept smiling at me. “Success! I'm very pleased,” he said. “It will take a short while for the chimp's brain to settle into Max's brain. But when it does—”

“Hoo hoooo,” I said, hopping up and down on the tall stool. “Hoo hoo hooo.”

“When the brain settles down,” Dr. Smollet continued, “Mr. Harvey will be able to tell us— through Max—everything he saw.”

“Hoo,” I said, nodding. I reached out one hand and worked at removing a piece of fuzz from Tara's shirt.

“Max, do you feel totally weird?” Nicky asked.

I hopped up and down. “Hoo hoo,” I said. “Yeah. Kinda weird. It's like there's someone else in here with me.”

Dr. Smollet picked up the chimp. “Mr. Harvey seems a little dazed,” he said. “I'm going to take him to the kitchen over there and give him something to eat.”

He turned and started walking toward a white door at the far end of the lab. Mr. Harvey waved to us over Dr. Smollet's shoulder.

“When I come back, we'll question Max,” Dr. Smollet said. “At last, you two kids will have some answers!”

He and the chimp disappeared into the kitchen.

Nicky and Tara had big grins on their faces. They were practically hopping up and down too.

“Max, this is so awesome!” Tara cried. “You're going to tell us what happened to our family. And maybe you can tell us how to be alive again!”

“Thanks, dude!” Nicky said. He slapped me a high five.

“Wish Mom and Dad were here,” Tara said.

“Hoo hoo,” I replied. I suddenly wanted to scratch my chest.

I struggled to think clearly. “You know, I still hoo hoo feel like me,” I said. My voice came out scratchy and high. “And I still think like me,” I told them. “But … I want a banana really badly.”

Nicky and Tara laughed. They thought I was joking.

I shut my eyes for a moment and thought really hard.

Was the chimp's brain really inside mine? If so, why did I still think like me?

Yes, I was making chimp sounds. And yes, I had some chimp feelings.

But what about the chimp memories? What about the things Mr. Harvey was supposed to reveal to Nicky and Tara? Were those memories inside my head?

“Max, why are your eyes closed?” Nicky asked.

“What is it?” Tara demanded. “Are you okay? What are you thinking about?”

Good question.

I was thinking about bananas. And about scratching myself.

But what else?

Where were the important chimp memories?

Where was the important information?

“Uh-oh,” I murmured. A wave of dread swept over me, making me feel heavy and cold.

“Hoo hoo,” I said. “Something is wrong, guys. Something is terribly wrong.”

THEY STARED AT ME with their mouths open.

I struggled to think clearly. If only I had a banana. Or maybe some grapes.

I suddenly had to go to the bathroom. Should I do it in my pants?

“Hoo hoo,” I said.

I shook my head hard. No time for monkey talk. I had to tell Nicky and Tara what I was thinking.

“Listen, guys,” I said in my scratchy voice. “Something is very wrong. Hoo hoo. The chimp brain is inside me. I can hoo hoo feel it.”

“Yes?” Tara asked. “And?”

I reached up to her hair and started to work my fingers through it, grooming her, searching for fleas. She pulled my arm away gently. “Max, what are you trying to say?”

“The chimp brain is empty!” I cried. I started hopping furiously up and down. “Hoo hoo!”

“I—I don't understand,” Nicky said. “What do you mean?”

“Give him a chance,” Tara scolded her brother. “He's part chimp. It takes him time to get the words out.”

I took a deep breath. “The brain is empty,” I said, speaking slowly, forcing myself to concentrate. “It doesn't have any memories. There are no memories of you or your family.”

“No way!” Tara cried. “You're just not thinking right, Max.”

“There's nothing to think about,” I said. “Hoo hoo hoo. I want a banana really badly. That's my only thought. Don't you see? Something is wrong. I have chimp thoughts—but no memories at all!”

I jumped down from the stool. I started toward the kitchen.

“Where are you going?” Tara cried. She and Nicky hurried after me.

I was lumbering from side to side, like a chimp.

“Don't panic, Max,” Tara said. “Dr. Smollet will be able to get the memories from your brain. You have to wait for him.”

“Hoo hoo,” I said. “There's something weird going on.”

I wobbled across the lab to the kitchen. Nicky and Tara ran close behind me.

I pulled open the door and we stepped inside.

No one there. An empty room.

And it wasn't a kitchen. It was an empty closet. With an open door at the other end.

“Dr. Smollet!” Nicky and Tara both shouted. “Dr. Smollet! Where are you?”

No answer.

All I could hear were the shrieks and cries of the lab animals far down the hall.

“Dr. Smollet? Dr. Smollet?”

We ran up and down the long halls, searching for him, shouting his name.

No answer.

“Hoo hoo,” I said, hopping up and down angrily. “He and Mr. Harvey have run away!”

THE WORDS MADE ME dizzy. I sank onto the floor. I shook my head sadly.

“He … he took my brain,” I whispered. “I … I'm half chimpanzee!”

Nicky and Tara dropped down beside me. “We'll find him,” Tara said. “Don't worry, Max. We'll search the whole town if we have to.”

“We'll get the rest of your brain back,” Nicky said.

I felt sick. My stomach tightened into a knot. I didn't even want a banana anymore.

My brain. Part of my brain was inside that chimp. And part of his brain was inside me.

I didn't understand. Was it some kind of evil trick?

What if we never saw Dr. Smollet again? Would I be forced to spend the rest of my life as Max the Incredible Monkey Boy?

“No,” I murmured. “No, no, no. Hoo hoo. This can't be happening to me.”

I glanced at my watch. “I'm late!” I cried, jumping up. “I'm late for my tryout with Ballan-tine!”

Nicky and Tara helped me up. “We'll get you to the audition,” Tara said. “Don't worry.”

“Hoooo,” I said. I started picking at one of Tara's ears. Why couldn't I keep my hands off her head?

“I'm half chimp,” I wailed. “How can I do my tricks?”

“Just act like everything is okay,” Nicky said. “I'll bet no one even notices.”

“Yeah, right,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Halfway through my tricks, I'll start picking through Ballantine's hair!”

“He'll think it's part of the act,” Tara said.

We walked down the long white halls. I could hear animals shrieking and crying on all sides. I wanted to sit down and cry too.

My brain. My beautiful, awesome brain was half chimp.

Nicky and Tara shouted Dr. Smollet's name all the way down the hall again.

Still no reply.

The front door stood wide open. Dr. Smollet and Mr. Harvey must have run out—in a very big hurry to get away.

But why?

Why run off and leave me like this?

“Go to the magic store and do your best,” Tara said. “Nicky and I will search this whole town. We won't give up until we find Dr. Smollet and that chimp. We'll get your brain back, Max. I promise.”

“Yes, we both promise,” Nicky said.

Why didn't their promise cheer me up?

I had to go home to get my magic kit. We climbed onto the Miller Street bus and walked all the way to the back.

“Hoo hoo,” I said, shaking my head sadly.

Nicky and Tara sat down with their heads lowered, their hands clasped tightly in their laps. All three of us felt sick with worry. We didn't feel like talking.

A few blocks later, the driver suddenly stopped the bus. He climbed out of his seat and walked to the back. “Young man,” he called. “Would you please stop swinging on the poles?”

Oops.

“Sorry,” I muttered. I let go of the pole and dropped down beside Nicky and Tara. I didn't even realize I was swinging.

“Hoo hoo hoo,” I said.

The driver stared at me for a long time. “Do you kids think you're funny?” he snarled.

“Hoo,” I said.

“You know who,” he snapped. “You, that's who.”

“Hoo,” I said.

Shaking his head, he walked back to the front and started the bus up. I wanted to swing some more. But Nicky and Tara held me down.

“You'll be okay, Max,” Tara said softly. “I promise. You'll be perfectly okay.”

Of course she was wrong.

MOM DROVE ME TO the magic store. I sat beside her and stared straight ahead. I gripped my magic kit tightly in my lap.

“You're very quiet today,” Mom said.

“Hoo,” I replied.

“Who? You!” She laughed. “Are you worried about the famous magician?”

“Hoo,” I said.

“You know. Ballantine,” she replied.

“I'm a little tense,” I managed to say. I put my lips together and made a loud, juicy spitting noise.

“After your tryout, I'll drive you straight to Traci's party,” Mom said.

I made another spitting noise.

“The party won't be that bad,” Mom said, pulling into a parking space. “I thought you had a crush on Traci Wayne.”

“Hoo,” I said.

“Ha, ha. Very funny,” Mom replied, rolling her eyes. “You're in a very weird mood.”

Well, yeah, Mom. You see, I've never been half chimpanzee before!

That's what I wanted to say. But of course I didn't.

I thanked her for the ride and climbed out of the car. Again, there was a big crowd around the magic store. The line of magicians stretched down the block. I wobbled my way to the back of the line.

Luckily, I had packed a couple of bananas and a few tangerines in my magic kit to keep up my energy. The woman in front of me had long red hair. I wanted to groom it for her. But somehow I managed to keep my hands to myself.

The line moved up slowly.

I couldn't help myself. I hopped up and down and shouted, “Hoo hoo hoo!”

The red-haired magician spun around. “What's your problem, kid?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Just warming up my voice,” I said. I picked a piece of lint off her poncho. Then I pulled back my lips and flashed her a toothy grin.

She rolled her eyes and spun back around.

Finally, my turn came to perform for Ballan-tine the Nearly Amazing. He sat on his tall chair, with Mr. and Mrs. Hocus at his sides. Today he was dressed all in black—black trousers, a black turtleneck, and a black turban on his head.

“Hello, Max. Nice to see you back,” he boomed in his deep voice.

He remembered me!

I climbed onto the little stage and took a bow. I'd brought a new trick with me because I couldn't do the drinking glass trick. Aaron's doctor had to break the glasses to get them off his hands.

I set a top hat upside down on the table on the stage. Then I raised a pitcher of water over the hat. “Hoo hoo. The Pitcher of Endless Disappearing Water!” I announced.

The idea was that I would pour the pitcher of water into the hat. The pitcher would keep pouring and pouring. It would never empty. And when I picked up the hat, it would be totally dry. No water.

It wasn't a hard trick. I'd practiced it hundreds of times.

But as I raised the pitcher, I suddenly got a better idea. I decided to stand on my head and pour the water.

“Hoo hoo hoo,” I said. My chest suddenly itched a lot. I stopped to scratch it with both hands.

Then I stuck out my tongue at Ballantine and made a loud spitting noise.

His smile faded. He leaned forward in his big chair. He had a confused look on his face.

“Hoo hoo.” I started to stand on my head.

But then I had an even better idea. I jumped onto the table. I kicked the top hat into the air. “Hoo hoo!” I cried. I scratched myself some more.

“Ha, ha!” Ballantine laughed. “He's a monkey. I get it! He's a monkey magician!”

Mr. and Mrs. Hocus started to laugh. And soon everyone in the back room at the store was laughing.

I made more spitting noises. I did a few cartwheels over the tabletop.

“Hoo hoo hoo.”

Then I poured the pitcher of water over my head.

“Ha, ha, ha,” Ballantine laughed some more. “Chimp magic. Look at him. He's very believable! Ha, ha!”

I wobbled off the stage. I felt kinda sick. That wasn't the trick I'd rehearsed.

Ballantine was laughing. Did that mean he liked it?

I wanted to climb a tree and hide on the highest limb and eat leaves.

But I saw him waving me over. He climbed down from his chair and led me to the side of the room.

My heart was pounding. I couldn't stop hopping up and down.

Ballantine rested his hand on my shoulder. “Chimp magic, huh?” he said softly. “Funny. Very original. It made me laugh, kid. But it's not what I'm looking for.”

I pressed my lips together and made a loud spitting sound.

“Don't be disappointed,” Ballantine said. “It was a nice try. But that monkey act just doesn't make it.”

He patted my shoulder and gave me a gentle shove toward the door. “Come back in a few years—okay, Max?”

I slumped through the store. I gazed at the line of eager magicians. Two or three of them would be lucky. They would become students of Ballantine's.

But not me. I'd blown my big chance. I'd poured water on myself and spit in Ballantine's face.

How stupid was that?

And all because of my two ghost friends, Nicky and Tara.

Where were they? I wondered.

Had they tracked down that evil creep Smollet? They had to keep their promise. No way could I keep on going with this chimp brain inside me.

I pictured myself in school. Sitting in class. Pouring water over my head. Doing cartwheels. And spitting in Ms. McDonald's face.

“I need to get my brain back to normal!” I shouted.

Several magicians turned and gaped at me.

“Sorry,” I said. “That's part of my act. Brain magic. Ha, ha. Hoo hoo.”

I hurried across the street to my mom's car.

Now it was time for Traci's cousin's birthday party.

My big chance to be at a party with the coolest girl in school.

Could I keep my monkey brain under control?

TRACI'S COUSIN STELLA GREETED me at her door. She was a tiny girl with curly brown hair and pointy ears that poked out of her hair and stood straight up like mouse ears.

I knew she was a sixth grader like me. But she looked about four years old. And she was wearing a frilly, lacy party dress that made her look like some kind of doll that should be kept on a shelf.

“Hoo hoo. Happy birthday,” I said. I handed her the present Mom had wrapped for me.

“Thanks,” Stella said. “What is it?”

“I don't know,” I said. “Something my mom picked out.”

She tossed it into the house. “Do you have your flashlight?” she asked. “You can't come in unless you have it. It's a flashlight party.”

I held up my flashlight. “Hoo hoo,” I said. I hopped up and down and scratched Stella under the chin.

“That's not funny,” she said. “Traci said you were kind of odd.” She pushed open the screen door. “I guess you can come in.”

“Thanks,” I said. “Hoo hoo. Traci said you were really awesome.”

That was a total lie, but I was trying to be nice. I mean, it was her birthday and everything.

“Traci thinks I'm a wimp,” Stella said. But a smile spread over her tiny face. “We're going to play Spin the Flashlight later. I'll show her who's a wimp!”

Spin the Flashlight?

This really was a flashlight party! My first!

Stella led me into the living room. It was decorated with pink and yellow balloons everywhere. And it was crowded with kids.

“Traci is already here,” Stella said. She pointed. I saw Traci, her back to me.

“Hoo hoo,” I said.

Stella squinted. “Why do you keep saying that, Max?”

I shrugged. “Just a bad habit,” I said.

I started across the room. Kids were shining their flashlights into each other's eyes and laughing. Two boys were using their flashlights to poke each other in the stomach.

I knew they had to be sixth graders. But they all looked totally babyish.

“Hi, Traci,” I said.

She turned around—and smiled at me!

I nearly fainted. Traci Wayne smiled at me!

“Max,” she said, “compared to the drippy nerds in this room, you're almost okay.”

Wow! A compliment!

“Hoo hoo,” I said. I pulled up my shirt and scratched my belly with both hands.

Traci groaned. “I take back what I just said,” she said.

Stella hurried over. “Max, why did you do that?”

“I'm a party animal,” I said.

“It's time for our flashlight games,” Stella said. She turned and shouted for everyone to pay attention. “Flashlight games, everyone! This is going to be way cool!”

“Hoo hoo,” I said.

Traci leaned close and whispered in my ear. “Max, I'm warning you. Don't embarrass me.”

“No problem,” I said. I stuck out my tongue and spit all over her.

“Uck!” Traci cried, wiping my spit off her chin. “How funny are you? Not!” She hurried to the other side of the room.

I clenched my hands into fists. I knew I had to hold myself in. I had to be totally on guard at all times. No way did I want Traci to know about my little monkey problem.

I hung back and stayed quiet when the games began. But to my shock, the games went on for hours. You have no idea how many flashlight games there are!

Stella and most of the other kids seemed to be having a great time. Traci stayed against the wall, making calls on her cell phone to all her cool friends. I hung in another corner, trying not to act like a chimp and give myself away.

Finally, I couldn't help it. I opened my flashlight, pulled out a battery, and started sucking on it, making loud, disgusting sucking noises.

Do you have to ask why? Because I was part chimpanzee!

Stella stopped the game. Her mouth dropped open. “Max? What are you doing?” She started shouting for her mom.

Her mom came running into the room. She looked just like Stella, only maybe a few inches taller. She pulled the battery from my mouth. “Young man, are you trying to be funny?” she asked. “Do you know how dangerous this is?”

I saw Traci staring at me. She was blushing bright red.

I had totally embarrassed her.

Something inside me snapped. I wanted to be nice, well-mannered, quiet Max Doyle.

But I had a monkey problem. And there was nothing I could do about it.

The monkey took over. I wobbled to the food table. I grabbed up a big hunk of potato salad and flung it at Stella's mom.

It hit her on the forehead with a wet smack and dripped down her face.

I heaved another pile of potato salad and hit the wall above the fireplace.

“Max! Stop it! Are you crazy? Stop it!”

That was Traci screaming at me.

Could I stop it? No way.

I climbed up on the food table. Raised a big bowl of pretzels above my head—and heaved it at a group of shocked kids across the room. Kids screamed as pretzels flew everywhere.

Then I dug both hands into the chocolate icing of the birthday cake, rubbed some of it in my hair, and flung a big hunk at Stella.

It hit her in the chin and dripped down her neck.

I was chattering like a chimp. I couldn't stop myself. I reached for two more handfuls of cake and saw Stella and her mom and Traci storm toward me.

Stella and her mom grabbed my arms and jerked me down to the floor. I struggled to climb back onto the table. But they held me tightly.

“Traci, take your friend home,” Stella's mom commanded angrily. “He is acting like a wild animal. Take him home at once.”

Traci's face was bright red. She was shaking with anger and embarrassment. “I'm so sorry,” she whispered, lowering her head. “I'm really so sorry.”

She grabbed me and pulled me to the front door. “Max, what is your problem?” she asked through gritted teeth.

“Hoo hoo,” I said.

I still had hunks of chocolate cake in my hands. I rubbed them in Traci's hair. Then I started grooming her with both hands.

Would she ever speak to me again?

Three guesses.

“HOW WAS THE BIRTHDAY party?” Mom asked.

“Great,” I said.

“Did you make a lot of new friends?”

“Oh, sure,” I said.

I hurried up to my room before I could start chimping it up again. “Nicky? Tara? Are you here?” I called, searching for them. “Where are you? Did you find Dr. Smollet?”

Silence. No sign of them.

I let out a long sigh. My life was ruined. Ruined forever.

I hopped onto my bed and began jumping up and down, making chattering noises.

Wait. Suddenly, I had a hunch. I just knew where I'd find Nicky and Tara.

Back at Dr. Smollet's lab. Don't ask me why. I had the strongest feeling that they were back there.

I had to go. I had to see if my hunch was right.

Mom was busy in the kitchen. I sneaked past her and let myself out the front door. The moon was already high in the sky. The night breeze felt cold against my face.

Wobbling like a chimp, I hurried to the bus stop.

I leaped onto a low tree limb and ate some leaves as I waited for the bus. It didn't come for nearly half an hour. Finally, I climbed inside and walked to the back.

“Hoo hoo.” I wanted to swing on the poles, but I forced myself to stay in my seat.

The bus bumped along Miller Street, then turned when it got to town. There were two other kids on the bus, but they didn't go to my school.

I got off half a block from the lab. Seeing it again, my heart began to thump. My legs felt as if they weighed a thousand pounds as I pulled open the gate, walked past the barbed wire fence, and stepped up to the front door.

This is crazy, I thought. Why would Dr. Smollet come back here?

How can I even get in?

My hand shook. I tried the front door. Was it locked? No. I pulled it open easily.

As soon as I stepped inside, I heard the cries and howls of the lab animals hidden somewhere beyond the white walls. I wanted to find them and set them all free.

But I knew that getting my brain back to normal was more important right now.

I strode quickly down the twisting white halls. I was surprised that I remembered the way.

The door to the lab stood open. I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

“Oh!” I let out a cry when I saw Dr. Smollet and Mr. Harvey in the middle of the room.

A smile spread slowly over Dr. Smollet's face. “Come in, Max,” he said. “Mr. Harvey and I have been waiting for you.”

I FROZE IN THE doorway. My whole body locked in fear.

Before I could move, Dr. Smollet rushed across the room and grabbed me by the shoulders. He was surprisingly strong. He half-dragged, half-carried me to the tall stool beside all the computers.

And I realized that Mr. Harvey was already hooked up. The chimp had headphones on. He was sitting quietly, watching the whole thing.

Dr. Smollet took a cable and wrapped it tightly around my chest and arms. He quickly tied me to the tall stool beside the chimp.

“Wh-what are you going to do?” I finally managed to say.

He ran a hand through his white beard. His cold smile grew wider. “I'm going to finish the job,” he said. “I only switched half your brains before. Now I'm going to complete the transfer. You will be a total chimp.”

He reached for a set of headphones.

“But—why?” I choked out.

“Setting my trap,” Dr. Smollet said. “Nicky and Tara's parents ruined my life. Now I'm going to trap the whole family and pay them back.”

“What are you talking about?” I shouted.

“I didn't work for the Rolands. I worked for Phears. I've waited a long time to pay them back for what they did to us ghosts.”

“By making me a chimp?” I said.

He nodded. “Nicky and Tara will do anything to save you—won't they? Even stay here with me in my lab? I'm going to make your two ghost friends a deal. I'll return your brain to normal— if they agree to stay here. You see, I'm going to use Nicky and Tara as bait to reel in their parents.”

“Your plan will never work,” I said. “Give me a chance to talk with Nicky and Tara. Maybe—”

He knew I was stalling for time. His blue eyes grew cold. He tightened the cables around me, making sure I couldn't escape. Then he moved to a computer keyboard and started typing.

I squirmed and struggled to pull myself free. I shook my head back and forth, trying to toss off the headphones.

The chimp chattered and hopped up and down on the stool next to me. I heard a low electronic hum.

I shut my eyes and clamped my teeth together.

Oh no. Oh no. This can't be happening, I thought.

He's going to suck out the last part of my brain. And leave me with a chimp brain. Max the Chimp. Max the Chimpbrain—forever.

The hum grew louder.

What could I do? I had to escape—but how?

The hum made my head vibrate. It grew louder till it drowned out all sound—even my thoughts!

And then I felt a soft puff of air inside my head. Like a puff of smoke, floating over my mind, blanking it out… blanking it all out.

I opened my eyes. I blinked several times, struggling to focus.

Dr. Smollet stood tensely at the keyboard, rubbing his beard, watching me.

I picked up my head. I scratched my chest.

“Hoo hoo hoo,” I said.

I FELT LIKE HOPPING up and down. Then I thought how nice it would be to climb a tree and pick some tasty leaves.

But I couldn't move. I was tied to the stool.

“Hoo hoo.”

“It worked,” I heard Dr. Smollet say. “I am a genius. I have transferred a chimp's brain into a living boy.”

“Hoo?”

I didn't understand. What was he talking about? Did he plan to set me free?

Where did he keep the bananas? Where were the trees for me to climb?

“Chee chee chee!” I called, trying to get his attention.

But something strange was happening to Dr. Smollet. He suddenly began acting totally weird.

His arms flew up. He spun around.

“Let me go!” he screamed. “Get off me! Nicky! Tara! Let me go!”

Who was he screaming at? I didn't see anyone else in the room except for the other chimp.

Dr. Smollet started staggering backward. He was thrashing his arms and shouting. It looked like someone was pushing him to the tall stools, except I couldn't see anyone there.

The next thing I knew, the other chimp was set free. I expected him to run away, but he didn't. He climbed down from the stool and stood scratching his head.

Squirming and kicking, Dr. Smollet plopped down on the stool next to me. “You can't do this to me!” he screamed. “Let me go! What are you doing? You two don't know how to switch brains!”

His angry words rang in my ears. What did they mean?

I watched the headphones fly up all by themselves. Then they slid down over Dr. Smollet's head.

I suddenly felt frightened. What was happening here?

Was something bad going to happen to me?

I tried to figure it all out, but thinking so hard made my head hurt. I wanted to climb to the highest tree branch I could find. But I wasn't even in my own body. I was in a boy's body! Trapped here. Trapped!

I heard a loud hum in the headphones. My head started to buzz. The buzz grew louder.

The last thing I saw was the terrified look on Dr. Smollet's face.

I felt a shock. I shut my eyes.

I felt a gentle puff of wind inside my head.

When I opened my eyes, everything had changed.

I SAW NICKY AND Tara standing by the computer keyboard. “You can't do this!” I screamed. “You can't do this to a great scientist!”

My voice came out high and shrill. I realized I was inside Max's body.

The two evil little Roland ghosts had made a successful switch. My brain was inside Max. And inside my body …

“Hoo hoo hoo!”

The chimp! Mr. Harvey's brain was now inside my body. The chimp was scratching my beard, slapping the front of my white lab coat.

I knew I'd never get over this insult. Putting the brain of a chimp inside the head of one of the world's most brilliant scientists!

I'll wait for my chance, I thought. I'll make those two ghosts pay for what they've done!

But what can I do? I'm just a boy. A brilliant scientist trapped in a boy's body!

Oh no. I gasped as I saw what those two ghost kids were doing.

They pulled my body—Dr. Smollet's body—off the other stool. They put the chimp on the stool and hooked him up with the headphones.

I knew what they planned to do.

The chimp had Max's brain inside him. And I—Dr. Smollet—was inside Max's body.

So I knew what they planned to do. And I knew I was helpless to stop them.

The loud hum in my ears again. A strong jolt of electricity. A pounding roar.

And then a gentle puff of air.

I opened my eyes. I glanced around.

Nicky and Tara ran up to me. They pulled the headphones off and tossed them to the floor. They helped me off the stool, onto the floor.

“Max? Max? Are you back to normal?” Tara cried.

“Did it work?” Nicky demanded, tugging my arm eagerly. “Did our brain transfer work, Max? Are you Max again? The right brain in the right body?”

“Hoo hoo hoo,” I said.

I LAUGHED. “I'M ONLY kidding!” I cried. “I'm back. I have my brain back again! I'm so happy, I wish I could kiss it!”

I hugged them both. “Good work, guys! You saved me! This time, you really saved me!”

“Let's get out of here,” Tara said. “This place gives me the creeps.”

I turned back. “But—what about them?”

I watched Dr. Smollet and Mr. Harvey. Their brains were switched. Dr. Smollet was pounding his chest, going, “Chee chee chee!” Mr. Harvey was pacing back and forth angrily, his hands clasped behind his back.

“We're safe now,” Nicky said. “Smollet's brain is tucked nicely inside the chimp. He can't do any evil in there.”

“But what if they switch brains again?” I asked.

“No way,” Tara said. She took the chimp by the hand. “We're taking Mr. Harvey to the zoo. They'll find him very interesting since he's so smart.”

Nicky laughed. “The smartest chimp in history! Maybe he'll be famous.”

“The zoo will never let him go,” Tara said. “Dr. Smollet will never get his brain back.”

“Hoo hoo!” Dr. Smollet called.

We ran down the long hall, dragging the chimp with us. Out on the street, the night air felt fresh and cold.

I hugged Nicky and Tara again. Yes, my performance for Ballantine was ruined. But I was a lucky dude. Lucky to have such amazing friends.

I watched Nicky and Tara head off with Mr. Harvey, the brilliant chimpanzee. I hoped he enjoyed his new home.

Then I took the Miller Street bus back to my house.

Mom was in the kitchen, grinding stuff in the food processor. “Max? Where have you been?” She had to shout over the deafening roar of the machine.

“I was kidnapped by a crazed ghost scientist. I traded brains with a chimpanzee,” I told her. “Then we traded back.”

“That's nice,” she shouted. “Now go upstairs and do your homework.”

“No problem,” I said.

• • •

The next Saturday, Mom surprised me with two tickets. Two tickets to see Ballantine the Nearly Amazing in an all-star performance at the City Center!

Can you imagine how excited I felt? I'd never seen the great magician do his act live. And our seats were in the second row!

Before the curtain, I could barely sit still. Finally, the lights went dim. The huge auditorium grew silent.

A white spotlight moved across the deep purple curtain. And a voice boomed over the loudspeaker: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to present the world-famous magician Ballantine the Nearly Amazing. Tonight he will be performing the new comedy-magic act he calls Monkey Magic. Let's hear it for Ballantine!”

The crowd cheered. The purple curtain rose slowly. I saw a carnival set. A table loaded with magic equipment.

And out came Ballantine in his glittery cape and turban, wobbling like a chimp. He turned to the audience and called out, “Hoo hoo hoo!”

The audience roared. They thought it was a riot.

Ballantine, acting like a monkey! He climbed onto the table and peeled a banana. He made the banana disappear back into the peel.

“Hoo hoo!” he called.

The audience roared and cheered. I sat back in my seat, my mouth hanging open. Mom turned to me. “Max? You're not enjoying it?” she whispered. “What's wrong?” “He … he stole my act!” I cried.

TO BE CONTINUED

Дата добавления: 2014-12-23