Casketball Capers (2 page)

And cooking without garlic.

Early one night, Lee's mom called up the stairs, just like she did every evening.

“Lee! Time to get up for school!”

Lee blinked sleepily in the bright moonlight.

“Aw,” he groaned. “Just five more minutes!”

“No, dear. It's already ten past eight. If you don't get up now you'll be late.”

Lee got dressed and went down to the kitchen for breakfast.

Dad was getting ready to go to work. He patted Lee on the head.

“See you later, Lee,” he said. “Have a good night at school. And good luck in the game. Don't let any of those werewolves near the casket!”

“Thanks, Dad, I won't,” grinned Lee, gulping down a mouthful of blood-orange juice.

Lee was on the St. Orlok's school casketball team. Casketball was the vampire version of basketball. Today they were playing in the Junior Interschool Series against the werewolves of Chaney Street Elementary School.

With a little
POP!
Dad changed into a bat and fluttered out of the kitchen window.

Then Lee remembered.

“Hey, Mom! We're starting bat lessons today! We're learning how to turn into bats and how to fly. I can't wait!”

“Come on then,” said Mom, looking at her watch. “Got your casketball uniform? Good. Now put your cloak on and run upstairs to comb your hair. And don't forget to brush your fangs.”

Chapter 2

Bat Lessons

Mom left Lee at the gates of St. Orlok's. She gave him a peck on the cheek, said, “See you at half past three,” then with a
POP!
she turned into a bat and flapped back home.

Lee ran to join Bella Williams and Billy Pratt, his best friends at school. They were all in Miss Gargoyle's class and were very excited about their first bat lesson.

“Being a bat will be great,” said Lee. “We'll be able to fly to the tops of trees instead of climbing them.”

“No way!” said Billy, who didn't like heights. “The best thing will be flying
really
fast.”

“Did you know that there are over a thousand types of bats?” said Bella. “Mom bought me a book about it. I wonder what kind we'll turn into…”

“Duh,” said Lee.
“Vampire
bats, of course.”

Lee, Billy, and Bella reached their classroom just as Miss Gargoyle was about to take attendance.

“Settle down now, children,” said Miss Gargoyle. “Tonight I will show you one of the most important vampire skills—how to turn into a bat!”