11-KISS! KISS!

Kiss! Kiss! I started to thank Tina, but she had already hung up. I put down the phone with a sigh. That's when I noticed Creepella. She was watching my every move. "So tell me, Geronimo," she squeaked in a soft voice. "Did I help you with your research? Are you ready to write your book?" I nodded, feeling nervous. Creepella was staring at me as if I were a toasty cheese pancake. I headed for the door. In a flash, Creepella leaped ahead of me. She held her paws out, blocking the door. Then she pursed her lips. "Oh, no, my little cheese puff!" she cried. "You can't leave without giving me a kiss!" Then she began to chant. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

My fur turned three shades of red. But I gave Creepella a quick peck on the snout. What could I do? She wouldn't let me go. Creepella shrieked, clapping her paws. "Oh, Geronimo, you're such a dream!" she crooned. Then she demanded to know if I was dating anyone special. I turned purple. What a nightmare! I didn't want to spend any more time with Creepella. She was way too scary. This was worse than walking through a cat cemetery at midnight. Creepella winked at Benjamin. Then she began whispering loudly in his ear. "You will tell me if your uncle has any admirers, OK?" she began. "I want to know who they are. I want to know where they live. Then I will scratch their eyes out!" I tried to stammer a reply, but Creepella wasn't even listening.

Benjamin and I both gasped. But Creepella just wiggled her long nails and laughed. Suddenly, something brushed against my ear. I looked up just in time to see an ugly black bat. "Moldy mozzarella!" I screamed. Creepella scratched the bat's ear. "By the way, this is Bitewing," she said. "He's my pet bat."