02-A MYSTERIOUS PHONE CALL

A MYSTERIOUS PHONE CALL The phone rang, drowning out my sobs. Riiiiing! Riiiiing! Riiiiing! I wiped the tears off my whiskers. Then I picked up the phone. "Hello," I said sadly. "Stilton speaking, Geronimo Stilton." "Is that you, my little cheese nip?" a sickly sweet voice asked. My fur stood on end. I knew that voice. It was CREEPELLA VON CACKLEFUR! I first met Creepella last October. She is not like other mice. She has shiny gray fur. Her eyes are

as green as poisonous snakes. She wears a long purple gown and matching purple pawnail polish. Creepella's father, Boris, lives in a funeral parlor at 33 Dark Grave Drive. Creepella lives in a crypt in the cemetery. Her mouse hole is filled with COBWEBS and peap flowers. All that is pretty spooky. But here is the scariest part of all: Creepella wants me to be her boyfriend! "Hello, Creepella," I said nervously. "I need you, Geronimo," Creepella said. "My grandfather Professor frankenstein has died. His will is being read tomorrow night. I need to leave for CACKLEFUR CASTLE right away. It's in the Valley of the Vain VAMPIRES. I need you to come with me, my little bat wing."

Cacklefur Castle? The Valley of the Vain Vampires? I hate things that are spooky! But Creepella was not finished yet. "It will be wonderful, Geronimo," she said. "I'll introduce you to my family." Her family? I had already met her father, and he was creepy enough. I really did not want to meet any more Cacklefurs. "I'm sorry, Creepella," I said quickly. "I can't go with you. I am busy... um... working on my next book!" "Really?" Creepella asked. She sounded suspicious. "What is it about?" I didn't know what to say. "Um... it's a secret!" I lied. Creepella didn't buy it. "Your book can wait, my little toadstool. I will be at your office with my hearse faster than a spider can