29. The Perfect Storm

CHAPTER 29 THE PERFECT STORM It was getting dark now, and the storm outside was intensifying. The four bullies stared in knee-melting terror at the dusty, ancient comic in Kipper's trembling hands. Their mouths hung open in shock, but they were too afraid to move. Finally, Finkstein began spastically scratching his sweat-soaked armpits. "Dudes," he blurted, "we're DEAD, man. It's OVER!! Game OVER, man!"

Bugg began to cry. "My pits are burning, man," he sobbed. "I think I got the curse!" "M-M-M-Me, too," Loogie squeaked, as tears poured down his face. Kipper looked into the quivering eyes of his three terrified friends. His armpits were burning as well, but he was too frightened to admit it. Suddenly, a deafening blast of thunder shook the building. The lightbulbs in the school flickered twice, and the bullies held each other and sobbed uncontrollably.

Inside the restroom, George and Harold could hear their arch-enemies shrieking out in the hallway, and the two friends tried as hard as they could to keep from laughing. They both knew if they started, they'd never be able to stop. Harold picked up his walkie- talkie and pressed the "transmit" button.

The toy walkie-talkie on top of the lockers clicked with a crackle of static. "I am the haunted pants of Wedgie Magee!" whispered Harold over the tiny speaker. "HEY!" cried Kipper. "DID—DID YOU GUYS HEAR THAT?" "I am coming for yooooooou!" Harold whispered. "No! No! No! No! No! No! NOOOO!" screamed Loogie, who was now running around in small circles, punching his head with his fists (for some strange reason).

Lightning exploded again, and the hallways rumbled with thunder. The four bullies had now become completely unhinged. Bugg dropped to the floor and curled up into a shivering ball, crying out for his mother to come and save him. "L-L-LEAVE US ALONE," Kipper screamed, swinging his fists in the air. "WE'RE SORRY!"

Mr. Krupp was in the middle of a teachers' meeting all the way on the other end of the building when he heard the screaming. "It sounds like Kipper's freaking out again," he growled, slamming his fist on the table. "And I'm going to get to the bottom of it!" He got up from the meeting and stomped out of the room.