3. Ticktock, Ticktock

3 TICKTOCK, TICKTOCK Sam slammed his locker shut. He rushed into Ms. Grinker's classroom. Ms. Grinker was short and thin, with frizzy gray hair. She was listing everyone's parts for Friday's class play on the board. Sam slid into his desk between Antonio and Lucy. He whispered, "Guys, the freakiest thing just happened. I got trapped in quicksand on the playground!" Lucy scrunched up her forehead. Antonio scratched his chin. Then they both tried not to laugh.

"If it happened to you," Sam whispered, "you wouldn't be laughing." "Sam! Lucy! Antonio!" yelled Ms. Grinker. All three kids faced front. "Please pay attention," Ms. Grinker said. "I am still giving out the parts for Peter Pan." "I'm playing Peter Pan!" Antonio whispered to Sam. He had a big smile on his face. He always did. He was the happiest kid Sam knew. "And I'm playing Wendy," Lucy whispered. "Sam Graves, you'll be playing Noodler. He is one of Captain Hook's friendly pirates," said Ms. Grinker. Sam nodded but all he could think about was the man-eating playground.

As the day wound down, Sam stared out the window. An old oak tree was blowing in the breeze. It was moving strangely. Sam leaned forward on his desk. The tree looked like a giant oak hand, waving at Sam. Sam shivered. Then he looked at the clock across the room. How long until this day is over? he thought.

Sam could hear the clock: TICKTOCK... TICKTOCK... TICKTOCK... How can I hear the clock from all the way over here? he wondered. Then the sound of the clock changed. Sam no longer heard ticktock, ticktock, ticktock. The sound became Ba BUMP... Ba BUMP... Sam was even more confused. That doesn't sound like a normal clock. But I do know that sound... Ba BUMP, Ba BUMP, Ba BUMP. Ba BUMP, Ba BUMP, Ba BUMP. It sounded like a beating heart!