7. Believe Me!

7 BELIEVE ME! "I Peter Pan, challenge the friendly pirate Noodler to a fight!" Antonio yelled. He swung an invisible sword through the air. It was Tuesday morning, and Sam, Antonio, and Lucy were walking to school. They were practicing their Peter Pan lines.

But Sam couldn't focus on his lines. He could not stop thinking about what had happened the night before. Antonio laughed. "Sam, you have the worst part in the play. You only have a few lines toward the end. And, really, who wants to be a friendly pirate anyway?" "Huh?" Sam said. "Sam's not even paying attention!" Lucy moaned. "This play is going to be a disaster. Everything is going to go wrong!" Antonio patted his pocket, smiling. "Not as long as I have my lucky sandwich." Antonio and Sam had been friends since kindergarten. And Antonio had always carried a peanut butter and jelly sandwich around in his pocket.

Sometimes he carried the same sandwich around for weeks. Sam thought it was a little bit disgusting but also a little bit awesome. Sam stopped walking. "Guys, I really need to tell you something." Sam looked around to make sure no one was nearby. He pulled his friends in close. "Remember the quicksand I told you about yesterday? I know you didn't believe me. But after school, more weird stuff happened! I fell asleep while on hall monitor duty—"

"I believe that!" Antonio joked. "Listen!" Sam said. "When I woke up, the school was going crazy! I was attacked by the oak tree! Then Mr. Nekobi saved me! But I think he might be a bad guy or something he's super weird!" Antonio frowned. "You're losing your mind." Lucy agreed. "I'm starting to worry about you, Sam." Sam ran his hand through his hair and said, "Just wait until we get to school. You'll see! There's a broken window and busted lockers! And the fire hose is tied in a big knot!" When they got to school, Sam rushed past his friends and up the front steps. What he saw blew his mind.

Everything was back to normal! It was like nothing had happened. The fire hose was wound up, and the lockers were closed. "No..." Sam whispered. "This doesn't make any sense...." Antonio gently punched Sam in the arm. "You should really get some more sleep. Your nightmares sound serious."

RIIIIING! The morning bell rang, and everyone began filing into class. The huge window in Ms. Grinker's class wasn't broken. Even the oak tree looked normal. This was a regular Tuesday morning. But not for Sam. Sam wanted answers, and he thought he knew where to get them. But first— "Sam, hurry up!" Lucy said, running into class. Sam groaned. He had to check the halls and then get to class, too. His answers would have to wait.