1. Almost Eerie Day

Eerie Elementary The End of ORSON EERIE? By Jack Chabert Illustrated by Matt Loveridge, based on the art of Sam Ricks

ALMOST EERIE DAY 1 "These pumpkins are small!" Sam Graves said. "I wish we were carving huge ones." Every student in school was gathered in the cafeteria for a special lunchtime activity. They were carving pumpkins for the upcoming Eerie Day celebration. Eerie Day was a local holiday, celebrating the history of the town of Eerie.

Sam's friend Antonio grinned. "Eerie Day is one good thing about living here," he said. "We get, like, two Halloweens each year!" "And this year, Eerie Day falls on a Friday," their friend Lucy said. "That means we can stay up late! We won't have to rush home! Best of all— it's only two days away!" "My favorite part is the Eerie Day haunted house!" Antonio said. He leaned over and whispered, "I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling that this year's haunted house will be extra scary." Sam pointed at Lucy's pumpkin and laughed. "Is that one of Antonio's famous sandwiches?" Lucy nodded. "Yep!"

She had carved the outline of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich into her pumpkin. Antonio always carried a PB and J in his pocket. "Two can play at that game!" Antonio said. He carved big, round eyes into his pumpkin. "This is how wide your eyes will be at the haunted house because you'll be so scared!" When Sam looked down at his pumpkin, he gasped. He had unknowingly carved a mustache into it! The mustache curled up like Orson Eerie's.

Orson Eerie was the mad scientist who had built Eerie Elementary almost a hundred years ago. He was part of the Eerie family that founded the town. But Orson Eerie didn't deserve to be celebrated on Eerie Day he was evil! He found a way to live forever he became the school. The school was alive! Eerie Elementary was a living, breathing thing that fed on students. Sam was the school hall monitor. Lucy and Antonio were assistant hall monitors. Together, they kept the students and teachers safe. Just then, a strange feeling crawled through Sam. As hall monitor, Sam could feel when something bad was going to happen.

Suddenly— Sam's pumpkin leapt off the table! Antonio's and Lucy's did, too! Students and teachers screamed, "AHHHHH!" The pumpkins were coming to life! Their carved mouths chomped open and closed! Monstrous pumpkins leapt through the air. Some rolled after teachers. Others chased after students. Antonio exclaimed, "We're under attack!"