I finished with a backward flip and came to a perfect landing in front of Mr. Grunter.
The teacher was trying to frown but there was an excited smile in his eye. The class stood in stunned silence for a few seconds and then burst out in wild clapping and cheering.
Mr. Grunter held up his hand for silence. “That was quite a display,” he said. “Very skilled. Where did you learn all that?”
“In the woods,” I said. “With wolf family.”
“Very impressive,” said Mr. Grunter. “But, you know, we have rules here. It wasn’t your turn. Discipline is very important.”
Paul came rushing up. “But Mr. Grunter, it was Rick’s fault. He kept taunting Gruff, calling him rat-boy and trying to get him to fight. Gruff couldn’t help himself.”
I shot a fierce look at Big Rick. He dropped his eyes and looked at the floor.
“Is that true, Rick?” asked Mr. Grunter.
All the kids were staring at Rick now. He stuffed his hands in his shorts pockets and shrugged. “I was just kidding,” he muttered.
Mr. Grunter nodded. “I see. Don’t you think an apology is called for?”
Rick took a couple of steps forward, biting his lip. “I guess you’re not a rat-boy,” he said in a low voice.
“Is that all?” Mr. Grunter sounded steely.
“I’m sorry I called you names,” said Rick grudgingly. “You really are a wolf-boy.”
I wasn’t sure how Rick meant that but Mr. Grunter nodded, satisfied, and Rick went back to his place.
“Class dismissed!” shouted Mr. Grunter.
I started to edge away but the teacher put out his hand. “Not you, Gruff. I want to speak to you a minute.”
I waited as the class filed out. What did the gym teacher want with me? Was he going to give me detention after all?
Finally everybody was gone. Mr. Grunter started toward me across the gym floor. I couldn’t tell a thing from his face except he looked very serious.
Then just before he reached me the gym door burst open with a bang!
Mr. Clawson strode in, his face purple with rage.
But there was a sly, secretive look in his eye.
Chapter 23
“I heard there was trouble in this class, Grunter,” said Mr. Clawson, making straight for me. His heavy footsteps were loud on the polished floor. “I suppose this wolf-boy troublemaker was responsible?”
He jutted his big jaw at me, looking pleased that I had messed up again.
“No trouble,” said Mr. Grunter, moving to my side. “Oh, another boy was taunting him a bit, but Gruff proved he’s got the right stuff.” Mr. Grunter clapped me on the shoulder. “This boy knows how to channel his aggression into sports, Mr. Clawson. In my book he’s headed for an A.”
The principal frowned. Thunderclouds of displeasure formed over his eyes. He jerked his head at Mr. Grunter. The gym teacher gave me a reassuring look, then followed Mr. Clawson to the side of the room.
Mr. Clawson spoke rapidly for a few minutes but, of course, I couldn’t hear a word. All I could do was watch Mr. Grunter’s face anxiously. He looked concerned, then alarmed.
When Mr. Clawson finished talking he shot one fierce look at me across the room, turned on his heel and left. Mr. Grunter came slowly toward me, scratching his head in puzzlement.
“The principal is worried about you, Gruff,” said Mr. Grunter. He didn’t seem nearly as pleased and enthusiastic about me as he had a few minutes ago. “He says you have a wild imagination and violent tendencies.”
He paused, as if what he had to say next was even worse.
“Mr. Clawson thinks you’ll have to be locked up during the full moon. Now why would he think that, Gruff?”
Chapter 24
That night I sat at my bedroom window, keeping watch. But no men slipped down to the woods to change into werewolves. No monsters prowled the yard and taunted me. No dreams came to lure Kim from her safe bed.
At school I kept quiet, trying not to be noticed. The other kids looked at me funny sometimes but at least Miss Possum didn’t say anything more about making me leave sixth grade. Every day after school, I practiced talking and reading and writing. I even learned some arithmetic.
And every night I kept watch at the window. It was exhausting.
But after a couple of weeks when nothing happened, I started to think maybe the werewolves had gone away. They knew I was onto them so maybe they decided Fox Hollow was too dangerous for them. Maybe they’d moved to a town where no one suspected there were monsters roaming the night.
But meanwhile the time of the full moon was coming closer. And when the full moon rose I would become a monster, too. Before that happened I would leave this house and my new family and disappear into the swamp. Deep in the swamp I would hide until the beast in me was driven out. I would never harm the people of Fox Hollow. I would never let them learn my true nature.
That’s what I promised myself.
Then one night I fell asleep in my chair at the window.
And when the moon rose, my eyes popped open. The moon hung as yellow as a plump lemon in the sky. The light was cool on my face but every muscle in my body was coiled tight as a spring.
I jumped up from my chair and leaned forward to look out the window. What had awakened me? Was it a werewolf?
The backyard was quiet. No one was on the street. But the hairs on my arm prickled as a distant sound reached my ear.
“Aaaaaaoooooh..… Aaaaaaoooooh.…”
The howl of the werewolves!
Then I saw something dash across the backyard. A werewolf? It ran into the road and I saw it was only a dog. But the sight of the dog jangled my nerves.
There was something I had to do. I’d put it off as long as I could. I had
