The Ooze Read Online Free

said, and headed back up to the kitchen.
    I didn’t move until I heard the basement door shut behind her. Then I peered down at my hands. The ooze covered both my palms. And it was spreading up onto my wrists.
    â€œHelp me get this gunk off!” I told Colin.
    â€œThat stuff is gross,” Colin complained. But he made another towel mitt and wiped and wiped—cleaning away the last sign of the weird slimy goo.
    * * *
    When I woke up the next morning, I felt really tired. As if I hadn’t slept at all.
    I forced myself to sit up. Clothes. What clothes should I wear to school? I couldn’t decide. Finally I pulled on a pair of jeans and the first shirt I found when I reached into the closet.
    Now I needed socks and shoes. Mom just did the laundry, I remembered. So where did she put my socks?
    Forget it, I told myself. I was already running late. The socks I wore yesterday weren’t too dirty. And they were in my shoes, so I didn’t have to hunt all over for them.
    I sat down on the bed and pulled on my socks. Then I reached down for a shoe.
    I held it for a while, just staring at it. What waswrong with me this morning? Why was I moving so slowly?
    I stuffed my foot into the shoe. It felt kind of weird. It didn’t hurt exactly. It just felt weird.
    â€œAl, hurry up,” Mom called.
    I shoved on my other shoe and hurried down the hall. As I walked through the kitchen door, I tripped.
    Of course, Michelle didn’t miss that one! She laughed so hard she almost choked on her granola.
    I looked down to see what I had tripped over, but there was nothing there.
    â€œYou idiot!” Michelle laughed as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
    â€œAl could have hurt himself, Michelle!” Mom scolded.
    â€œThat’s right, Michelle,” Dad added. “It’s not polite to laugh.”
    â€œBut his shoes! Look at his shoes!”
    â€œThese are the shoes I always wear,” I said. “What’s wrong with them?”
    Dad snorted. I could tell he was trying not to laugh now.
    â€œOh, my gosh!” Mom exclaimed. “Michelle’s right!”
    I looked down at my shoes—and gasped!

6

    M y left shoe was on my right foot!
    And my right shoe was on . . . well, I guess you can figure the rest out for yourself.
    â€œNo wonder they felt weird,” I mumbled. I couldn’t believe I had put my shoes on the wrong feet. I must really be tired, I thought.
    Feeling a little stupid, I kicked off my shoes and put them on the right feet.
    â€œWhen are you going to learn to dress yourself, Al?” Michelle teased.
    â€œNow, Michelle,” Dad said. “Your brother has been dressing himself since—”
    â€œSince he was ten,” Michelle hooted.
    â€œSince he was two,” Dad finished.
    â€œMaybe Al better check out summer school—a Getting Dressed for Beginners class,” Michelle suggested, still not letting up.
    â€œHas Chester learned any new tricks?” Dad asked, changing the subject to get Michelle off my back. Michelle could talk all day about how smart her cat was.
    Chester was snoozing by the stove. “Come here, Chester,” Michelle called. “Show Dad how you can add. What is one and one?”
    Chester jumped into Michelle’s lap and collapsed. “Come on, Chester!” Michelle coaxed. “One and one.”
    Chester didn’t move.
    â€œI’ll get a can of cat food,” Dad suggested. “That will get him thinking.”
    Dad slid the can into the electric can opener. “Come on, Chester,” he said. “Jump on the lever!”
    Chester didn’t move.
    â€œI wonder if something is wrong with him.” Michelle sounded worried.
    â€œHe probably isn’t hungry.” Dad tried to make her feel better.
    Chester might not be hungry. But I was. Hungry and late.
    I shoveled down some oatmeal and a piece of toast. Then I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door.