Casketball Capers (6 page)

There were also three dodgers, whose main job was to keep the ball away from their own casket and pass it, dribble it, roll it, or throw it into the hands of the shooters.

Billy, who was small and very fast, was a fantastic dodger. The sixth player on each side was the ghoulkeeper, who defended the casket. That was Lee's job.

“Hey, Ollie,” cried Growler. “Why are you talking to that sucker, huh? Get it?
Sucker!
Huh-huh-huh!” He loped up the field, snickering stupidly.

Lee was furious. He picked up a stick.

“Lee, no!” gasped Ollie. “He'll make mincemeat out of you!”

Lee grinned.

“Don't worry, I'm not going to hit him. Just watch.”

Growler turned around and snarled. Lee whistled as if he were calling a dog, then threw the stick toward him.

“Here boy!” he called. “Good boy! Fetch!”

The vampires all laughed, and so did Ollie and most of the other werewolves—when Growler wasn't looking.

Bella and Billy were in stitches. Growler glared at Lee.

“Come here, you little squirt,” he growled. “I feel like a snack.”

“Now, now!” said Mr. Tut, the

mummy referee. “There'll be none of that, please! I want a good, clean game!”

Chapter 5

Mr. Tut in a Tangle

The two casketball teams took up their positions. Mr. Tut blew his whistle and the game began.

Billy got the ball and whizzed past the three werewolf dodgers before bouncing it to Naz Patel.

The vampires cheered Naz on as she charged toward the Chaney Street casket—with Growler close behind.

“Go on, Naz!” cried Lee.

Then he noticed that Growler kept looking at Mr. Tut, who was fiddling with a loose bandage on his head.

Growler's up to something,
thought Lee.

He was right. Just then, the loose bandage slipped over the referee's eyes and Growler grinned.

“Watch out, Naz!” cried Bella, who was already up by the Chaney Street casket.

It was too late. While Mr. Tut was busy with his bandages, Growler grabbed the back of Naz's shirt and punched the ball out of her hands.