Body Switchers from Outer Space (11 page)

“You've been naughty all year, Kenny,” Joe said grimly.

“Naughty?” I mimicked his voice. Then I chuckled.

Joe wagged his finger at me, frowning.

“Come on, Joe. Lighten up,” I teased. “You don't have to drag out this Santa act for me. Christmas shopping season is over.”

I reached up. I grabbed hold of his beard—and gave it a good yank.

It didn't budge.

I pulled on it again—harder this time.

It didn't come off.

No,
I thought.
It couldn't be.

Could it?

R. L. Stine, the creator of
Ghosts of Fear Street,
has written almost 100 scary novels for kids. The
Ghosts of Fear Street
series, like the
Fear Street
series, takes place in Shadyside and centers on the scary events that happen to people on Fear Street.

When he isn't writing, R. L. Stine likes to play pinball on his very own pinball machine, and explore New York City with his wife, Jane, and son, Matt.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Aladdin
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

Copyright © 1996 by Parachute Press, Inc.

BODY SWITCHERS FROM OUTER SPACE
WRITTEN BY NINA KIRIKI HOFFMAN

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

ISBN 0-671-00186-8
ISBN 978-1-4424-8739-0 (eBook)

First Minstrel Books paperback printing November 1996

Aladdin and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster Inc.