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Rotten School #8: The Teacher from Heck

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Chapter One

Meet Mr. Skruloose

My name is Bernie Bridges, and you might wonder why I'm running so hard.

Normally I'd take time to enjoy the morning sunshine on the Great Lawn—to smell the sweet trees and flowers, to feel the warm breeze on my handsome face.

But this morning I am running full speed across the Rotten School campus.

I don't want to be late.

We have a new teacher. He is taking the place of our old teacher, Mrs. Heinie, and I want to be there early to welcome him. And to let him know that, yes, I'm a leader at this school. But I'm a leader who is willing to listen to my teacher once in a while.

In other words, I want to suck up to the new guy before Sherman Oaks and his pals get there.

You see, the Rotten School is a boarding school. We all live here on the campus.

I live with my friends in the coolest dorm—an old house called Rotten House.

That rich, spoiled brat, Sherman Oaks, lives in the dorm called Nyce House.

Yuck. Who would want to live in a place called Nyce House? We hate every kid who lives there!

My feet pounded the grass. The School House rose up in front of me. That's what we call our classroom building.

A few seconds later, I slipped into my fourth-grade class.

Uh-oh. The room was full. Kids were already in their seats. They turned to watch me as I closed the door behind me.

I stared at the new teacher. Whoa! The dude was a monster! Give me a break! He was at least eight feet tall and built like a truck on top of a truck!

His Rotten School blazer stretched tightly across his massive chest. It looked ready to pop its buttons. I could see muscles rippling up and down his arms.

His name was written in chalk behind him.

Mr. Skruloose.

Skruloose?

I flashed him my best smile, the one with the adorable dimples.

"Welcome, sir," I said. "I know I speak for everyone when I say how happy we are—"

"SHUT UP!" he boomed, so loudly the windows rattled.

I swallowed my gum. He was kinda rude, don't you think?

His steel blue eyes narrowed in a hard stare. "You're in trouble," he growled.

I glanced all around. "Huh? Are you talking to me? I'm in trouble?"

What was his problem? What did I do?

Excerpted from Rotten School #8: The Teacher from Heckby R.L. Stine Copyright © 2006 by R.L. Stine. Excerpted by permission.
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