Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies is the eighth collection of spooky short stories for ages 8 to 12 by the beloved author of the Nathan Abercrombie series, David Lubar. This is the perfect pick for reluctant young readers who like a few chills and a lot of laughs. The appearance of a mysterious new girl in school stops her classmates cold. Black Friday shopping gets out of control for a mother and daughter. And stands full of screaming and shouting Bleacher Weenies are about to make the ultimate sacrifice. Welcome to the Weenie Zone! Here are thirty hilarious and harrowing stories that will scare you, make you laugh, or get you to see the world in a whole new way. Find out where the author got the idea for each story at the end of the book. Don't be a weenie. Read these stories. If you dare! “The weird, warped weenies weturn for an eighth collection of tiny terror tales…Lubar, king of the quick and twisty tale, sultan of the scary (and sometimes silly) short-short story, presents 30 more diminutive dips into the strange, the bizarre, and the unexpected.... Fans will be shivering and laughing…evilly." ― Kirkus Reviews “With its mix of humor and chills, this collection is a sure bet for fans of R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps series and reluctant readers.” ― Booklist on Wipeout of the Wireless David Lubar created a sensation with his debut novel, Hidden Talents , an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Thousands of kids and educators across the country have voted Hidden Talents onto over twenty state lists. David is also the author of True Talents , the sequel to Hidden Talents ; Flip , an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror selection; many short story collections including In the Land of the Lawn Weenies, Invasion of the Road Weenies, The Curse of the Campfire Weenies, The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies, Attack of the Vampire Weenies, Beware the Ninja Weenies, Wipeout of the Wireless Weenies, Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies, and Extremities ; and the Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie series. Lubar grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, and he has also lived in New Brunswick, Edison and Piscataway, NJ, and Sacramento, CA. Besides writing, he has also worked as a video game programmer and designer. He now lives in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies And Other Warped and Creepy Tales By David Lubar Tom Doherty Associates Copyright © 2016 David Lubar All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-7653-7726-5 Contents Title Page, Copyright Notice, Dedication, Easy Targets, Parasites, Frozen in Time, In Warm Blood, The Duggly Uckling, Spell Binding, Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies, Camping Out, Dominant Species, Swing Round, All the Tricks, enDANGERed, Two Timers, Tanks for Your Contribution, The Girl Who Covered Her Face, Lucidity, Bangs in Your Eyes, The Talk, Same Bird, Haunting Your Thoughts, Differnet Explorer, Healed, Stunt Your Growth, Urban Girl, The Principle of Discipline, Fwosty, Serves You Right, Blood Donors, Abra-ca-Deborah, The Quilty Clown, A Word or Two About These Stories, Reader's Guide, Starscape Books by David Lubar, About the Author, Copyright, CHAPTER 1 EASY TARGETS From the instant I heard about PeaceJoy Charter School, I knew I had to go there. I'd spotted a big article about it in the newspaper my parents were reading at breakfast. There was a headline on the front page of the local section: BULLY-FREE SCHOOL SET TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER. Wow. A school without any bullies. According to the article, students from anywhere in the city or the surrounding suburbs could apply to go there. I closed my eyes and pictured it. I smiled as I saw smart, unathletic kids walking safely and happily through hallways decorated with inspiring posters about working together and being friends with everyone. Imagine that — a school without a single bully. Better yet — imagine a school with just one bully: Me. All those pathetic little losers would be at my mercy. They say bullies feel bad about themselves. Not me. I feel great. I'm strong and powerful. And I'm smart. Smart enough not to get caught. Smart enough, at times, so that even my victim doesn't realize he's being bullied. Yeah, that's how good I am at making little whiny rodents feel fear and misery. I can make them tremble, blink back tears, and look in vain desperation for an escape route. But, as good as I am, nobody is perfect. I'd coasted through sixth and seventh grades without getting caught, but some of the teachers at my middle school had started to look at me like they were suspicious. When I walked through crowded hallways between classes, most kids tried to avoid getting too close to me. I had a feeling I'd end up in trouble before I finished eighth grade. I was afraid that my reputation for being a troublemaker would follow me to the high school, which was right across the street. So, it was time for