Evan peered down into the metal cage. Cuddles was curled up in a corner under a pile of shavings. The hamster was trembling and breathing in short gasps.

“Poor Cuddles has been like that ever since yesterday,” Mr. Murphy told Evan with an accusing frown. “Cuddles is sick because of your carelessness.”

“I—I’m sorry,” Evan stammered. He stared hard at the quivering hamster. You’re faking—aren’t you, Cuddles? Evan thought. You’re faking just to get me in trouble!

The hamster twitched and stared up at him with mournful, black eyes.

When Evan sat back down in his seat, he felt cold water seep through the back of his jeans. With a startled cry, he jumped right back up. Someone—probably Conan—had poured a cup of water on his chair.

That had the class laughing for at least ten minutes. They stopped only when Mr. Murphy threatened to keep everyone after school.

“Sit down, Evan,” the teacher ordered.

“But, Mr. Murphy—” Evan started.

“Sit down—now!” Mr. Murphy insisted.

Evan dropped back down into the wet chair. What choice did he have?

*  *  *

Andy was waiting for Evan by the trickling brown creek that rolled through the tiny park. The old sassafras trees bent and whispered in a hot breeze. A tall Georgia pine leaned over the water as if trying to reach across the creek.

Andy was wearing a bright blue T-shirt over lime-green short-shorts. She had been staring at her reflection in the muddy creek water. She spun around smiling as Evan called to her.

“Hey, how’s it going?” he called. He stepped up beside her and dropped his backpack to the ground.

“How was school?” Andy asked.

“Same as always,” Evan replied, sighing. Then his expression brightened. “What did you bring?” he asked eagerly.

“You’ll see.” She clasped a hand over his eyes. “Shut your eyes, Evan. And don’t open them until I say.”

He obediently shut his eyes. But when she pulled her hand away, he opened them a tiny crack, just enough to see. He watched her go behind the pine tree and pick up a small brown paper bag.

She carried the bag over to him. “You’re peeking—aren’t you!” she accused him.

“Maybe,” he confessed, grinning.

She punched him playfully in the stomach. He cried out and his eyes shot open. “What’s in the bag?”

Grinning, Andy handed the bag to him.

He pulled it open, peered inside—and his mouth dropped open in shock.

The familiar blue can, about the size of a can of soup.

“Andy—you—you—” Evan stammered, still staring wide-eyed into the bag.

He reached in and pulled out the plastic can.

He read the faded label: MONSTER BLOOD.

Then he read the words in tiny type below it: SURPRISING MIRACLE SUBSTANCE.

“I saved it,” Andy said, beaming proudly.

Evan couldn’t get over his shock. “You brought Monster Blood! I don’t believe it! You brought Monster Blood!”

“No.” She shook her head. “It’s empty, Evan. The can is empty.”

His face fell. He sighed in total disappointment.

“But you can show the can to everyone,” Andy insisted. “That will prove you didn’t make it up. It will prove that Monster Blood really exists.”

Evan sighed again. “What good is an empty can?” he groaned.

He pulled off the top, peered inside—and screamed.

With a trembling hand, Evan tilted the can so that Andy could see inside.

“Oh, no!” she shrieked, pulling her hands to her cheeks.

The can was half full.

Inside, a green glob of gooey Monster Blood shimmered in the sunlight like lime jello.

“But it was empty!” Andy protested, staring into the can. “I know it was!”

Evan shook the can. The green glob inside quivered.

“There must have been a tiny speck in there,” Evan guessed. “Down at the bottom of the can. And now it’s growing and growing again.”

“Great!” Andy declared. She slapped him on the back so hard, he nearly dropped the blue can.

“Great? What’s so great?” he demanded shakily.

“Now you can show this to the kids at your school,” she replied. “Now they’ll have to believe you.”

“I guess,” Evan replied in a low voice.

“Oh! I have a better idea!” she exclaimed, her dark eyes lighting up mischievously.

“Uh-oh,” Evan moaned.

“Slip a little glob of it in that guy Conan’s lunch tomorrow. When he starts to grow as big as a hippo, everyone will see that the Monster Blood is real.”