Hello again R. L. Stein Story Club members. I'm Ivy, your ghostly host and keeper of those strange and spooky tales from the hidden vault of R. L. Stein. Today is another chilling tale. This spirited tale story club members might make you afraid of things that go bump in the night.

It's one I call Deadhead Fred.

Gail Sanders had been doing online classes for several weeks now.

At first, it seems like it would be a fun way to stay home all the time,

but it actually turned out to be butter knife dull.

She couldn't see all of her friends in class.

The lessons were

usually boring, just listening to a teacher ramble on and on about history and then answering

questions on her computer. It didn't help that she had Mr. Carlson, who was not only the hardest

teacher in school, but also one of the meanest. So, when she heard that Mr. Carlson was out sick

for a few days and that there was a substitute teacher, Gail was that Mr. Carlson was out sick for a few days, and that there was a substitute

teacher, Gail was so happy. Online school was really tedious, but at least now she wouldn't have

mean old Mr. Carlson sneering at her virtually with his beady eyes, sharp nose, and yellow rat teeth.

A teacher logged on. His name was Fred Morton, but he only wanted to be called Fred, not Mr. Morton.

She liked that.

Mr. Carlson always insisted he be called by his last name.

She didn't even know what his first name was, but it was probably something like Snake.

Fred didn't look like he got out much.

He was as pale as a fresh piece of paper.

His hair wasn't neatly combed, and the jacket he wore looked frayed in places. Well, maybe Fred didn't get out much and just woke up. He certainly looked that way.

But if I look as bad as that when I wake up, Gail thought, please take me to see the doctor.

Fred said the first lesson was about the Civil War,

...