Joe is Not a Monster

Joe is Not a Monster is a scary story for kids written by R.L. Stine. It appeared in his horror story anthology “Beware! R.L. Stine Picks His Favorite Scary Stories”.

Joe is not a monster.

Believe me. I know Joe better than anybody.

Joe is a sweet guy. He is a pussycat. He wouldn’t hurt a flea.

How did the nasty rumors get started? I really don’t know.

Someone at Joe’s school must have started them. Someone at Joe’s school whispered to someone else that Joe was a monster. And the rumor spread.

Now the whole school is against Joe.

Kids are frightened by him. Kids laught and point at him behind his back.

The braver kids shout, “Hey monster!” when Joe walks past. Then they laugh and hoot when they see Joe turn red.

Someone wrote “MONSTER” on Joe’s locker. Somone tucked a windup toy monster in his backpack.

Because of the ugly rumors, no one will hang out with Joe. Joe eats by himself in a corner of the lunchroom.

No one will choose him for after-school soccer games. He has to stand and watch the games alone on the side fo the field.

No one will dance with him at the school dances. No one even talks to him in the halls or in class.

Yesterday, a big kid from the upper school punched Joe really hard in the chest and said, “Go away from here, monster.”

Joe cried all the way home.

Let me tell you something about Joe. He is very hurt by these rumors. Joe has feelings, just like everyone else.

Joe wants to have friends. He really wants people to like him.

Joe is a nice guy. He is kind and generous. He has a great sense of humor. He can be a good friend.

Joe didn’t ask me to speak for him. But I am speaking out anyway. I want to set things straight once and for all.

Joe is not a monster. Not a monster. Not a monster.

How do I know so much about Joe?

Well, that question is easy to answer. No one is as close to Joe as I am. No one knows Joe better than I do.

Because I am Joe’s second head.