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Chapter 10
Mike and Sulley froze as the can rolled across the room. It came to a stop, apparently undamaged. Both monsters let out a sigh of relief.
But just then, the can burst open — and a horrifying scream escaped! Students gasped and ran for cover as the can spun wildly around the room like a def lating balloon while the ear-splitting scream escaped. At last, it fell in front of Mike and Sulley with a gurgle. The scream can was completely empty.
A huge dark f igure, wings outstretched, landed in front of Mike and Sulley. They were face to face with Dean Hardscrabble. She picked up her drained can. Randy immediately disappeared.
“I’m so sorry,” Mike said.
“It was an accident,” Sulley added.
Dean Hardscrabble shrugged and looked into the empty, twisted can. “What, this?” Her tone was unnervingly steady. “My one souvenir from a lifetime of scaring? Well, accidents happen, don’t they? The important thing is no one got hurt.”
Mike and Sulley were stunned. “You’re taking this remarkably well,” Mike said gratefully.
Dean Hardscrabble nodded. “Now, let’s continue the exams,” she said, looking at Mike. “Mr. Wazowski, I’m a five-year-old girl on a farm in Kansas afraid of lightning. Which scare do you use?”
Mike looked around, confused. “Shouldn’t I go up on the simulator?” he asked.
Dean Hardscrabble leaned toward him. “Which scare do you use?” she repeated sternly.
Mike quickly gathered his wits and answered, “That is a Shadow Approach with a Cackle Holler.”
“Demonstrate,” Dean Hardscrabble said.
Mike took a deep breath. This was it. It was all on the line. But before he could even begin, Dean Hardscrabble spoke again: “Stop! Thank you.”
“But I didn’t get to —” Mike started to say.
“I’ve seen enough,”Dean Hardscrabble said, and turned away. She looked at Sulley to indicate it was his turn. “I’m a seven-year-old boy —”
Before she could complete her sentence, Sulley stepped up and let out a ferocious ROARRR!
Dean Hardscrabble’s dragon eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t finished,” she snapped.
“I don’t need any of that stuf f to scare,” Sulley replied conf idently.
“That ‘stuf f,’ ” Dean Hardscrabble said, “would have informed you that this particular child is afraid of snakes. So a roar wouldn’t make him scream. It would make him cry, alerting his parents, exposing the monster world, destroying life as we know it, and of course we can’t have that. So I’m afraid I cannot recommend that you continue in the Scaring Program. Good day.”
Sulley laughed, unable to believe she could possibly mean it. Then he saw the cold look in her eyes. “Wait, what? But I’m a Sullivan!”
Dean Hardscrabble smiled. “Well, then I’m sure your family will be very disappointed.”
Sulley looked around the room, confused. He was sure someone was going to say it was all a big mistake. But then he spotted Johnny and his ROR brothers as they left the gallery, taking his fraternity jacket with them.
As Sulley stumbled away in shock, Dean Hardscrabble turned back to Mike. “And, Mr. Wazowski, I’m afraid what you lack is something that cannot be taught. You’re not scary. You will not be continuing in the Scaring Program.”
It hit Mike like a freight train. “No, you’ve made a mistake,” he said. “Please, let me try the simulator. I’ll surprise you!”
“I doubt that very much,” Dean Hardscrabble replied. She nodded to Professor Knight, who motioned the next student forward.
Mike was dumbstruck. Just like that, it was over. He left the class feeling like someone had sucked all the oxygen out of his world.