Free Dinosaur Stakeout by Judith Silverthorne

spread everything out on his bed. He took inventory as he began stuffing the items into his backpack, making sure everything was compactly pushed down so he could fit it all ­in.
    A sudden knock on his bedroom door sent Daniel scrambling. He whipped the quilt off with everything inside it and threw it into his closet, along with the backpack, and slid the door shut. Then he messed up his sheets as if he’d been lying ­down.
    “Daniel?” Mom said, knocking again. “What are you doing in there?”
    “Just getting ready for bed,” he called. “Just a minute.”
    Daniel opened the door to let her in, holding his pyjamas in his hand as if he was just getting changed. “Hi, Mom,” he said ­nonchalantly.
    Mom had that concerned look on her face ­again.
    “Are you feeling all right?” She felt his forehead. “Your face is flushed. I hope you’re not coming down with something.”
    “Nah, I’m fine,” he said, standing in the doorway and unfolding his pyjamas. Anything to keep her from noticing his missing ­quilt.
    “Maybe you should take it a little easier tomorrow.” Mom ­suggested.
    Daniel couldn’t believe his good fortune. Here was an opening he couldn’t give ­up.
    “How about if I hang out at my hideout for a while in the morning? I wouldn’t mind putting it right,” he
suggested, hoping Mom would agree. If she did, then anyone who happened to see him go wouldn’t question the load he was ­carrying.
    Mom thought about it for a few minutes. “I suppose that would be okay. As long as you don’t do anything strenuous. You need to give your body time to mend.”
    “I’ll be fine, Mom,” Daniel said. “Just a little walking, some puttering, maybe some picture taking.” What he planned to do was all true, just not exactly in the current ­time.
    Mom gave Daniel a quick hug and a kiss goodnight on his forehead, then left the room. Daniel breathed a sigh of relief as his heart pounded in his chest. That had been too close for ­comfort.
    Then a sudden stab of guilt hit him as he thought about how he was taking advantage of his mom’s trust. He felt bad about not telling her the truth, but she’d never believe him. He shook the moment off, and rushed over to his closet. He was just about to open it, when Mom appeared at his door ­again.
    “How about turning off your light right away and getting some sleep?”
    “Okay,” Daniel smiled, and shrugged his shoulders. “Not a problem.”
    Mom left again. Whew! He’d have to be more careful. This time he listened through his door to make sure his mom had gone back downstairs. Then he quickly finished repacking. He hid the backpack far back in the closet, draping an old sweater over it to make it look like it had fallen down accidentally. He rearranged the hangers full of clothes to hide the whole ­lump.
    He set his alarm and changed into his pyjamas. But Daniel knew he couldn’t sleep yet. His thoughts were clanging in his head, and his body practically vibrated with his excitement. Everything was in place. He couldn’t wait to ­go.
    Turning out his lights, he pulled a chair over to his open window. He opened the blinds and raised the window higher to let in more of the calm night air. He gazed out over the farmyard at the pasture beyond. Crickets chirped by the buildings, and farther away he could hear frogs ribbiting near the ­dugout.
    Calming his mind somewhat, he finally headed for bed. He lay there going over his plans, determined to make the most of his experience. Without realizing it, he sank into ­sleep.

Chapter Seven

    D aniel’s muffled alarm rang at 4:30 in the morning. He shut it off and pulled it out from underneath his pillow. The sky was already becoming filled with early morning light. Quietly, he dressed and gathered his belongings. As he snuck down the stairs, he avoided the one creaky step, and made it to the kitchen without turning on any lights. Opening the fridge a crack, he pulled out some sandwiches and bottles of