Free Crandalls' Castle by Betty Ren Wright Page A

him. When he saw her, he dropped the bags and waved both arms in welcome.
    â€œI can do that,” she called. She’d much rather pick up trash than go inside.
    Uncle Will shook his head. “I’ll be through with this in a few minutes, and then I’m going to cut the grass,” he told her. “Sophia’s sweeping. The floors have to be refinished some day, but right now we’ll have to settle for a good cleaning.” He looked at the Castle proudly. “Just think how wonderful it’s going to look when all those dirty windows are shining, Charli. I’m going to plant flowers on either side of the steps, and some shrubs, too. Before you know it people will be lining up to invest money in the place. Won’t that be terrific?”
    Charli tried to see the Castle the way Uncle Will was seeing it. When he was excited, he was awfully convincing—if you didn’t know what Ray and Dan thought about the Castle.
    â€œThere’s soda in a cooler in the kitchen,” he called as she started up the steps. “Take all the breaks you want.”
    The heavy front door was propped open with a brick. Charli stepped inside and looked quickly up the stairs.
    â€œI’ve just started to mop,” Sophia said. She was in the dining room, looking as if she knew exactly how scared Charli was and thought it was a big joke. “There’s another mop and a bucket in the kitchen.”
    Bossy! Charli grumbled to herself as she went down the hall to the big, old-fashioned kitchen. But she had to admit her mother had been right; it was going to be easier working in the Castle with another person close by. Even Sophia.
    There was floor cleaner in a box of supplies on the counter, and soon she was sloshing sudsy water across the living-room floor. She had never mopped a floor before, and she wondered if there was a right way to do it. If there was, she was sure Sophia would tell her. With each stroke she glanced at the wall opposite the windows, in case the shadow-cradle reappeared. She almost wished it would, so that Sophia could see it, too. Maybe then she’d be sorry she’d called Charli childish for believing in ghosts.
    A half hour dragged by. Charli went out to the kitchen to fill the pail with fresh water. When she returned, Sophia met her in the hall.
    â€œYour uncle’s calling you.”
    Charli dropped the bucket and dashed out the door, grateful for the chance to get out of the house. Uncle Will was leaning out the window of his truck.
    â€œLook up there, kiddo,” he shouted. “Second floor, fourth window from the end.”
    Charli looked where he was pointing. Her heart thumped at the thought of what she might see, but there was nothing in the window at all.
    â€œHow about that!” Uncle Will exclaimed. “Must be dozens of ’em!”
    Charli squinted. Insects crawled around the window frame and hovered near the glass.
    â€œWasps!” Uncle Will announced. “I just noticed ’em. I’m going into town for more trash bags and some geraniums, and I’ll pick up spray if we need it. Run upstairs and see if there’s a nest between the storm window and the inside pane.”
    â€œUpstairs?” Charli choked on the word. “I—I can’t—”
    â€œYou can’t?” Uncle Will cocked his head at her. “You feeling okay, Charli?”
    She hesitated. Another second and he might decide she was sick and send her home. He would tell her mother. Her mother would tell Ray. The whole family would know she’d refused to go upstairs in the Castle and would want to know why.
    â€œOkay,” she said hoarsely. She ran back into the house before he could ask any more questions.
    â€œHe wants me to look for a wasps’ nest,” she told Sophia. “Upstairs.”
    Sophia looked at her closely. “Are you afraid of wasps? They won’t hurt you if you don’t get too