Free In the Land of the Lawn Weenies by David Lubar Page B

place where the road curves. Imagine that. I wonder what was on his mind? They say he didn’t even see the truck.”
    Truck? Joe thought as he heard the blare of a horn and the shriek of large tires skidding around the curve behind him. What truck?
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    â€œCool,” Lisa said as she looked down into the garbage can next to a lamppost on Bridge Street. She reached inside, wondering why someone would throw away a cellular phone. “Probably doesn’t even work,” she said. She switched it on and held it to her ear. She smiled as she heard voices. This, she thought, could be very interesting.

SAND SHARKS
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    K elly had the sand castle almost perfect when Michael ran across the beach, screaming like a wild man. He smashed right through her marvelous castle, blowing it into fine fragments of sand that fell in a shower around her.
    â€œMichael!”
    â€œSorry,” he said, barely glancing over his shoulder. “Didn’t see it.”
    â€œYes you did. You ruined it on purpose.”
    Michael turned toward Kelly and shook his head. “Didn’t,” he said in a calm voice.
    â€œDid!” Kelly shouted.
    â€œKids,” Dad said, looking up from his magazine. “Stop fighting. This is supposed to be a vacation. Kelly, you’re old enough to know how to behave. You should set an example for Michael.”

    â€œBut Michael ruined my castle,” Kelly said. “And he did it on purpose. Just like he ruins everything.”
    Mom glanced up from her book. “I’m sure it was an accident. There’s no need for all this shouting.” She shifted her eyes back to her reading before Kelly could answer.
    Kelly looked at Michael. Michael looked back, grinning. Then, as if to make sure she knew it was no accident at all, he stuck out his tongue.
    Kelly grabbed a fistful of sand, squeezing it so hard she could almost imagine it forming into a hunk of rock. It would feel wonderful to hurl it at Michael. That would knock a little manners into him. Her arm tensed.
    â€œListen, kids,” Dad said, “your mom and I want to go back to the hotel and pick up some lunch for everyone. Can we trust the two of you to stay here alone?”
    â€œSure,” Michael said. “No problem.”
    Kelly let the sand trickle from her fingers. Alone out here? The place was so bare and empty. They were the only people on the beach, and there weren’t a whole lot of people on the island. A dozen frightening thoughts flashed through Kelly’s mind.
    â€œWell, Kell?” her Dad asked.
    â€œBetter take her with you,” Michael said. “She’s scared.”
    â€œAm not,” Kelly said. She looked at her dad. “Sure, we’ll be fine.” The words fell from her mouth like specks of foam at the edge of a wave. In an instant, they were lost on the beach.
    â€œStay out of the water,” Mom said. “We’ll hurry back.”
    Kelly watched her parents walk up the beach to the road and wedge themselves into the small rental car. In a moment, the car was puttering along the narrow pathway. In another moment, it was out of sight.
    Michael headed right for the ocean.
    â€œHey,” Kelly said, “they told us not to.”
    â€œThey aren’t here, are they?” Michael walked deeper, kicking up water with each step.
    Kelly glared at him. I hope you drown, she thought. Instantly, she felt awful for making such a terrible wish.
    Michael screamed.
    Kelly’s heart slammed against her chest. Her brother slashed his arms down, striking at something in the water. He screamed again. Then he lurched and disappeared beneath the water.
    â€œMichael!” Kelly ran to the edge of the ocean. She searched for any sign of her brother. She rushed into the water, unsure of what to do. “Mom! Dad! Come back! Help!” Kelly yelled toward the road. It was useless. They were gone. She ran farther out. The surf lapped at her