Free The Mystery at the Haunted House by David A. Adler Page B

skeletons that shone in the dark were hanging from the ceiling. A tape of scary sounds was playing.
    Eric whispered to Cam, “This is not very scary.”
    A door creaked open and they heard someone scream, “Oh! Help!”
    â€œThere is something scary ahead,” Cam whispered.
    Eric moved closer to Cam and Uncle George.
    A toy black cat that almost looked real jumped off a bookcase shelf. It fell close to Cam and Eric. Then it stopped. It was held by a string.
    â€œOh, my!” Aunt Katie said.
    Eric grabbed her hand. “I’m not scared,” he said.
    Then something dressed in black jumped at Aunt Katie.
    â€œOh! Help!” she screamed. “Let go of me!”

Chapter Three
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    A unt Katie reached for Uncle George and held onto his hand. They followed the small purple lights past spiderwebs and creaking furniture. A chair walked past them. The walls seemed to be falling in.
    Cam, Eric, Aunt Katie, and Uncle George walked faster. A door opened. They were outside the Haunted House.
    â€œOh, my,” Aunt Katie said. “That was scary, but I liked it.”
    â€œThat wasn’t so scary,” Eric said, “but I liked it, too.”
    â€œDid you see that?” a woman behind them asked. “Something jumped right out at me.” She opened her handbag and took out a candy. “Would you like one?”
    â€œNo, thank you,” Cam said.
    â€œI need something, but not candy,” Aunt Katie said. “I need a cup of hot tea.”
    Cam closed her eyes and said, “Click.”
    â€œThere’s a refreshment stand just past the log ride,” Cam said. She opened her eyes. “Follow me.”

    â€œWill you look at that!” Aunt Katie said when they reached the refreshment stand. “We even have to wait in line to buy a drink.”
    Aunt Katie and Uncle George stood at the end of the line. Cam and Eric went to the log ride. They watched people sitting in cutout logs slide into a large pool of water.
    â€œThat looks like fun,” Eric said. “Maybe we can do that next.”
    Cam and Eric walked back to the refreshment stand. Aunt Katie and Uncle George were still near the end of the line.
    â€œTell me what you want to eat,” Aunt Katie said. “This is the only chance we’ll have for refreshments. I won’t wait in this line again.”
    Cam and Eric looked at the list of items being sold. “I’d like to have some orange juice and pretzels,” Cam said.
    â€œPlease, could I have a vanilla ice cream pop?” Eric asked.
    â€œHmm,” Aunt Katie said. “Vanilla tea for me, an orange pop for George, coffee and pretzels for Cam. And what did you want, Eric?”
    â€œI want a vanilla pop.”
    â€œI’m all mixed up,” Aunt Katie said. “Why don’t you wait until it’s our turn. Then you can all tell me what you want.”
    The line moved slowly. When they reached the counter, the man there asked, “What would you like?”
    â€œI want tea with lemon. I know that,” Aunt Katie said. “And George wants a regular coffee.”
    Cam and Eric told the man what they wanted. He put it all on a cardboard tray and brought it to the counter. He told Aunt Katie what everything cost.
    Aunt Katie opened her handbag and reached in. Then she looked inside her handbag. She took out something wrapped in aluminum foil, a small note pad, and some pencils and gave them to Cam to hold.
    â€œPlease,” the man behind the counter said. “There are other people waiting.”
    â€œI can’t find my wallet,” Aunt Katie told him.
    Uncle George paid for the refreshments. He carried them from the counter to a table. Cam, Eric, and Aunt Katie followed him. As Aunt Katie walked to the table, she was still looking in her handbag.

    Aunt Katie took the pencils, note pad, and the small package wrapped in foil back from Cam. She put the pencils and