Free Party Games by R. L. Stine Page B

but Kerry stepped in his way. “Brendan, a live tarantula?” Kerry said, waving his list. “How are Delia and I supposed to bring it back here? In our hands?”
    â€œIt’s just a baby,” Brendan said. “It’s in a glass cage.”
    Eric and Geena were huddled together, going over their list. “This stuff is hidden on all the floors?” Geena asked.
    â€œEverywhere but the basement,” Brendan said. “The basement is filled with summer stuff. So we can’t use it.”
    â€œWait! Before we start, Brendan, can I ask you a question?” April said. All eyes turned to her. She held her scavenger hunt list in one hand. “Do you have dead squirrels on the list?”
    Brendan squinted at her. “Excuse me?”
    â€œDead squirrels,” April repeated. “Because I had one at home. A dead squirrel in my bed. Was that part of your game?”
    Brendan’s mouth had dropped open. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, April. Why would there be a dead squirrel?”
    â€œI had a dead raccoon,” Geena said.
    â€œMe, too!” Patti cried before I had a chance to chime in.
    â€œDid everyone coming to this party get a dead animal?” April demanded.
    Brendan was blinking rapidly, his face all tight, as if he was struggling to understand.
    â€œI didn’t get a dead animal,” Kerry said.
    â€œNeither did I,” Eric and Spider said in unison.
    â€œI … I don’t know anything about this,” Brendan said finally. “I can’t believe it. Really. Do you think…? Do you think someone was trying to ruin my party? I mean … someone wanted you to blame me for putting them there?”
    â€œAre you telling us the truth?” Patti demanded.
    â€œOf course I didn’t do it,” Brendan replied. “No way. That’s horrible. Where would I get dead animals? Do you think I collect them or something? How would I get them into your houses?”
    Everyone started talking at once.
    â€œWhy would I do that?” Brendan shouted over the voices. “Why would I do a thing like that right before my party? I … I can’t believe someone did that to you.”
    But then his expression changed. He seemed to freeze. His eyes went wide, and he made a gurgling sound.
    â€œBrendan? Are you okay?” I called. “Are you choking ?”
    â€œOmigod,” he murmured. “It can’t be. It can’t be.”
    The room grew quiet again. Brendan’s hands were shaking. He grabbed the edge of the food table to steady himself. “Great-Aunt Victoria,” he said, his voice cracking.
    We drew closer. I could barely hear him.
    â€œDid I ever tell any of you about my father’s great-aunt Victoria?”
    No one replied. Eric flashed me a look, like: What’s up with Brendan ?
    Brendan picked up a bottle of water and took a long swallow. Then he turned back to us.
    â€œMy dad told us the story. You see, Victoria Fear inherited this house a long time ago. I don’t know exactly when. Dad said she was a very weird person. She didn’t like other people. She didn’t get along with anyone. She lived here alone for many years.”
    Brendan finished the water in the bottle and tossed the bottle to the floor. “Victoria had only one thing in life that she enjoyed. It was taxidermy. You know. Stuffing animals after they died. She collected hundreds of animals. No exaggeration. Hundreds. And she spent all her time in her taxidermy room, stuffing animals, putting them back together, mounting them. And—”
    â€œWhat does this have to do with what happened to us?” April interrupted.
    â€œI’m getting to it,” Brendan replied. “This is the weird part. Sometimes other members of the Fear family would come to the house to visit. This was supposed to be a summer house for the whole family. But Victoria never wanted to share it