Free Diane Greenwood Muir - Bellingwood 05 - Life Between the Lines by Diane Greenwood Muir Page B

cuts, it’s probably easier if they don’t have to keep the building open.”
    Jeff went into his office and Polly waited for the coffee pot to finish brewing, then poured herself a cup. “Fresh coffee if you want it.” She went into the conference room and sat down and didn’t have to wait long for the others to join her. Lydia clicked onto the first page and they looked at the screen.
    She had found strobe lights and black lights, a fog machine and netting to create the ambience of a haunted house. The women weren’t using blood and gore for the children, but according to Beryl, shock and surprise was always good for the heart.
    The littlest children could get their candy at the front door and leave, but anyone who wanted to brave the short path through and around the foyer would have a good time. A ghost made from white netting would float down from above, hung by dark fishing line and lit by black lights. They had ordered haunted house soundtracks and Beryl was going to dress as a horrible clown who would jump out as strobe lights flashed in the guest’s faces. That would be the worst fright they’d have this year. Tombstones and gargoyles would round out the decorations.
    “Who is cleaning up the floor when those little kids wet themselves?” Beryl asked.
    Polly grinned at her. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean, I’m going to be the creepiest clown ever. All of their nightmares are going to be real when they see me.”
    “So, you don’t think that a vampire coming out of the coffin or a ghost floating above them or a real, live stomping Frankenstein’s monster will scare them?”
    Beryl slid Lydia’s laptop over in front of her and clicked through, then pointed at a clown, with huge red lips and blood smearing its face. One arm was missing and the costume was aged and horrific. “That’s what I’m planning to look like. Still think your pale-faced vampire is worse?”
    Polly shuddered. “I hate clowns. More than I hate snakes, I hate clowns.”
    “I know!” Beryl laughed. “That’s why it’s such a great idea. I’ve always wanted to horrify kids. I still don’t understand why Ronald McDonald gets away with it. He’s awful looking.”
    “Because he gives kids great-tasting fries,” Polly said. “His priorities are in the right place. And besides, McDonald’s has had fifty years to make kids believe he won’t eat them in their dreams.”
    “You did a nice job cleaning the front of the building, dear,” Lydia said, interrupting them. “The doors don’t look too bad today. I was worried about those.”
    “We all were, but I’m going to leave it to Henry now.”
    “Did you welcome him back last night?” Beryl asked coyly.
    “I’m not sure what you mean by that,” Polly said, “but I cooked him a really nice meal and I even made an apple pie.”
    “They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, I guess,” Andy said.
    “Is that why you keep inviting Len over for dinner?” Beryl laughed. “Are you trying to get to his heart?”
    “I think I’ve already found it, thank you very much,” Andy retorted. “We’re having a very nice time together. So there.” She stuck her tongue out and made a raspberry sound.
    Beryl wiped the front of her blouse. “You’re sloppy,” she said.
    Andy just groaned.
    “Do you have a wedding this weekend?” Lydia asked Polly.
    “I’m sure we do. I don’t think there are any open weekends until next March. Why?”
    “Can we begin construction on Sunday afternoon? I want to make sure things are coming together.”
    Polly stood and walked to Jeff’s office. He looked up. “Can they get in on Sunday to build the set for Halloween? Do you have anything scheduled that would be affected by that next week?”
    “There are things going on in the classrooms. Just tell them to leave a path for people to walk,” he said, a little distractedly.
    “Is everything okay?” Polly asked.
    “I don’t know,” he said and continued to look