A Good Night for Ghosts Read Online Free PDF

Jack. “The waiters there don’t like us.”
    “Don’t worry about them,” said Dipper. “You’re with me now.”
    Jack and Annie followed Dipper outside into the rain. The wind was blowing harder now. “Uh-oh,” said Dipper. “Here comes the storm! Let’s hurry!”
    Thunder cracked and rain began to pour down. The three of them got soaked as they hurried through the alley back to Bourbon Street.
    The street was empty now. Partygoers and street musicians had fled from the storm. Therestaurants and cafés had taken their chairs and tables inside. Lightning lit the sky, and thunder shook the ground. The wind was blowing hard, picking up sticks and leaves and trash.
    “We have to find cover!” said Dipper. “Run!” He and Jack and Annie bowed their heads against the downpour and ran up Bourbon Street.
    “Dipper! Over here, man!” someone yelled. It was Little Mack.
    Little Mack, Happy, and Big Nose Sidney were waving to Dipper from the doorway of a dark building on a corner. Dipper, Jack, and Annie ran across the street through the pounding rain.
    “Get over here, out of the street!” shouted Little Mack. “Before you get hit by lightning!”
    “Thanks, fellas!” said Dipper.
    Soaking wet, Jack, Annie, Dipper, Little Mack, Happy, and Big Nose Sidney all crowded together just inside the dark building, looking out at the storm.
    “Who lives here?” asked Dipper.
    “Nobody. It’s been empty for years,” said Happy.
    “Used to be a blacksmith shop,” said Little Mack.
    “Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop?” said Jack. He immediately stepped out of the shop and stood under the eaves.
    “Yeah, what’s wrong with that?” asked Little Mack.

    “We read this place is haunted!” said Annie.
    “Y’all believe in ghosts?” asked Little Mack.
    “No, not really,” said Jack.
    “But I thought you said they gave you the heebie—” started Dipper.
    “No, no, I was kidding,” Jack said quickly. He didn’t want Dipper’s friends to know he was afraid of ghosts.
    Lightning split the sky again. Another crash of thunder shattered the night. The wind blew so hard that shingles blew off the roof across the street and crashed to the sidewalk.
    “Whoa! Come inside, man, we gotta close the door,” Dipper said to Jack.
    “Hold on,” said Little Mack. “We have to go.”
    “We do?” asked Happy.
    Little Mack whispered something to Happy and Big Nose Sidney.
    “Oh, yeah, he’s right,” said Happy. “We have to leave. We’ll see y’all later.”
    “Y’all are scared to stay here, aren’t you?” said Dipper.
    “No, man. We forgot we have an important gig to play,” said Big Nose Sidney.
    “Oh. Suddenly y’all have got an important gig. I see…,” said Dipper.
    “Yeah, we’ll have to try to make it through the storm. See y’all! Come on, fellas!” said Little Mack.
    The three boys hurried out of the blacksmith shop and turned the corner.
    “They left ’cause they’re scaredy-cats,” said Dipper, chuckling.
    “Yeah,” said Jack, “scaredy-cats.”
    Thunder cracked the sky again, the loudest crack so far. It seemed to shake the whole block. Roof shingles flew through the air.
    “Come back inside!” said Dipper. “It’s dangerous out there.”
    Jack took a deep breath and stepped back into Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop.

D ipper closed the door.
    It was pitch-black inside the shop. As the wind howled outside, the broken shutters banged against the brick walls. A gust of damp air blew through the room.
    “It’s dark in here,” said Annie. “And cold.”
    “It’s creepy,” said Jack.
    “Yup,” said Dipper. “Let’s leave. I’ve changed my mind about staying here. We can find some other place to get out of the storm.”
    “Good idea,” said Annie.
    “Great
idea!” said Jack.
    Jack heard Dipper rattle the door handle. “Uh-oh,” said Dipper.
    “Uh-oh what?” said Jack.
    “Won’t open,” said Dipper. “It’s stuck.”
    Jack felt the hair rise on the back of his neck.