Boardwalk Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

won a snake today when I threw darts at a balloon. But when we helped Mr. Hanson set up the ghosts in the haunted house, I left my snake there. I remembered it when I was sitting on the horse on the merry-go-round. I told Violet that I would be right back. I ran to the haunted house to get my snake.”
    “Wasn’t it too dark to find the snake?” Jessie asked.
    Benny nodded. “At first it was too dark. But I knew where the light switch was. I turned on the lights and ran to the ghost room. I found my snake. It was sitting right next to the smallest ghost. I picked it up, but just then all the lights went out. I couldn’t see anything.”
    Violet drew in her breath. “You must have been so frightened!”
    “I was a little scared,” Benny admitted. “But I felt along the walls. I walked into the zombie room. There was a light in there.”
    “But I don’t have any lights just in the zombie room,” Mr. Hanson said. “The switch you used turns on all the lights in the haunted house.”
    “It wasn’t that light, Mr. Hanson. It was a small light, like from a cell phone or a little flashlight. Then the giant zombie started to move. He came right off the machine that you built. His arms swung around. One of them hit me in the side of the face. I fell down.”
    “Where did the zombie go?” asked Henry. “It can’t walk. It’s not real. And it was not there when we found you.”
    “I don’t know,” Benny said. “It was too dark. The little light went off. And then all of a sudden the ride started up and you came and found me.”
    Just then, everyone heard giggling coming from the beach. But it was too dark to see anyone.
    As everyone was finishing their ice cream, Will and Wendy came in the front door. When their father called to them, they walked back toward the deck.
    “Where were you tonight?” Mr. Hanson asked. “I sure could have used your help.”
    Will looked down at his feet.
    “We’re sorry, Dad,” Wendy said. “We went for a long walk after dinner and we lost track of the time.”
    Wendy played with a string hanging from the bottom of her shirt. Her eyes quickly glanced toward Benny. “Are you okay, little guy?” she asked. “How about I get you some more ice cream?” Wendy asked.
    Grandfather smiled. “Benny never says no to ice cream.”
    Wendy carried Benny’s bowl into the kitchen. “Hello up there, Aldens!” A shout came from the boardwalk below.
    Mr. Hanson leaned over the rail. “Come on up, Hunter,” he said. “We are just having some ice cream. I hope you can join us.”
    “Sounds great!” Hunter ran up the stairs. “I’m glad I saw the candles flickering on your deck,” he said. “I wanted to stop by to see if anyone is up for hitting the beach tomorrow morning.”
    Benny jumped out of his chair. “Are you going to teach me how to boogie board?”
    Hunter laughed. “That’s the first thing I am going to do. But it won’t take long. You’ll figure it out quick.”
    “You children have been an enormous help. You should go and enjoy the beach tomorrow,” Mr. Hanson said.
    Benny clapped his hands. Wendy came back out onto the deck and handed Benny another heaping bowl of ice cream. “Wow!” Benny said. “This is the best night ever!”
    Will and Wendy turned to leave the deck. Hunter called to them.
    “Do you want to come tomorrow, too?” Hunter asked. “There will be lots of kids there. We always have a good time. Do you like to surf?”
    Will hesitated. He folded his arms and leaned against the door frame.
    “Thanks, but we don’t surf,” Wendy said. Then she sighed. “But we used to ski when we lived in Colorado.”
    “That’s cool,” Hunter said. “I’ve never been skiing. If I teach you to surf this summer, maybe you can teach me how to ski in the winter. I’ve heard the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania have some great slopes. And they are not too far from here.”
    Wendy smiled. She looked over at Will. Will shrugged his shoulders. “It’s a