Pumpkin Head Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

of their fliers. They each took a handful and began to walk down Main Street. They stopped in many offices and stores to ask if they could tape a flier in the window. Most people were very kind and gave permission. Several admired Violet’s drawing. They said that the haunted hayride sounded like a lot of fun.
    At the end of one long block, Benny stopped. “My feet hurt,” he said. “Are we almost done?”
    “Yes,” Jessie said. “Then we’ll get a cool drink and rest. Do you think you can make it a little farther?”
    Before Benny could answer, the Aldens heard a commotion close by.
    “What’s that?” asked Violet.
    Two men were across the street. They were standing in front of a small café. They were having a loud argument.
    Jessie grabbed Henry’s arm. “Look!” she said. “That’s Jason!”
    “I could have been killed!” shouted a man in a blue shirt.
    “I already said I was sorry.” Jason had a bright red folder tucked under his arm. He accidentally dropped it. Papers spilled onto the sidewalk. “Now look what you made me do! Why don’t you leave me alone? It is over now.”
    The man’s face was very red. “I am still upset. You need to learn how to drive!”
    People on the street were staring. A policeman stopped to ask if everything was okay.
    “He almost got me killed!” the man shouted. “He stopped his car in the middle of the road! You should give him a ticket!”
    The police officer looked around. Traffic was moving fine along Main Street. He seemed confused. “What car?” he asked.
    “Oh, forget it!” The angry man stalked off.

    The police officer shrugged his shoulders. Jason shook his head. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and clipped it to the red folder. Then he opened the door of the café and went inside.
    Jessie looked at her sister and brothers. “I wonder what that was all about.”
    “I don’t know,” Violet said. “But that man was very angry. Maybe Jason ran out of gas and had to stop in the road somewhere.”
    Benny sank to the sidewalk. “I think my feet are out of gas.”
    Henry smiled. “Can they make it one more block to the diner? It’s our last stop.”
    “Maybe they can make it,” Benny said. “Will we get something to eat there?”
    “Yes,” Jessie said. “I think we could all use a rest and a bite to eat.”
    Benny jumped up. “Then my feet have just enough gas left!”
    The diner wasn’t crowded and the children slipped into a booth by the front window. They ordered sandwiches and four tall lemonades. Their waitress’s name was Kim.
    She had short blond hair and a big smile.
    When Kim brought the food, Jessie showed her the flier. “May we hang up this flier in the diner?” she asked
    “That is a beautiful drawing,” Kim said. “I can hang it on the wall up front. More people will see it that way. This hayride sounds like a fun time.”
    “Thank you,” said Jessie.
    The waitress stared at the flier. “Hey,” she said. “This is the Beckett farm!”
    “Yes,” Jessie said. “Do you know about the Beckett farm?”
    “They sell wonderful vegetables at their farm stand,” she answered. “And my friend works there. Maybe you know her. Her name is Bessie Unger.”
    “Oh, yes!” Violet said. “We know Bessie.”
    “Tell her I said hello,” Kim said. “I haven’t talked to her in a while. Is her husband feeling better?”
    “I’m sorry,” Violet answered. “But we didn’t know her husband was sick.”
    “Oh, sure,” Kim said. “That’s why she’s been working two jobs.” A bell rang in the kitchen. “Excuse me, kids,” Kim said. “The order’s up for table five.”
    After Kim left, Henry took a long drink of lemonade. “Two jobs is a lot,” he said. “Bessie must really need the extra money.”
    “I hope her husband gets better soon,” Violet said. She looked out the window at the shops across the street. Some people were stopping to look at the fliers. “Do you think the fliers will help bring customers to