The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery Read Online Free PDF

angels , and mystery .
    Mystery? Eric stared at the word. What was it doing on the Christmas spelling list?
    Squeezing his pencil, Eric began to write the words in his best cursive.
    It wasn’t easy. Eric kept seeing the old man’s face. It showed up when he wrote the date in the lefthand corner. It appeared when he wrote his name on the right side.

    Eric rubbed his eyes. He had to get the man’s face out of his mind!
    He looked at the flag. He counted to ten under his breath. Then he looked at Miss Hershey. Her bright red and green Christmas sweater might help him forget the scary face.
    â€œEric, are you all right?” Miss Hershey asked.
    He nodded. Everything would be all right soon, he told himself.

    After school, Eric went sledding down Blossom Hill with Dunkum and Jason. Eric forgot about the scary face. It was almost dark when the boys headed home.
    â€œAre you still gonna help me with my spelling?” Dunkum asked Eric.
    â€œSure am,” Eric said. “But I have to gethome after that and finish my book report.”
    â€œWhat’s your book about?” Jason asked.
    â€œIt’s a mystery” Eric answered.
    â€œSounds good,” Jason said. “I like mysteries.”
    Dunkum’s sled got stuck in the snow. He pulled hard on the rope. “Mysteries are OK, I guess.”
    Jason laughed. “The scarier the better.”
    â€œDon’t they give you bad dreams?” asked Dunkum.
    â€œSometimes,” Jason said. “But if I pray before I go to bed, it’s better.”
    Eric pulled his scarf tighter. “Why don’t you just skip the scary stuff?”
    Dunkum said, “Yeah, remember that Bible verse about only thinkin’ on good stuff?”
    â€œThe Bible says that?” Eric said.
    Dunkum smiled. “I learned it when I first went to Abby’s church. You should come see the Christmas program. I’m gonna be Joseph this year.”
    â€œWho’s Mary?” Jason asked.
    â€œAbby Hunter,” Dunkum said. His cheeks turned red. But not just from the cold.
    Eric scooped up some snow and licked it.

FOUR
    Eric pulled his sled toward his house. Before going inside, he glanced next door.
    The moving van was gone, and the garage door was closed. Everything looked dark . . . till someone lit a candle in the living room. And another and another. Soon the room was filled with a spooky glow.
    What was going on? Didn’t the old man have electricity?
    I saw lights this morning , Eric thought.
    Leaving his sled on the porch, Eric kicked his boots off inside the front door. He smelled German sausage. Yum!
    Eric’s mother was setting the dining room table. Grandpa was talking to his birds.
    Eric went to the kitchen to wash his hands. They were frosty from sledding.
    His mother came into the kitchen. “I’ve been thinking about inviting Mr. Tressler for supper sometime.”
    Grandpa turned away from the bird cages. “Who?”
    â€œOur new neighbor” Mrs. Hagel said.
    â€œVery thoughtful,” said Grandpa. “I’d like to meet the old fellow.”
    Eric dried his hands and hurried into the dining room. He didn’t know what to say. How could he tell his mother he was scared of Mr. Tressler?
    Eric’s mother brought in the steaming sausage, and potato salad mixed with caraway seeds.
    Eric’s grandfather chuckled. “I think those birds want a taste of sausage.”
    Eric pulled his chair out and sat down. Grandpa was bird-crazy.
    â€œGive them some caraway seeds instead,” Eric suggested.

    Before dessert, Eric’s mother brought out a handful of candles. She lit all of them. The dining room glowed with a magical, golden light.
    Eric stared at the candles. There were twelve. They reminded him of the light in Mr. Tressler’s spooky living room.
    â€œOnly twelve days till Christmas,” Eric’s mother said. “I hope to finish my shopping this weekend.”
    Eric