The Ghost of Fossil Glen Read Online Free PDF Page A

find out.
    At least, she thought excitedly, her father had given her an idea for her first journal entry. She could write about the strange message. Mr. Henry had told the class to be creative and daring. Well, her entry would be unique—she was pretty sure of that.
    Eagerly, using her mother’s fountain pen to form her letters as neatly as she could, Allie began to write. When she was finished, she looked at the clock. Eight-fifteen. She could catch the last half of Teen Twins if she hurried downstairs.
    She turned on the television in the family room. The faces of Stephanie and Jodi, the twins, filled the screen. They were in a school hallway, hiding behind a locker door, watching as another girl opened her locker and looked inside. The girl picked up a note and read it. Her expression showed surprise followed by great happiness. The camera zoomed in on the note, which said, “I love you,” and was signed, “Brian.”
    The girl folded the note and placed it carefully in her backpack, closed her locker, and walked down the hall. Her face glowed with pleasure.
    The picture shifted to Stephanie and Jodi, who were collapsing with laughter as they emerged from their hiding place. “She fell for it!” Jodi exclaimed.
    â€œLike Brian would ever love her !” said Stephanie with a giggle.
    Allie frowned. She hadn’t seen the beginning of the show, but it appeared that the twins were playing a joke on the other girl. A cruel joke, it seemed to Allie, one that was purposely designed to embarrass their victim. She didn’t get it: was it supposed to be funny? She stood up and turned off the television, not really caring to see what happened next.

Six
    In the morning, Allie walked downstairs to find Michael and her parents finishing breakfast.
    â€œThere’s some toast here, Allie-Cat,” said her father.
    â€œThanks, Dad,” said Allie. Taking her seat, she reached for a piece of toast and asked, “Is it all right if I take a rake and a broom and some trash bags to school for Earth Day?”
    Michael banged his cereal spoon on the table enthusiastically. “Earth Day!” he crowed. “Fritzi and me are going to plant flowers today!”
    â€œFritzi and I are going to plant flowers,” Mrs. Nichols corrected gently.
    Michael’s round face gathered in a scowl. “No!” he protested. “ Not you. Me! Fritzi said.”
    â€œThat’s right, honey,” Mrs. Nichols hastened to say. “You and Fritzi are planting flowers. I just meant—Oh, never mind.”
    Michael smiled happily. Mr. Nichols turned back to Allie and said, “Sure, go ahead and take whatever tools you need. What are you going to use them for?”
    â€œWe’re cleaning up the cemetery at Fossil Glen today,” answered Allie.
    Mr. Nichols nodded approvingly. “Good idea.”
    â€œIf you’re going to be carrying all that, why don’t you let me give you a ride?” asked Mrs. Nichols.
    â€œGreat, Mom,” said Allie. “Thanks.”
    â€œGo brush your teeth, and I’ll meet you in the car.”
    As Allie and her mother drove past the Stiles house, Mrs. Nichols said, “Why, that’s Mr. Curtis’s van in the driveway. There must be more furniture to move out.”
    Ordinarily, Allie would have been interested in any sign of life at the Stiles house, but she had spotted Karen Laver and Pam Wright walking to school. They were headed toward the place where her mother would pull up to drop her off.
    A little knot of anxiety began to form in the pit of Allie’s stomach. “Mom,” she said quickly, “this is good enough. Stop here.”
    â€œBut, honey, I have to pull into the parking lot to turn around, anyway.” Mrs. Nichols kept driving, right up to the front door of the school, where she stopped.
    â€œThanks a lot,” Allie said glumly.
    â€œHave a good day, sweetie. And stop by the shop after