The Stranger Next Door Read Online Free PDF

magnets across the floor, ran after it, pounced on it, rolled around while hekicked at it with his hind feet, then batted it some more until it went under the sofa.
    “My toy is gone!” Pete shrieked. “I can’t reach my toy!” He jumped to the small end table beside the sofa.
    “I don’t know what gets into that cat,” Mrs. Kendrill said. “Sometimes he goes completely loony.”
    “Maybe he’s lonesome,” Mr. Kendrill said. “Maybe we should get another cat so he has someone to play with.”
    Pete stopped rubbing his face against the lamp shade. “Share my food?” Pete said. “Share my litter pan? Let another cat sit on Alex’s lap? No! If you bring another cat in here, the fur will fly. The new cat will never have a minute’s peace, and neither will you.”
    “I’m not sure we need two cats,” Mrs. Kendrill said. “Pete is more than I can handle.”
    Alex said, “I’ll take Pete outside as soon as I finish eating. That will settle him down.” He helped himself to another pancake. He hoped Benjie was wrong about the new neighbors being millionaires. So much new furniture did sound as if they had money to spare, and that thought made Alex uneasy.
    If it weren’t for Duke, Alex wouldn’t care if the neighbors were wealthy or not, but he knew Duke would care. He didn’t understand why Duke was so against people who had money. Was it jealousy? Why did Duke assumeAlex’s family was well-off? Was it just an excuse to act mean?
    Although Alex hoped for a neighbor boy his age, he didn’t want the boy to be rich. He could just imagine how Duke and his buddies would react if they found out that the new boy was wealthy.
    They would never quit picking on him—or me, Alex thought. Life at school would be totally miserable.

4
    T ime to come in, Benjie,” Mrs. Kendrill called. “But they aren’t here yet.”
    “It’s getting dark. They probably aren’t coming until tomorrow.”
    “Mr. Woolsey said they were coming Saturday.”
    “Maybe he meant next week, or something might have delayed them. Put your scooter in the garage; it’s supposed to rain tonight. Then come in and get undressed; your bath is ready.”
    Benjie trudged into the house. He took off his shoes but carried his binoculars with him into the bathroom.
    Alex, who was watching a movie with Pete on his lap, felt sorry for his brother. Benjie had spent the entire day either riding his scooter past the neighbors’ house or sitting on the front porch looking up the street through his binoculars, hoping to catch the first glimpse of the new family.
    Half an hour later, just as Alex’s movie got to the most exciting part, Benjie ran into the living room and yelled, “They’re here!”
    Pete, startled out of his dream of catching a mouse, dug his back claws into Alex’s thighs and shoved off.
    “Ouch!” Alex said. “Benjie, for crying out loud, quit scaring Pete.” He hit the PAUSE button on the remote control, then rubbed his legs.
    “They just pulled into their driveway,” Benjie said, “and I was right.”
    Alex gaped at his brother. “They have quintuplets?” he asked.
    “They have a new car, a big fancy one.”
    “Benjie,” Mrs. Kendrill said, “I told you not to spy on the neighbors. If you can’t mind, we’ll have to take your binoculars away from you.”
    “I didn’t spy,” Benjie protested. “I saw lights through the trees, and I looked to see who it was, that’s all.”
    “Are there any kids?” Alex asked.
    “Do they have a cat?” Pete asked.
    “I only saw one boy,” Benjie said. “He’s about your size, Alex.” He slumped onto the couch and ate some of Alex’s popcorn. Then he brightened. “Maybe the rest of the boys are coming tomorrow because they wouldn’t all fit in one car.”
    “Do they have a cat?” Pete said, louder this time.
    “Alex,” Mrs. Kendrill said. “Pete is hungry.”
    Alex went to the kitchen to get the cat food.
    Pete did not follow him. Instead, he went upstairs to