Witch Twins and the Ghost of Glenn Bly Read Online Free PDF Page B

spices, and left an aftertaste that coated my tongue as if I’d been licking mold,” said Lord Shrillingbird.
    “I’m sorry about your lunches,” stammered Mac.
    “Luckily, we’re staying through the weekend,” said Lady Shrillingbird. “So we shall allow you to prepare more meals. Perhaps you’ll have better luck next time.”
    “Through the weekend?” repeated Daphne faintly.
    Lord and Lady Shrillingbird ignored her. Lady Shrillingbird turned to her husband. “Now then, my lord, let’s walk around our castle. I’ve got some divine decorating suggestions for when we move in. And after our walk, well have a nap in the Peacock Chamber.”
    “Isn’t that our grandparents’ room?” asked Claire.
    Lord and Lady Shrillingbird ignored her.
    “Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like our second home!” sang Lord Shrillingbird.
    The Shrillingbirds gulped their desserts in a couple of bites, then pranced out of the dining room arm in arm, leaving a messy trail of crumbs behind.
    “Are the Shrillingbirds planning to move into your castle?” exclaimed Luna.
    Mac nodded sadly. “I’m afraid so. I had to sell Glenn Bly to the Shrillingbirds a few years ago because I couldn’t afford the steep castle taxes. Now we run the bed-and-breakfast business and pay them rent. For a while, the situation worked fine. That is, until the Shrillingbirds decided to sell their bungalow in Baja, their salon in Singapore, and their manor in Monte Carlo. Recently, they’ve decided this place would make a nice holiday castle.”
    Mac glanced sidelong at his granddaughter. “I never imagined the Shrillingbirds would want to live in a crumbling castle. But they are such unpleasant company, I’m afraid that they would be terribly difficult to share this space with. Daphne and I would most likely have to move.”
    Daphne, her chin up, did not answer. Instead, she stacked the Shrillingbirds’ dirty plates and cups and swept out of the dining room without a word. Then came the sound of a giant clattering and bashing as Daphne dumped the dishes in the sink.
    “Poor lass,” said Mac. “She has lived through her ups and downs, but Glenn Bly is the only home she’s ever known. Now, girls, leave the cleanup to us. I need to go cheer my granddaughter.”
    “Sure, Mac,” said the twins.
    Quietly, they stole upstairs to Elderberry Chamber.
    “I feel sorry for Daphne,” said Luna. “We’ve lived through our ups and downs, too. But we’ve only lived them in one place, good old Twenty-two Locust Street. And no awful people are looking to crowd us out.”
    “It not a crumbling castle with a goofy ghost,” said Claire, “but I love-love-love our home.”
    “Even if you can hear Justin practice Hacky Sack through the wall,” Luna mentioned.
    “And even if we have to share a room,” Claire added.
    “And even if the radiator pipes squeak in the winter.”
    “And even if our kittens shredded up the new red-and-green-flowered living room curtains.”
    “They did?” Luna cringed.
    Claire nodded. “Better not tell Mom. Hey, that reminds me. Let’s see what’s happening at home. Did you bring your spy globe? I forgot mine.”
    “I’ve got mine right here.” Luna ran to her suitcase and pulled out her spy globe. It was the size and weight of a glass baseball, and not at all magical looking.
    But when Luna shook it, every color appeared and swirled inside it like a liquid rainbow. She fogged the globe with her breath and set it on the windowsill.
    “Show us our family,” commanded Luna.
    The twins peered into the globe. Soon the fog and colors faded to produce the globe’s first image.
    “Hey, it’s Justin. He’s sitting on a bench,” said Luna. “He looks so bored. That’s funny. I thought he was playing football all week.”
    “He’s in his uniform, though,” noted Claire. “Maybe he only goes on the field during emergencies. When the team needs someone who can really clobber.”
    Next, Claire breathed on the