Read Online Danger at the Fair by Peg Kehret - Free Book Online Page B

said the reason he wanted to go on the rides was so he could scream a lot.”
    “I warned him about that, with his bad throat,” Mrs. Streater said, “but I don’t think he was listening. He was going on about some gruesome ride he plans to invent.”
    Ellen rolled her eyes while Mr. Streater chuckled.
    “I thought they would be home in time for dinner,” Mrs. Streater said.
    “Corey will not be hungry after a day at the fair,” said Mr. Streater. “Remember how much he ate last time?”
    “When I saw him,” Ellen said, “he had a big plate of curly fries.”
    “Julia Warren doesn’t usually let Nicholas eat a lot of fatty food,” Mrs. Streater said. “I hope she didn’t let those boys go off on their own.”
    “You worry too much,” said Mr. Streater. “Enjoy the quiet while you can; Corey will be home soon enough and then we’ll have to hear every detail of his day at the fair. Twice.”
    “Mrs. Warren was with them in the sheep arena,” Ellen said.
    “Good.”
    Although Ellen tried to reassure her mother, it increased her own nervousness to listen to her mother’s worries. The later it got with no sign of Corey, the more Ellen wondered if she should tell her parents about the message.
    What if Corey wasn’t home yet because he was in terrible trouble?
    “Have some lasagna, Ellen,” Mrs. Streater said. “It’s Father’s veggie recipe.”
    Ellen took the pan her mother handed her. Veggie lasagna. Grandpa’s favorite meal—the only recipe that he personally ever prepared.
    Ellen chewed the noodles, tomato sauce, cheese, and spinach. Was
this
a sign from Grandpa? Mom had not made veggie lasagna in months. Why did she choose tonight?
    “I was in the mood to cook this morning,” Mrs. Streater said, “so I made a double recipe and froze some.”
    This morning. It can’t be a sign from Grandpa, Ellen thought. The lasagna was made this morning, before I got the message, before I asked for a sign. I’m getting crazy, thinking about this.
    She tried to eat but nothing tasted good. “May I be excused?” she said and, when her mother nodded, she left the table and went back to her bedroom. She wandered aimlessly around for awhile, looked out the window, and finally picked up a magazine. She glanced at the cover and realized it was the magazine that Grandpa had bought a subscription to, as a treat when Ellen got all
A
s on her report card. She put it down, refusing to let herself think that the magazine was a sign telling her that Grandpa was here.
    She took the message out of her pocket and read it again.
It is for you to know that the smaller one faces great danger. He will pay for his mistake. It is for you to know that the paths of destiny can be changed and the smaller one will need your help to change his. You will know when it is time. Do not ignore this warning.
    Maybe, instead of trying to contact Grandpa, she should try to contact any of the spirits, just as The Great Sybil had the first time. Maybe the message was from Ellen’s guardian angel. Or maybe it was from some other spirit.
    Once again, Ellen picked up a piece of paper and pen. She sat at her desk, with the window shade down and the lights off. She closed her eyes, breathed deeply several times, and whispered, “Loving spirits, do you have a message for me? I come to you in love and friendship, asking for help to protect my brother.”
    She waited a few moments and then spoke again. “If Corey will need my help, spirits, please send another message and tell me when.”
    The pen jerked into action, rubbing the paper violently. It lasted barely two seconds. By the time Ellen could react, it was over.
    She opened her eyes. The paper held a single word, printed in large capital letters that slanted to the left: URGENT .
    The first message had said, “You will know when it is time.” The second message seemed to say, the time is now.
    The back of Ellen’s neck prickled. It was no longer important to her who the messages might