Read Online The Daring Game by Kit Pearson - Free Book Online

caught?”
    â€œShhh!” said Carrie. “Wait till she thinks I’m in bed.” They waited five minutes.
    â€œNow tell us,” whispered Eliza urgently.
    â€œOkay. It was really scary. I slipped once on the roof—did you hear me yell? My bathrobe got caught under my foot.” Eliza winced.
    â€œThen I rolled through the window onto Sandra’s bed. Was she ever surprised! They thought it was wonderful and they wouldn’t let me leave for a long time. I had to look at all their animals. I just love the juniors, especially Holly. They’re so cute.”
    â€œBrats, not cute,” growled Helen. “I know—I was with some of them last year. Go on!”
    â€œI made it to the Red Dorm and talked to them for a while. Then I ran to the Turquoise Dorm and sent the message. But just as I was leaving I bumped into Matilda! She was coming up the stairs.”
    â€œOooh, Carrie!” cried Jean. “What did you do?”
    â€œI said—I said—” Carrie was laughing so hard she could hardly continue. “I said I had a headache and I was looking for her! And she got all gushy and called me a poor lamb and gave me an aspirin in her room.”
    â€œDid you swallow it?”
    â€œI had to! I don’t think it’ll hurt me.”
    â€œHurray for Turps!” said Helen, and all at once Eliza felt jealous.
    Pam pulled her sheet over her head. “You are all being so dumb. Carrie could have broken her neck. Shut up now—I want to go to sleep.”
    â€œPrim P.J.,” whispered Helen.
    Eliza heard her and sighed. She wasn’t tired any more, and she tiptoed into the bathroom with a book. Pam always complained when Eliza pulled the curtains back to get more light. She had tried reading under the covers with a flashlight, but the Pouncer had confiscated it.
    She couldn’t concentrate on her book. Adjusting the bathmat under her on the cold floor, she leaned back against the tub and thought about the dare.
    Pam was right; it had been dangerous. Was it brave to do something foolhardy? She didn’t think so, but Helen seemed to. Eliza was only glad she hadn’t had a chance to call Eliza a goody-goody again. But not having to perform this dare just meant Helen would think up another one for her.
    Eliza decided she didn’t like Helen. At first, the other girl had interested her, but they were too different to be friends. Carrie was much safer. Helen doesn’t like me anyhow, she thought. And I don’t care.

7
    Two Birthdays
    â€œW ould you like to have all your dorm-mates out for your birthday next week?” Aunt Susan asked one Saturday in November.
    Eliza considered it. Carrie came out with her almost every week, so she would be included of course. It would be nice to have Jean, if she didn’t mind missing a Saturday at home. But Helen and Pam—did she want them to intrude into her peaceful Saturday life? Nothing ever happened on her weekly visits with Aunt Susan and Uncle Adrian. It was always the same, and a lot like being in her own home. She preferred it that way.
    But she knew her aunt and uncle wanted to meet the other three; she and Carrie were always discussing them. Also, it was Helen’s birthday four days after Eliza’s. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t very well leave her out.
    â€œI’ll ask them,” she said finally. “But they might not be able to come.”
    Surprisingly, they all could. Jean said she could skip seeing her parents for one week, and she seemed pleased to be included. Pam, who usually went out with herfriend Deb, said in a syrupy voice that Helen mocked that she’d love to meet Eliza’s relatives. Eliza was the most puzzled by Helen’s acceptance. She didn’t understand why the other girl would want to come, but Helen said it would be good to have some freedom. She began to act friendlier, even though Eliza remained aloof.
    T HEY WERE READY at