Read Online The Vampire's Vacation by Ron Roy - Free Book Online Page A

goose bumps when he looked at us.”
    “That’s because it’s air-conditioned in here,” Ruth Rose said. “Can we go now?”
    “I want to see where he’s going,” Josh said. Crouching, he pulled the wagon through the door. Dink and Ruth Rose were right behind him, laughing.
    The stranger made his way down Main Street. The kids stayed behind him. Suddenly he disappeared inside a doorway.
    “He’s gone into Ellie’s!” Josh said.
    “Gee, I didn’t know vampires ate real food,” Dink cracked. “Don’t they just drink blood?”
    Josh ignored Dink. “We’re going in, too,” Josh said. “But let’s wait a couple of minutes. We don’t want to look like we’re following him.”
    “But we are!” Ruth Rose pointed out.
    “Well, we don’t have to advertise it!” Josh said. “Let’s just get ice cream, like we usually do.”
    The kids left the wagon outside and pushed through the door to Ellie’s Diner. Ellie had her back to them. The kids glanced around at all the seats. The man in black was nowhere to be seen.
    “Where’d he go?” Josh whispered.
    “Are you sure he came in here?” Dink asked. “Maybe he went into the pet shop next door.”
    “I know he came in here,” Josh said.He peeked under a booth. “Let’s ask Ellie.”
    “Ask me what?” Ellie asked.
    She turned around just as she fin-ished sticking a small, round Band-Aid on the side of her neck.

“Did a guy all dressed in black come in?” Josh asked.
    Ellie looked confused. “In my diner? When?”
    “Just a minute ago. He had black hair and pale skin,” Dink said.
    Ellie shook her head. “I don’t know,” she said. “He might have. I was out back getting supplies.”
    “I saw him walk in here,” Josh said, peering over the counter.
    “Well, he’s not here now,” Dink said. “Let’s get some ice cream.”
    Ellie followed them to a booth. “Cones all around?” she asked the kids. “Your usual flavors?”
    The kids all nodded, and a few minutes later, Ellie brought three cones. Butter crunch for Dink, pistachio for Josh, and strawberry for Ruth Rose. As they licked their cones, Josh stared through the window.
    “What’re you looking for?” Dink asked.
    “The vampire guy,” Josh said.
    “He’s not a vampire, Josh,” Ruth Rose said. “Everyone knows vampires sleep during the day and come out at night. They hate the sun.”
    “Maybe this one’s on vacation,” Josh said.
    Dink started to laugh and nearly choked. “Josh, why would a vampire pick Green Lawn for his vacation?” he asked.
    But Josh wasn’t listening. He had hisnose against the window. “There he is again!” Josh shrieked.
    Dink and Ruth Rose craned their necks to look. Ellie walked over to see what the commotion was about.

    The man in black was crossing Main Street near the swan pond.
    “Doesn’t he look like a vampire to you?” Josh asked Ellie.
    Ellie didn’t answer. When Dink glanced at her, Ellie seemed afraid. She backed away from the window and walked behind her counter.
    Josh crunched the last of his cone, then pushed his way out of the booth. “He’s heading down Main Street. I’m following him,” he announced. “You guys coming?”
    “Sure, why not?” Ruth Rose said. “I want to be there when the vacationing vampire grabs you!”
    “Can I at least finish my cone?” Dink asked. He and Ruth Rose followed Josh out to the street.
    “He’s going into the Book Nook,” Dink told Josh.
    “I wonder what vampires read when they’re on vacation,” Ruth Rose said,taking the last bite of her cone.
    “Let’s find out,” Josh said, heading for the bookstore. They stopped in front of Howard’s Barbershop while Dink finished his ice cream.
    Josh kept an eye on the Book Nook door. “Okay, let’s go,” he said as Dink wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
    Dink and Ruth Rose followed him into the Book Nook.
    A bell tinkled, and Mr. Paskey looked up from behind his counter. He smiled and waved at the kids.
    Two teenagers were reading