Read Online Waiting Spirits by Bruce Coville - Free Book Online Page B

the verge of collapsing when the door swung open.
    It was remarkable. Their father didn’t have to say anything. He just stood there looking stern, and within seconds both girls had let their hands drop to their sides, the pillows fall to the bed.
    Mr. Burton stared at each of them in turn. Following his gaze to Carrie, Lisa had to choke back a giggle. Her little sister’s hair was flying in all directions. Her cheeks were red, her eyes were flashing, and she was panting like a marathon runner at the end of a race. The top of her nightgown had slid down over one shoulder.
    Lisa wondered what she looked like herself.
    â€œI’m glad you’re feeling better, Lisa,” said her father, in a tone of voice that made it painfully clear she would be wise not to feel too much better.
    He turned and left the room.
    Lisa and Carrie looked at each other for a moment. Then Carrie began to giggle. Unable to control herself, she collapsed on the bed and pushed her face against her pillow. Lisa began to giggle, too. Soon both girls were lying on the bed, faces buried in their pillows, bodies shaking helplessly.
    â€œLisa! Carrie! Are you all right?” It was their grandmother. She took each of them by a shoulder and shook them heartily.
    The girls rolled over, trying to control their laughter. Carrie’s face was red. She had her lips pressed together, but was giggling and sputtering anyway. That struck Lisa as indescribably funny; she rolled over and buried her face in her pillow again.
    For a moment their grandmother was silent. Then she began to laugh, too.
    The last few days had been hard on all three of them.
    Brian called just before noon, both to see how she was and to tell her that his family was going to visit some relatives that day, so he wouldn’t be able to see her. Lisa debated with herself about whether to tell him what had happened after he left the night before. Finally she decided to put it off till she could see him in person.
    Or maybe put it off altogether , she admitted to herself.
    She felt wistful about not being able to see him that day. On the other hand, she did need some time to herself just to think. She spent the day on the beach, working on her tan and soaking up sunlight as if it were an antidote to what was happening at night in the strange old house.
    Even so, she felt apprehensive when it came time to go to bed that night. She could tell Carrie felt the same way. Neither of them knew what manifestations the night might bring.
    â€œDo you smell smoke?” Carried asked, just as they were drifting off to sleep.
    Lisa sat up. She thought she could detect a hint of smoke. But after a thorough search that managed to annoy their parents considerably, they decided it must be nothing but faint traces of a campfire on the beach being carried to their open window by the ocean breeze.
    On Monday Brian returned with his father to work on the windows. He took advantage of his lunch break to go for a walk with Lisa.
    â€œAnything happen yesterday?” he asked anxiously as soon as they were alone.
    She shook her head. “No, it was pretty quiet.” She hesitated, then added, “But things sure got out of hand after you left Saturday night.” Speaking quickly, she told him the story of the mysterious piano playing and the attack of the weeping woman.
    Brian’s face was grim, and when she finished he told her again that he thought she should get out of the old house.
    â€œWouldn’t I love to,” she answered bitterly. “I’ve been wanting to leave since the day we got here.” She gave Brian a quick smile. “At least, until last Friday, when you showed up. But I told you what my father said. He thinks I was just having a bad dream the other night. If I press it, he’ll probably figure I’m making things up because I want to go home. Like I said, he believes there’s a scientific explanation for everything. And my grandmother is just