Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls by Ann M. Martin Read Free Book Online Page B

Kristy!” Karen cried when Mrs. Thomas dropped Kristy off at Watson’s.
    â€œHi!” added Andrew happily. Andrew is three.
    Andrew and Karen like Kristy so much that not long ago, Kristy promised them she’d be their main baby-sitter at Watson’s until she becomes their stepsister.
    Watson walked into the front hall. “Well, Kristy,” he said warmly, “I’m so glad you could come.” (Kristy knew that Watson was really just glad she wasn’t such a pill about him and her mother anymore.) “I don’t think you’ll have any trouble tonight.”
    Kristy smiled at Watson as Boo-Boo wandered into the hall. “I know one way to avoid trouble,” she said. “We’ll keep Boo-Boo inside.” She turned to Karen and grinned at her, but Karen just stared back solemnly. Uh-oh, thought Kristy. Something’s wrong.
    â€œAll right,” said Watson, “the emergency numbers are in the usual place, and the phone number of Karen’s school plus her classroom number are taped to the phone, just in case.” Kristy nodded. “Seven-thirty is bedtime for Andrew,” Watson went on, “and eight o’clock for Karen. By the way,there’s peppermint-stick ice cream in the freezer and … I don’t believe Andrew and Karen have had dessert yet.”
    â€œYay! Ice cream!” cried Andrew, jumping up and down. Karen continued to look solemn.
    Kristy began to feel suspicious—and a little nervous.
    Watson shrugged into his coat. “Good-bye, pumpkin,” he said, kissing the top of Karen’s head. “Good-bye, Andy.”
    He left quickly, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll be home before nine, Kristy. Thanks again.”
    Kristy glanced warily at Andrew and Karen. This was the moment when even the most baby-sat-for children sometimes burst into tears. Jamie Newton, for instance, absolutely hated for his parents to leave him just before bedtime. But Andrew was already on his way into the kitchen after the ice cream. Karen, apparently, had other things on her mind.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Kristy finally asked her, taking her hand. She really didn’t want to know, yet it was her job to know.
    â€œMorbidda Destiny,” whispered Karen.
    â€œWhat about her?” Kristy whispered back, a little shivery tickle running up her spine.She remembered how strange Mary Anne said Boo-Boo had acted the day she was baby-sitting, when Mrs. Porter had chased him out of her garden with a rake.
    â€œKristy? Ice cream?” called Andrew from the kitchen.
    â€œJust a sec, Andrew.”
    â€œMore spells,” whispered Karen urgently.
    â€œReally?” asked Kristy, trying to sound unconcerned. “Boo-Boo looks all right.”
    â€œNot Boo-Boo. Me,” said Karen. She closed her eyes dramatically.
    â€œYou!” exclaimed Kristy. “What’s she done to you?”
    â€œGiven me freckles.”
    â€œKaren,” said Kristy, hiding a smile, “you already had freckles. You’ve had freckles since you were two years old. I’ve seen pictures.”
    â€œShe’s given me more.”
    â€œSometimes they spread.”
    Karen shook her head.
    â€œKristy!” called Andrew, sounding impatient.
    â€œComing! Karen, I really don’t think you need to worry. Let’s go have some ice cream with Andrew, okay?”
    â€œOkay … but I’m warning you. If she squintsher eyes and holds one hand in the air, she’s putting a spell on you.”
    â€œI’ll be on the alert,” Kristy said.
    They walked into the kitchen—and found pink ice cream dripping all over the table and onto the floor. Three bowls and three spoons were sitting stickily in the middle of the mess.
    â€œAndrew!” cried Kristy.
    â€œI helped,” he said proudly. “I let Boo-Boo out, too.”
    Kristy turned pale. “You—you let
Boo-Boo
out? Andrew,