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

time? If there is really danger in Corey’s future, and the spirits want to help, why did the spirits ignore you?”
    “Maybe I was too nervous. I couldn’t relax this time; I kept waiting for the pencil to start writing.”
    Caitlin said, “I think it was all a trick. Maybe she does itwith magnets or some kind of ink that’s already on the table but it’s invisible until it touches paper or—oh, I don’t know how but I think it was all faked somehow, just like she pretended the spirits spoke to her and told her what that woman wanted to hear about her husband.”
    “That was different,” Ellen said. “That woman asked a specific question. And her message was not in writing.”
    “If a person is dishonest in one situation,” Caitlin said, “how can you trust them anywhere?”
    They entered the sheep arena just as the judges began handing ribbons to the owners of the champion sheep.
    “Look!” said Caitlin. “Ben got a red ribbon; that’s second place.”
    Ellen said, “I’m sorry I’ve ruined your day. You missed seeing Ben show his sheep and we’ve hardly gone to any of the exhibits yet, all because I wanted to get my fortune told.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” Caitlin said. “The Great Sybil was more interesting than any exhibit. Besides, Mom and I are coming tomorrow. I can see the rest of the exhibits then.”
    “In that case,” Ellen said, “would you mind if we go home early? I’m worn out.”
    As the girls walked to the bus stop, Ellen was glad tomorrow was the last day of the fair. She wanted The Great Sybil and her tricks to leave town as soon as possible.
If
they were tricks.
    Everything Caitlin said about the automatic writing being faked made sense but deep inside herself, Ellen still believed she had received a true message. It might be possible to make the writing appear on the paper but how could anyone have caused Ellen’s hand to jerk without touching her? How could her inability to control her own body be a trick?
    Corey was not home yet when Ellen arrived. She tried toread but she couldn’t concentrate; she flipped the TV from channel to channel and saw nothing interesting. What’s the matter with me? she thought. Ever since Grandpa died she had felt edgy, as if she expected another tragedy. Now her uneasiness was multiplied tenfold as she listened for Corey to burst in, chattering about what he and Nicholas did at the fair.
    I never thought I’d be eager to hear my brother’s voice, she thought, trying to laugh away her tension. Usually when Corey was home, she wanted to plug her ears.
    She was sure Corey was perfectly fine. After all, Mrs. Warren was with him and she was one of those fussy mother-hen women who hardly let Nicholas out of her sight. Nothing could happen to Corey when he was with Mrs. Warren. Still, Ellen would be glad when Corey was safely home.

CHAPTER
7
    “ SOME KID knows what we’re doing.”
    Mitch Lagrange opened the trunk of his car and put the MADE IN THE U.S.A. shopping bag inside, next to the five other MADE IN THE U.S.A. bags that were already there.
    “How could he?” Joan asked. “We haven’t worked the same area twice all day and no one has acted the least bit suspicious. How could some kid catch on?”
    “I don’t know, but I’m telling you this boy has it figured out. He ran after me, grabbed my bag, and tried to accuse me.” Mitch slammed the trunk shut. “Luckily, there’s something wrong with his voice and he couldn’t make himself heard. I pretended he was trying to take the bag away from me and two teenagers stepped in and acted like big macho heroes. They held the kid while I walked away from him.”
    Mitch unlocked the car door and slid behind the wheel. Joan got in the passenger’s side and Alan sat in back.
    “How old was he?” Joan asked.
    Mitch shrugged. “About the same age as Alan, I’d guess. Maybe eight or nine.”
    “What does he look like?”
    “Just an average-looking kid, except he had a big Batman