Finders Keepers by Andrea Spalding Read Free Book Online

weekend?”
    â€œI might be able to, why?”
    â€œMy grandfather and my mom work there,” said Joshua proudly. “My mom will know about the lance point.”
    â€œOK, I’ll try and come. Saturday or Sunday?”
    â€œSaturday,” replied Joshua. “I’ll be there all day.” Helooked around uneasily. “I heard something. Come on, let’s get out of here before someone comes.”
    Too late. The door at the far end opened.
    â€œDarn,” said a voice. “I thought I’d switched those off.”
    There was a clink of the pail, a faint click of a switch and they were plunged into pitch darkness as the door slammed.
    â€œHey, Danny, I can’t see anything. How will we get out?” Joshua’s voice had a distinct note of panic in it.
    Danny stuck out his arm and waved it around until he hit Joshua’s body. “It’s OK, I know the way back. We’ll just have to make sure we don’t knock anything over.” He placed Joshua’s hand on his shoulder. “Don’t let go. We’ll take small steps and feel our way past the displays, to the exit.”
    They shuffled blindly in the darkness. Going past the display cases was fine, but brushing past the plaster models wearing clothes scared both of them.
    â€œYuk, they feel like dead bodies,” whispered Danny.
    â€œShut up, I don’t want to know,” said Joshua. “Just get us out of here.” He tripped on a low riser, stumbled and fell heavily on his knees. Something rocked and fell.
    â€œDarn it… I hope nothing’s broken.” Danny helped Joshua up. “Come on.”
    They twisted and turned uneasily through what seemed like an endless maze until a final corner brought them within the glow of the red exit light. Thankfully, both boys rushed for the door and flung it open.
    Their nerve gone, they slammed it behind them and raced down the boardwalk.
    â€œThis way,” yelled Danny and he sped around a building, through a gap and onto a grassy field beside the fort. “Come on, over the fence.”
    They raced across the grass and leaped up the fence, digging their toes into the chain links. Swinging across the top almost in unison, they dropped breathlessly down on the other side.
    â€œHey, what do you think you’re doing?” The shout wasfaint behind them. They dodged down a back alley and out onto a street beyond.
    â€œLook cool,” Danny whispered out of the side of his mouth. Both boys slowed down to an easy walk and turned back into Main Street.
    A truck stridently honking drew level. “Hey Joshua, move it. We’ve been looking all over for you,” called a young woman hanging out of the truck window. “Jump in the back, we’ve gotta go.”
    Joshua ran to the truck and climbed over the tail gate. “See you next week,” he called as the truck accelerated off in a cloud of exhaust fumes.
    Danny wandered happily back to the store. Now he had something to look forward to next weekend. All he had to do first was survive the week at school.

Chapter Seven
    Monday mornings were always bad, but this was the worst ever. Danny’s head ached, so did his stomach. His eyes felt gritty and his tongue tasted awful.
    â€œSeven-thirty,” called his father, banging on the bedroom door.
    â€œI don’t feel good,” Danny protested and buried his head in the pillow.
    His father opened the door and looked thoughtfully at him. “Bad night, eh?”
    Danny grunted in agreement.
    It hadn’t been easy to fall asleep. He’d heard his parents talking late into the night and he knew they were discussing his problems. He’d tossed and turned, worrying about what they were saying. Then he worried about the kids at school and what they would say. “I wish other kids liked me,” Danny had muttered in the darkness as he tossed and turned. “Maybe Mom was right. I should see if Mike is