Old Bones by Gwen Molnar Read Free Book Online Page A

I.” She sounded mad, but Casey could tell she was very relieved to see him and Mike.
    â€œSorry we’re late.” Mike was looking around. “Where IS the party? It’s quiet as a morgue.”
    â€œEveryone’s in our video theatre; it’s sound proof,” Mr. Maitland said, not in a boastful way like Greta would have said it. “Greta, take your guests’ packs and show them down.”
    Ungraciously, Greta reached for Mike’s pack.
    â€œSmells like doughnuts — didn’t you think there’d be enough food here?” She hung Mike’s pack in a large hall closet; taking Casey’s, she noticed the neck of a big bottle of Coke sticking out. “And you brought your own drink? I have to think neither one of you has ever been to a real party. Come on.”
    Nobody even turned around as Greta slid open a pocket door and motioned Casey and Mike to some empty seats. She sat beside Casey and whispered, “It’s Friday the Thirteenth .”
    â€œYeah, I know,” Casey whispered back. “Great!”
    He looked around the miniature movie theatre with its huge screen, and real semi-reclining theatre seats with arm recesses holding cartons full of popcorn. The sound was fantastic.
    In a tense, silent part of the film, the sound of the sliding door being pushed open brought all heads around.
    â€œBryan!” Greta shouted, almost falling as she hurried back to get him. Greta led Bryan to a seat beside her. She sat there watching Bryan instead of the movie.
    â€œAh ha!” Casey said to himself. “I’ll bet Greta’s going to be in a much better mood now.”
    She was. Her face glowed with happiness and she left Bryan’s side only when the film was over and her father called her to cut the huge cake on the dining-room table.
    Interested to hear how Bryan had got along at his new school, Casey said, “I’ve missed you, Bryan. How did it go down east?”
    â€œFine,” Bryan said. “Really good. And the best part is I’m back on the Internet.”
    â€œBut you’ve been banned from using the net for two years.”
    â€œOh heck,” Bryan said. “That was here. Down there, the school has computers everywhere you look and who’s going to know I’m online?”
    â€œI think you’re taking a big chance.” Casey looked troubled. “Outside your parents, the police, and the lawyers, only my mother and I know about your Internet hate connections and the trouble they got you into. I can’t believe you’d take a chance on getting caught.” He shook his head and went on, “I’ll bet the school knows you’re forbidden to use the net. They’re not dumb. Someone’s going to be snooping around and if you do get caught … well, I don’t know exactly what will happen to you, but it ain’t going to be good.”
    â€œEnough with the lecture, Casey,” Bryan said, “with my father’s connections, I can’t see me getting into serious trouble. Besides, I’m not into that stuff anymore anyway, so forget I told you and don’t squeal on me to your father. And don’t play the heavy with me just because your dad beat mine in the mayor’s race.”
    He walked away toward Greta, who was saving the first piece of cake she’d cut for him — a corner piece with lots of icing.
    Casey shook his head sadly. Bryan’s starting to sound just like his father, and that’s a bad sign , he thought as he joined a group around the table.
    â€œNice to see you, Marcia,” he said. He meant it. He didn’t have a crush on Marcia any more, and besides, she and Terry were an item, but he still liked her. “Hi, Terry. Kevin.”
    â€œHeard about your summer job,” Terry said. “We were hoping you’d be around for baseball and hockey camp.”
    â€œI was hoping so, too,” said Casey. And he was.