Party Summer by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

searching for ghosts and goblins,” Eric said, snickering. “Maybe she’s in a deep trance, trying to summon the Ghost of the Howling Wolf Inn.”
    â€œI love Jan, but she really is weird,” Cari said.
    â€œI heard that!” a voice cried right behind Cari.
    Cari sat up and spun around. Jan, wearing a pink bikini and carrying a large canvas beach bag, stood over her, an angry expression on her face.
    â€œJan—we were just wondering where you were,” Cari said.
    â€œI know. I heard your whole conversation,” Jan said. “So you think I’m weird, huh?”
    â€œJan—” Cari started.
    â€œThink I’m crazy, huh? Think my interest in the paranormal is one big joke?”
    â€œYeah. Kind of,” Eric agreed, unable to keep a straight face.
    Jan scowled at him.
    â€œSit down,” Cari said, patting the beach blanket. She gave Eric a shove. “Move over. Make room. And stop picking on Jan.” She looked up at her friend. “Come on, Jan. It’s such a beautiful day. It’s much too pretty to be arguing.”
    â€œI really don’t like to be laughed at,” Jan insisted. She grudgingly lowered herself onto the blanket.

    â€œI’m sorry. Really,” Eric said, but his grin didn’t make his words too believable. He adjusted his mirrored sunglasses and gazed at the water.
    â€œWhere’ve you been?” Cari asked.
    â€œOh, I slept very late,” Jan told her, pulling towels out of her enormous bag. “Then I explored a little and tried to call Aunt Rose, but there was no answer. Simon thinks she’ll come out today. He’s going to drive down to the dock to meet the launch later. I hope she’s on it.”
    â€œMe too,” Cari said quietly.
    â€œThis is a great place!” Eric exclaimed, stretching out beside Jan, who was still pulling things from her bag.
    â€œIt’s okay,” Jan said, concentrating on finding the suntan lotion. “Anybody ready to swim?”
    â€œLooks like Craig is ready to go in,” Eric replied. “Hey—look at that bird.”
    Cari and Jan followed his gaze. A large dark shape glided swiftly across the pale sky.
    â€œIt’s a hawk,” Jan said.
    â€œThey have hawks here?” Eric asked, still following the bird’s progress, the sky reflected in the lenses of his sunglasses.
    â€œGuess so,” Cari said. The dark bird seemed out of place where everything was so bright and shiny and pretty. Cari somehow felt the bird was an intruder, an unwanted visitor casting a shadow on their private beach.
    She shook away that strange thought and sat up, propping herself on one elbow after adjusting her shimmering green bikini top.
    Craig was still standing at the edge of the waterwith his back to them, the blue-green water sparkling with sunlight as it lapped gently onto the yellow sand. To the right, two small canoes bobbed against a low wooden dock. The bay beach rolled off on both sides of them, following the curve of the shoreline.
    Behind them, up a sloping dune, the hotel stood, a sprawling, white fortress guarding the entire scene, the long dining-room window catching the gold of the afternoon sun. And on both sides, the hotel was framed by woods of fragrant, tall, blue-green pines, swaying ever so gently in the warm breeze off the water.
    â€œI can’t believe it! This is all
ours!”
Cari exclaimed, filled with happiness. “It’s just so beautiful! I’m
glad
no one else is here!”
    â€œIt’s not bad,” Jan said, rolling onto her stomach. “NOt bad at all.”
    â€œNot bad?” Cari cried. “It’s
paradise!”
    â€œI keep waiting for Gilligan and the Skipper to come walking out from the trees,” Eric said.
    â€œIsn’t that show a little sophisticated for you?” Cari cracked.
    He tossed a handful of sand onto her legs.
    â€œHey! You’re getting sand all over the