Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn Read Free Book Online Page B

later."
    Without looking at Mom or me, Heather took her sandwich and opened the screen door.
    "Where are you going, Heather?" Mom asked.
    "I'm eating with Daddy," she said, letting the door bang shut behind her.
    Silently Mom and I watched her walk across the yard and disappear into the carriage house.
    "Where were you all morning?" Mom asked me. "Were you with Heather?"
    Opening the refrigerator, I made a pretence of looking for the ice tea. When I found it, I poured myself a glass and offered some to Mom, still trying to think of an answer that wouldn't get me into trouble.
    "We were out in the woods," I said finally, hoping she would assume that we were together. "There's an old house way down the creek, just ruins really, and a pond. Heather loves going there, but I think it's kind of dangerous."
    "What do you mean, Molly?" Mom looked puzzled. "I didn't know there were any old houses nearby."
    "Well, it's there. And the pond might be very-deep. Not only that, but the walls of the house look like they might fall down any minute. It's not a good place for a kid to play, Mom, and I think you or Dave should tell Heather not to go there."
    Mom sipped her tea. "It doesn't sound very safe," she said, "but I'd love to see it. I might want to sketch it."
    "But will you tell Heather she can't go there?"
    "Of course." Mom gave me a long look. "You know, though, Molly, that Dave and I count on you and Michael to take care of Heather. It's up to you to make sure she doesn't run wild in the woods all day."
    "I try to watch her, but she sneaks away from me the minute my back is turned. And Michael never even tries. He just packs up his binoculars and his other junk and disappears into the woods."
    Mom carried her dishes to the sink and began rinsing them. "Molly, you are old enough to be responsible. We moved here so Dave and I would have time to work without worrying about you all." Putting her plate and glass on the counter to drain, she wiped her hands on the seat of her shorts and smiled at me. "Go on, now, and find something to do. I've got to get back to my painting."
    "But I don't have anything to do!" I wailed.
    "Go find Michael. He manages to keep himself very happy." With that, Mom was out the back door, across the drive, and into the church.
    After spending a long, hot afternoon reading Watership Down and trying not to think about Helen or the ruins of her house, I was glad to see Michael stroll out of the woods just before dinner. Marking my place with a blade of grass, I ran to meet him.
    "Look at the walking-stick I caught!" Michael brandished a jar in front of my face, but all I could see in it was a dead stick. "Isn't he great?"
    All of a sudden I realized that the stick had legs and eyes. Backing away, I yelled, "Don't let that thing loose in the house!"
    "It won't hurt you." Michael smiled at the creature in the jar. "They're real hard to see, but this old guy moved just when I was looking at him. He's a great example of natural camouflage."
    "Good for him." Walking beside the great naturalist, but not too close, I told him about the old house. "Heather says Helen used to live there, Michael. And she has this chain around her neck with a locket on it. She says Helen gave it to her. You should have heard Heather talking to her—I don't think she's making it up; I think Helen really is there. I swear I almost saw her!"
    All the things I hadn't been able to tell Mom came tumbling out while Michael listened, his face blank. Finally he interrupted me.
    "Molly, cut it out," he said. "You should hear yourself! You're letting that kid make a fool of you."
    "I am not!" I glared at him, furious. "You weren't there; you didn't see Heather or hear her! You didn't see her in the graveyard either."
    Michael held up his jar and peered at the walking-stick. "Show me the house," he said.
    "It's too late now. Dinner's almost ready, and by the time we finish, it will be dark."
    "Tomorrow morning then. First thing." He grinned at me