Fablehaven: The Complete Series Read Free Page A

into the eyepiece, positioned the telescope to look through a windowpane, and began twisting the focus knobs. She could improve the focus but couldn’t get it quite right.
     
    She stopped fiddling with the knobs and examined the window. The panes were made of bubbly glass, like those in the front of the house. The images were being distorted before they reached the telescope.
     
    Unfastening a latch, Kendra pushed the window open. She had a good view of the forest east of the house, illuminated by the golden hues of the setting sun. Moving the telescope closer to the window, she spent some time mastering the knobs, bringing the leaves on the trees below into crisp focus.
     
    “Let me see,” Seth said. He was standing beside her.
     
    “Pick up those toys first.” A mess of toys lay piled near the open chest.
     
    “Grandpa said we can do what we want in here.”
     
    “Without making it a disaster. You’re already wrecking the place.”
     
    “I’m playing. This is a playroom.”
     
    “Remember how Mom and Dad said we need to pick up after ourselves?”
     
    “Remember how Mom and Dad aren’t here?”
     
    “I’ll tell.”
     
    “How? Stick a note in a bottle? You won’t even remember by the time they get back.”
     
    Kendra noticed a calendar on the wall. “I’ll write it on the calendar.”
     
    “Good. And I’ll look through the telescope while you do that.”
     
    “This is the one thing in the room I was doing. Why don’t you find something else?”
     
    “I didn’t notice the telescope. Why don’t you share? Don’t Mom and Dad also tell us to share?”
     
    “Fine,” Kendra said. “It’s all yours. But I’m closing the window. Bugs are coming in.”
     
    “Whatever.”
     
    She shut the window.
     
    Seth looked into the eyepiece and started twisting the focus knobs. Kendra took a closer look at the calendar. It was from 1953. Each month was accompanied by an illustration of a fairyland palace.
     
    She turned the calendar to June. Today was June 11. The days of the week did not match up, but she could still count down to when her parents would return. They would be back June 28.
     
    “This stupid thing won’t even focus,” Seth complained.
     
    Kendra smiled.
     

Chapter 2
     

     
    Collecting Clues
     
    The next morning, Kendra sat at breakfast across from her grandfather. A wooden clock on the wall above him read 8:43. Reflected sunlight flashed in the corner of her eye. Seth was using his butter knife to bounce sun rays. She was not seated close enough to the window to retaliate.
     
    “Nobody likes the sun in their eyes, Seth,” Grandpa said.
     
    Seth stopped. “Where’s Dale?” he asked.
     
    “Dale and I got up a few hours ago. He’s out working. I’m just here to keep you company on your first morning.”
     
    Lena set a bowl in front of Seth and another in front of Kendra.
     
    “What’s this?” Seth asked.
     
    “Cream of wheat,” Lena replied.
     
    “Sticks to your ribs,” Grandpa added.
     
    Seth probed the cream of wheat with his spoon. “What’s in it? Blood?”
     
    “Berries from the garden and homemade raspberry preserves,” Lena said, placing a platter on the table containing toast, butter, a pitcher of milk, a bowl of sugar, and a bowl of jam.
     
    Kendra sampled the cream of wheat. It was delicious. The berries and raspberry preserves sweetened it to perfection.
     
    “This is good!” Seth said. “Just think, Dad is eating snails.”
     
    “You kids remember the rules about the woods,” Grandpa said.
     
    “And to stay out of the barn,” Kendra said.
     
    “Good girl. There’s a swimming pool out back that we got ready for you—all the chemicals are balanced and whatnot. There are gardens to explore. You can always play in your room. Just respect the rules and we’ll get along fine.”
     
    “When is Grandma coming back?” Kendra asked.
     
    Grandpa glanced down at his hands. “That depends on your Aunt Edna. Could be next