Fright Christmas Read Free Page B

back on the display. Then he turned to me.
    â€œSo, is that it? Is that what you wanted to show me?” I asked eagerly. “I really have to go now. It’s really getting late.”
    I turned to make a run for it. I waved at him over my shoulder.
    â€œSee you!” I called out.
    â€œNot so fast.” He reached out and grabbed my arm. He stared deeply into my eyes.
    I tried to squirm out of his hold, but I couldn’t.
    â€œBy tomorrow morning you will be a different boy, Kenny. A nice, decent kid. Kind and thoughtful. Considerate of other people’s feelings. You won’t think it’s fun anymore to play mean tricks. Or hurt people’s feelings. What do think of that?”
    â€œGreat,” I said nervously. “Can I go now?”
    â€œNo, Kenny. Some friends of mine are coming to visit you,” he told me. His voice sounded serious. Real serious.
    Not a good sign.
    â€œFriends?” I croaked. “Why do your friends want to see me?”
    â€œYou’ll find out,” he said. “The first will come at nine o’clock. The second, at ten. And the third one, at the stroke of midnight.”
    â€œMidnight,” I repeated. “Gee, I’m sorry, but I can’t stay till midnight.” I wrestled free of his grip and started to walk away.
    Is he going to try to stop me?
    No.
    He just stood there and watched me go.
    I breathed a long sigh of relief.
    I headed for the escalator. It wasn’t moving. I ran all the way down it to the main floor.
    The aisle straight ahead of me glowed with the red light of the exit sign. I headed toward the sign.
    But when I reached it, I couldn’t find the door.
    No door in sight.
    Far off, on the other side of the store, I spotted another glowing exit sign.
    I charged across the main aisle—past the shadowy shapes of handbags, perfumes, and ladies’ hats—straight for the sign.
    Hey! What’s going on here!
    Under the exit sign I found a solid wall.
    No door.
    I ran through the shoe department. To the back of the store. To another exit sign.
    No door!
    I heard footsteps. Heavy footsteps. And the faint jingling of bells.
    I spun around and faced the bearded stranger again. “Hey, how am I supposed to get out of here?”
    â€œYou’re not leaving, Kenny. Not tonight,” he told me in a calm, quiet tone.
    But I felt a chill.
    â€œI can’t stay here all night,” I protested. “You can’t leave me here all alone.”
    He placed his heavy hand on my shoulder. He wore black leather gloves now. And beside him, I spotted a huge red sack—so stuffed, it looked about to burst.
    â€œYou won’t be alone, Kenny,” he reminded me. “My friends are going to visit you. You’re going to have a Christmas Eve you’ll never forget.”
    I didn’t like the sound of that one bit.
    My throat suddenly felt tight.
    â€œWho—who are your friends?” I murmured.
    â€œGhosts, Kenny,” the bearded man replied. His eyes twinkled in the darkness. “Three ghosts who love to have fun. And play jokes. Just like you.”
    He leaned over and hoisted the huge sack to his shoulder. Then he started to walk away.
    â€œMerry Christmas, Kenny.” As he gave a short wave, his figure grew fainter and fainter.
    He was disappearing—right before my eyes!
    â€œWait!” I called out to him.
    â€œRemember, the first at nine o’clock. The second at ten—”
    I jumped forward and tried to grab him.
    But he was a shadow now. A dim shadow—fading fast.
    â€œAnd the third at the stroke of midnight.”
    His words hung in the air.
    And before they’d died away, he was gone!

6

    â€œH ey!” I called out. “Come back!”
    I spun around. I searched the shadows.
    â€œWhere are you?” I shouted.
    My voice echoed all around me.
    Ghosts, Kenny. Three ghosts who love to have fun. And play jokes. Just like you. His words came