Ghost at the Drive-In Movie Read Free Page A

panic. Henry and Jessie could see her fumbling with the controls inside the booth. Finally, the cars stopped honking.
    “That was strange,” said Henry.
    Violet ran up behind them. “It’s fixed now. You can hear the movie again.”
    They went back to the car and watched the rest of the movie. The children had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last strange thing to happen.
    After the movie ended, the children lined up at the snack bar to get ice cream. They were standing near a door marked OFFICE when suddenly it opened and Uncle Flick and Amy came out.
    “I just don’t know what happened!” Amy was telling Uncle Flick.

    “The sound just accidentally switched, I guess!”
    “Why weren’t you in the booth?” Uncle Flick asked her. “You’re not supposed to go anywhere, not with all these pranks that have been happening lately. Where were you?”
    “I just stepped out for a second!” Amy cried. “I promise I’ll keep a better eye on things!” She hurried off back to her booth. And Uncle Flick walked back into his office, shaking his head.
    The children looked at each other. What were all these other pranks about? Why were they happening?
    “Maybe two movies in a row is a little too much for Benny,” Jessie said later on, as they all trudged up the front steps of the Fletcher house. Grandfather carried Benny, who had fallen asleep not too long after the start of the second movie.
    “He’ll get another chance to see Pirate Spy,” Henry said. “It’s showing tomorrow night, too.”
    Benny woke up just then. “I like pirates,” he said. Then he yawned a very big yawn.
    After the children got ready for bed in their guest room, they came back downstairs to say good-night to Grandfather. He was in the kitchen drinking coffee with Uncle Flick.
    “I’m so glad you kids could come visit the Diamond Drive-in,” Uncle Flick told the Aldens. “At least while I’m still running it.”
    “What do you mean?” Violet asked. “Is it going to close down?” The thought made her sad. She knew there weren’t many drive-in theaters anymore.
    “No, I hope not,” Uncle Flick replied. “But I was just telling your grandfather—I think I’m going to sell the place.”
    “Is it because of all the pranks?” Jessie asked.
    “Oh, you’ve heard about those, have you?” Uncle Flick said. “Yes, we’ve had a few lately. Someone fiddled with the lens on the projector to make the movie blurry. Someone poured popcorn salt into the soda fountain. That’s been a pain! But the main reason for selling the place is just … well, my job isn’t as much fun anymore.”
    “Don’t you like showing movies?” asked Violet.
    “Yes I do,” said Uncle Flick. “But I used to do more than show movies. We’d have fireworks after the show, and contests, and Kids’ Night. Things like that were always good for business. And they were fun. But they’re a lot of work, too. I’m getting older and don’t have as much pep. I’m feeling more and more like this tired and tuckered-out fellow here.” He smiled at Benny.
    “I’m not tired,” Benny said. “Or tuckered out.” He yawned again. Everyone laughed.
    “But don’t worry,” Uncle Flick went on. “I won’t sell the theater to just anyone. I’m going to make sure that whoever buys this place keeps it open. They’ll have to promise me that movie screen will always stay standing.”
    Jessie thought of something. “What about your nephew Joey? Maybe one day he’ll want to run the theater.”
    Uncle Flick sighed. “I doubt it. All he wants to do is leave this town and—”
    Screech!
    Suddenly outside there was the sound of tires squealing, and then a thud. Watch, who had been napping near the front door, leapt up and started barking.
    “What on Earth was that?” Uncle Flick said. He and the Aldens hurried out to the porch.
    “It’s Dan Brinker’s car!” said Henry. “Or at least, the one he’s trying to sell.”
    The shiny red car had driven off the road.