Ghost in the First Row Read Free Page A

actress.”
    “I can understand why Fern would be upset with so many strange things happening at the theater,” said Aunt Jane. “I wonder who’s responsible for all those pranks.”
    Jessie asked, “Did you notice anyone hanging around, Ray?”
    “Only the actors and the stagehands.” The director shook his head. “Nobody else.”
    “Are you sure?” Henry looked uncertain.
    “Quite sure, Henry,” said Ray. “We don’t want anyone to see the theater until opening night.”
    Jessie had a thought. “What if somebody got in after everybody went home?”
    Ray shook his head again. “I’m the only one with a key, Jessie.”
    “Maybe they didn’t use a key,” Benny suggested.
    “I checked it out, Benny,” Ray said. “It doesn’t look like anyone broke in.”
    “Fern’s right about one thing,” said Violet. “If it’s a joke, it’s not a very funny one.”
    “No, it’s not,” Ray agreed. “It’s making everyone in the cast and crew very nervous. Nobody wants to stay late anymore. They’re all afraid of ghosts.”
    “You’ve sure got your work cut out for you, Ray,” said Aunt Jane.
    “You can say that again.” Ray nodded. “I hired some high school kids to help with the posters, but they were a no-show. I have a hunch they were scared away by the rumors of ghosts.”
    “Maybe we could lend a hand,” volunteered Henry.
    “Of course,” agreed Jessie, while Violet and Benny nodded.
    “Really?” Ray looked surprised—and pleased.
    “We’d like to help,” Violet said shyly.
    Ray looked at the Aldens’ eager faces.” Putting up posters around town is hard work,” he warned them.
    Aunt Jane laughed. “Oh, you don’t know these children, Ray. There’s nothing they like better than hard work.”
    “Well, I’d be very grateful for your help,” Ray told them. “We need all the advertising we can get. I’ve been trying to get someone from the local paper to do a write-up. But … they’re not interested unless it’ll grab the readers’ attention.”
    “Well, we’ll help for sure,” promised Benny. “When do we start?”
    Ray was all smiles. “How does first thing in the morning sound?”
    The Aldens thought it sounded just fine. After dinner, they walked over to the shed with Ray. Stepping inside, they found it overflowing with tables, chairs, trunks, and wooden boxes.
    “Alice sure had lots of stuff,” Benny said, looking around.
    “She sure did,” said Ray. “And we plan to make good use of it on stage.”

    Violet was taking a close look at an old typewriter. “Grandfather has one just like this in the attic.”
    “The keys stick and it won’t print w at all,” Ray told her. “But Alice used that old typewriter for years and years.”
    “She never used a computer?” Henry asked.
    “Never. Not even when her fingers got weaker as she got older,” said Ray. “She couldn’t peck away at the typewriter keys anymore, but she still refused to use a computer. Instead, she recorded her plays on tape and hired a college student to type them up for her.” Ray lifted the lid of a wooden box. “See? Alice’s tapes are right here.”
    “The box is almost full,” Benny noted.
    Just then, Ray spotted a book on the windowsill. Reaching for it, he began to flip through the pages. “Looks like Alice’s appointment book,” he said. “Your aunt Jane’s mentioned in here quite a bit.”
    “They were good friends,” Jessie said.
    “Alice’s last entry seems to be about shoes.” Ray read the words aloud: Shoe won’t fit. Tell P.J. to make change.
    “I guess Alice bought a pair of shoes that were too small,” Henry figured.
    “I think your aunt Jane might like this book,” said Ray. “It would be a nice keepsake.”
    “We’ll make sure she gets it,” Jessie promised.
    Ray glanced around. “Now, there’s something I can use!” He reached a bag down from a shelf. The label read: Plaster of Paris.
    “What will you use it for?” Benny wanted to know.
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