Ghostsitters Read Free

leaving in”—she looked at her watch—“ohmygoodnesshalfanhour.”

    But all Perkins said in his voice-from-the-tomb was, “I shall return with Madam tomorrow. Good day to you,” and he walked away down the path. But Perkins did not know Aunt Tabby. If he had bothered to ask Wanda and me, we would have told him he would not get away that easily, but he hadn’t—so he found out the hard way.
    Aunt Tabby ran after Perkins like a polecat after a tiny baby bunny.
    Perkins must have heard the thud of Aunt Tabby’s boots rushing down the path behind him because he sped up—but he was not fast enough. Aunt Tabbyscooted in front of him and stood barring the driver’s door.
    â€œ Mr. Perkins, before you go I have an errand for you.”
    â€œI do not do errands, madam,” said Perkins in his voice-from-the-tomb. “ Excuse me , you are blocking my way.”
    â€œIndeed I am, Mr. Perkins,” said Aunt Tabby. “And I shall continue to do so until you go and fetch Nurse Beryl Watkins. She will look after Araminta and Wanda tonight.”
    â€œOh no!” gasped Wanda. “Not Nurse Watkins .”
    I groaned. There are not many people in the world who make Great-aunt Emilene look like a cuddly pussycat, but Nurse Watkins is one of them.
    Perkins was standing his ground. “I am not a taxi service, madam,” he said sniffily. He pushed past Aunt Tabby, pulled open the driver’s door, and hopped inside.
    Wanda grinned. “Good old Perkins,” she whispered. “He won’t do it.”
    I shook my head; I knew better. Perkins was a novice when it came to Aunt Tabby—he hadn’t won yet. I was right. In a split second Aunt Tabby had opened the back door and was sitting right behind him, in the little flip-down seat especially for people who want to sit beside the coffin. And as she slammed the door I heard her say, “Catheter Cottage, Perkins—and fast !”
    Â 
    We watched the hearse drive away, its tires squealing on the road, and we knew it would not be long until Nurse Watkins was here.
    â€œWhat are we going to doooo ?” wailed Wanda.
    â€œDon’t worry,” I said. “I have an ANW Plan.”
    â€œWhat’s an ANW Plan?” asked Wanda.

    â€œAn Anti–Nurse Watkins Plan of course.”
    Wanda looked impressed. “That was very fast, Araminta.”
    â€œI know,” I said. “My brain is like that—I just think fast. I can’t help it.”
    â€œSo what is your ANW Plan?”
    â€œWell, we can’t stop her from coming,” I told Wanda.
    â€œI knooow ,” she wailed.
    â€œBut we can stop her from staying.”
    â€œReally? How?”
    â€œI will ask Sir Horace to scare her away. I will say the secret word and he can walk around carrying his head under his arm, moaning and clanking, and Edmund can do some of his horrible singing. Even Nurse Watkins won’t like that.”
    â€œYou are so smart, Araminta.”
    â€œI know.” I smiled and went to find Sir Horace. Things always look better when you have a Plan.

3
NURSE WATKINS
    O ne awful hour later, Nurse Beryl Watkins was watching like a hawk as Wanda and I said good-bye to everyone. She stood at the top of the steps at the front door of Spookie House in her nurse’s uniform and nearly filled up the whole doorway. Nurse Watkins is all muscle. She has legs like tree trunks and hands like a baseball pitcher’s mitt. I reckon she was a professional wrestler before she gothold of her nurse’s uniform.
    The Batty About Bats! limo was parked behind the hearse, which was still there. I think Aunt Tabby must have made something blow up, as there was a lot of steam coming out and Perkins was messing around under the hood muttering rude words.
    Uncle Drac was helping the driver of the limo stuff his flowery bat case into the trunk. Aunt Tabby looked annoyed because Brenda and Barry had