Home, Sweet Haunt Read Free Page B

Halloween adventure right here in the building.”
    â€œNo, we’re not,” Nora said, frowning. The only adventure she was going to have was outside. With her friends. Hanging with Lucas was not part of the plan.
    â€œI saved your life,” Lucas countered. “You owe me.”
    Nora groaned. “I wasn’t going to fall out the window.”
    â€œYes, you were,” Lucas began.
    Mrs. Wilson put up a hand to stop the argument before it began. She said, “Your father already told you the deal, Nora. Now you can decide if you want to go or not.”
    Nora stared at her parents for a long moment.
    â€œOh, fine,” she said at last. “I’ll take the pest to the park.” She glared at Lucas and wondered how hard it would be to ditch him. With the way he’d been lately, probably impossible.
    â€œYou better be ready to go out at noon. Notnoon-oh-one. Don’t be late,” Nora told her brother.
    Without waiting for his response, Nora ran into her room to pick what she’d wear. A costume? Jeans? T-shirt? This was so exciting.
    â€œHuh?” She stopped in her doorway.
    Her parents had nailed a thick wooden board over the broken glass. They must have done it while she showered.
    Nora couldn’t see outside anymore.
    They’d also moved her bed back to the center of the room.
    â€œBummer,” Nora muttered as she began flipping through her clothes.
    Not having the same jacket as Hallie and Lindsay was yet another bummer. She picked black leggings and a lacy hot-pink tank top. Tying her hair up in a high ponytail, Nora did her best to match Hallie’s and Lindsay’s costumes.
    â€œYou look great,” Mrs. Wilson said when Nora walked into the living room. “A rock star.”
    â€œPop star,” Nora corrected.
    â€œOh, right,” her mother said with a smile. “My mistake.”
    â€œI’m ready,” Nora told her. “Where’s Lucas?”
    â€œIn his room.” Mr. Wilson pointed down the hall. “Go get him.”
    Just to let them know how she felt about being her brother’s escort, Nora huffed.
    â€œI’ll be watching,” her mother said, indicating she was going to watch from the living room window. “Don’t leave the park.”
    â€œGot it. Got it,” Nora repeated impatiently before stomping down the hallway. “Lucas?” Nora went to his room and opened the door.
    He wasn’t there.
    She checked the bathroom and the hallway and her parents’ room.
    It wasn’t like the apartment was so big. He had to be somewhere!
    â€œLucas!” Nora shouted his name as she wandered around looking in all the rooms again. Even her room was empty.
    She felt her blood starting to rise into her cheeks. Where was he?!
    Back in Lucas’s room, she found a note lying on his bed.
    It read: Happy Halloween. Then below that he’d drawna picture of a cartoon ghost with a comic bubble over his head that said: Boo!
    Nora groaned. She’d made it clear she didn’t want to have an adventure with him.
    â€œI’m leaving,” she called out, in case Lucas was hiding somewhere.
    No reply. Only silence.
    â€œHave fun by yourself,” she called into the air. Then, “See ya later.”
    Nora checked the clock. It was 12:05 now. Her freedom was ticking away. She rushed into the kitchen.
    â€œMom,” she said, “Lucas doesn’t want to come with me.” That was true enough.
    â€œI suppose you can go alone,” her mother said, checking with her father for confirmation. He nodded. “Hurry to the stairs.”
    Waving good-bye to her parents, Nora opened the door to the apartment, and for the first time in what felt like forever, stepped into the floral-carpeted hallway.

    The park was quiet. All the kids were at school. The brightly colored hard plastic equipment was fun whenNora was little. The red slide seemed so tall then. Now Nora could easily