Moans and Groans and Dinosaur Bones Read Free

carry brand-new cars,” said Tim. “The car my uncle just bought came on a train.”
    “Let’s go,” whined Sonny, who wasn’t paying attention to the model trains. He was looking toward the real train that had pulled in on track seven. A small crowd was beginning to gather in front of the door that led to the track.
    The Pee Wees thanked the man andfollowed the Peterses to the rest rooms. When they came out, Mr. Peters and Mr. Duff made sure each Scout had their own backpack or overnight bag. They made sure they knew how to fold Jody’s wheelchair to get it on the train.
    “Well, I guess we can go to track seven and line up,” said Mrs. Peters. She began to count noses. She counted several times, Molly thought. Their leader frowned. She went to talk to Mrs. Duff.
    All four adults looked around.
    “Someone’s missing,” said Kenny.
    “Who?” asked Jody.
    “Well, it’s not Roger. Darn,” said Mary Beth. Roger was running and sliding on the marble floor and making faces at a baby in a stroller.
    “It’s Sonny,” said Mrs. Peters. “Have any of you seen Sonny since we came out of the rest rooms?”
    The Pee Wees looked around. Sonny was not with the group. He was not at the door to track seven with the crowd. And he was not running and sliding with Roger.
    Mr. Duff ran back to the model trains and spoke to the man. Molly could see him describing Sonny and holding his hand up to show how tall he was. But the man shook his head.
    Now the crowd at the door to track seven was getting bigger. The light went on over the door, and the man in charge opened the door and began to check tickets.
    “Stay here and don’t move,” said Mrs. Peters to the Scouts as the four adults went to search.
    “Rat’s knees, we
are
going to miss the train!” said Molly, watching as the people began to walk through the door, along the platform, and onto the train.
    “Last call for Smoky Junction, Argyle,Rochester, and Center City,” called the deep, gravelly voice. “Track seven.”
    Now all the Pee Wees were anxious, except Roger. He was begging Jody for a ride in his wheelchair.
    As the last passenger went through the door, the Duffs and Peterses returned—without Sonny. Suddenly the deep voice of the announcer came on again. “Will Sonny Stone please come to track seven,” he said. “Sonny Stone, track seven.”
    “He can’t have gone far in just a few minutes,” said Mr. Duff, trying to reassure everyone.
    “He’ll be here in a minute when he hears that announcement,” said Mr. Peters. “After all, he was the one who was afraid of being late.”
    The Pee Wees heard a loud train whistle. They heard wheels turning. Then, through the open door, they saw theirtrain pull out of the station. And pressed against the back train window, looking back at them, Molly saw a familiar face. It was Sonny!

“S onny is on that train!” shouted Molly. Everyone looked where she pointed. The train was moving slowly out of the station.
    Mr. Duff and Mr. Peters dashed through the door and out to the track. It was too late. The train was gone, and Sonny was on it.
    Mrs. Peters ran to the desk and explained what had happened.
    “He’s too young to travel alone!” she cried.
    “Don’t worry,” a man in a railroad uniform reassured them. “These things happen all the time.”
    “All the time?” asked Mrs. Duff.
    “Well, every once in a while,” the man said. “We’ll just call ahead, and you can meet him at Smoky Junction. He’ll be perfectly safe. He’s probably pretty worried by now, but we know how to handle these things.”
    While the Peterses were thanking the man, the Pee Wees were muttering.
    “Special care, that’s what Sonny needs full-time,” said Tracy in disgust. “He can’t be trusted away from his mother.”
    “He can’t be trusted
with
his mother,” said Lisa. “He’s such a baby.”
    “Now, you folks will have to take the next train out of here for Smoky Junction,and it doesn’t leave until