Page 47 of Secrets in the Attic (Secrets 1)

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something to read and I found a box of Cracker Jacks

in the pantry. You know I love Cracker Jacks. I'll save

the surprise for you. Have a good day in school. I can't wait to hear the gossip. Destroy this right away.

K.

I did just that, and then I brushed my teeth and

went to bed.

As I lay there in my bed and looked up at the

ceiling, I tried listening hard to see if I could hear

Karen's movements. Except for the usual creaks and

moans in the old house, I heard nothing new. She's

probably asleep herself I thought. She has to be

totally exhausted. It would be a nice surprise for her

tomorrow when she found out I didn't go to school.

We'd have lots of time to spend together.

I didn't think I could fall asleep after the events

of this day, but I surprised myself. Minutes after I

closed my eyes, I spun into a dark tunnel and fell into

such a deep sleep I didn't hear my father get up in the

morning or anything. Since I had turned off my alarm

clock the night before, by the time I opened my eyes,

it was nearly nine o'clock. I had slept through my

normal breakfast and the school bus pickup. Now I

wondered if Karen knew and was worried that

something was going to happen any minute. My mother came to my room and saw I was

awake. "Hey, how are you, honey?"

"Okay," I said.

"What do you want for breakfast?"

"Scrambled eggs," I said. She made the best,

with cheese. My appetite put a smile on her face, and

she went down to make breakfast. I rose, washed, and

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