Araminta Spookie 5: Ghostsitters

Chapter One

Slugs

My uncle Drac says some funny things. Last week he said, "There is always a slug in the lettuce sandwich of life, Minty."

I had to think for a while until I understood what he meant. You see, Uncle Drac loves lettuce sandwiches, but even he does not like slugs. I figured he meant that just when you are enjoying something—like eating your favorite kind of sandwich—something yucky always happens (like finding a slug in it) to stop you from enjoying it.

Sometimes Uncle Drac is a little bit gloomy, so I do not always take notice of what he says—but last week I could see exactly what he meant. I kept thinking really good things were happening and then they turned out to have a great big fat slug in them.

Last Monday was the beginning of spring break, which Wanda and I had been looking forward to. And in two days' time it was going to be my birthday, which I was really looking forward to—although I am not sure if Wanda was. Wanda is Wanda Wizzard, and she lives with me in Spookie House. She didn't always live here, but it is much more fun since Wanda, her mom, Brenda, and her dad, Barry, moved in. Of course there is also my uncle Drac, who can be quite fun sometimes too, and then there is my aunt Tabby, who is never fun—even though she thinks she is.

Wanda and I were eating our breakfast in the third-kitchen-on-the-left-just-past-the-boiler-room when Aunt Tabby—who was stirring the oatmeal and opening her mail at the same time—let out an excited shriek. Wanda and I both nearly jumped off our chairs, as Aunt Tabby does not usually shriek (unless Uncle Drac drops a wardrobe on her foot). In fact Aunt Tabby was so excited that she dropped the rest of the mail in the oatmeal and all the ink ran off the envelopes and turned it blue, so we were allowed to have Brenda's Choco-Drop Krackles for breakfast instead.

Aunt Tabby threw the letter on the table and squeaked, "I've won!"

"Won what, Aunt Tabby?" I asked.

"The competition!" said Aunt Tabby.

I was surprised, as it is Wanda's mother, Brenda, who enters tons of competitions, not Aunt Tabby.

"Drac will love this," said Aunt Tabby.

Although this did not exactly answer my question, it did narrow the field, as Uncle Drac does not like many things. Basically he likes bats, the dark, and sleeping, although not necessarily in that order.

"Have you won a new sleeping bag?" I asked.

"No, Araminta," said Aunt Tabby. "It's much better than that."

"Two new sleeping bags?" said Wanda, who does not have a great imagination. "Or three new sleeping bags or maybe even four—"

"No, Wanda," said Aunt Tabby very patiently.

"So what have you won?" I asked very impatiently.

Aunt Tabby gave me her wouldn't-you-like-to-know look.

"Tell us, Aunt Tabby—please," said Wanda, who is very nosy and can't stand not knowing things.

"Here you are," said Aunt Tabby, handing Wanda the letter. "Good reading practice for you, Wanda."

I was a bit annoyed that Aunt Tabby had given the letter to Wanda, as she takes forever to read anything and it meant that I had to look over Wanda's shoulder to read it.

"Stop breathing down my neck, Araminta," moaned Wanda.

"I'm not breathing, I'm reading," I told her.

"You are breathing," said Wanda. "You are always breathing, Araminta. It is very annoying."

"Well, I am so sorry, Wanda. I will try not to in the future."

"Araminta, Wanda," said Aunt Tabby, giving us one of her looks. "Stop it."

Araminta Spookie 5: Ghostsitters. Copyright © by Angie Sage. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

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Excerpted from Ghostsitters by Angie Sage
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.