Ghost at the Drive-In Movie by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

now,” said Jessie.
    Violet pointed upwards. “Is that it up there?” she asked.
    Jessie looked up, and there, way up along the top of the screen, was something that looked like a very big soft rolled-up blind. It was up so high that it was hard to notice, and since it was in back of the screen, it couldn’t be seen from the theater lot.
    “Oh, my gosh, I think it is!” Jessie said. “It’s the same color and everything.”
    Uncle Flick and Grandfather heard the children’s voices while they were on their walk. They came behind the screen and joined them. Soon Uncle Flick was peering up at the strange rolled-up thing.
    “What on Earth is that? I didn’t put that up there!” he said.
    “Look, there are cords attached to it,” Henry pointed out. “They’re tied to the ladders on either side. They must keep it from unrolling.”
    “Well, why don’t we unroll it then, and see what it is?” said Uncle Flick. “Where’s Joey? He can help us.”

    Before long, Henry and Joey were carefully climbing the two metal ladders that ran down the back of the screen. Henry held on tight while he worked to untie the cord and grab it. Joey did the same. Finally they were both holding the cords taut. The rolled-up thing wavered in the wind a little bit, and they could see it was some kind of nylon fabric, the kind used to make parachutes or flags. What was it?
    “On the count of three, we’ll let go of the cords,” shouted Joey. “One, two—three!”
    They let go, and the fabric unrolled.
    It was an enormous banner, almost as large as the screen! There were words on it:
THE DIAMOND DRIVE-IN IS CLOSED .
    COMING SOON—
    BRINKER’S AUTO STORE’S EAST LOT!
    BIGGER AND BETTER! DRIVE OUT
    WITH A DIAMOND DEAL!
    The banner had turned the back of the movie screen into a giant billboard that faced the road.
    Everyone stared at it in surprise.
    “Closed ? Is that what Dan means to do?” Uncle Flick shouted.
    “He’s got some nerve,” said Grandfather. “To put up that banner even before the place was sold.”
    “Oh, my goodness,” Violet said. “We were right. Dan Brinker really was lying about keeping the drive-in theater open.”
    Jessie nodded. “He promised the screen would stay standing. Only he wasn’t telling the whole truth.”
    “He’s in big trouble!” said Benny. “ That’s the whole truth now.”

CHAPTER 10
The Diamond Is Forever
    The giant banner on the movie screen could be seen from all around. Cars on the road slowed down to get a better look. A small crowd gathered in front of Duke’s Dogs to stare at it. They all wondered about the sign—would the Diamond Drive-in Theater really close down?
    “Wait! Stop!” someone called across the road. It was Dan Brinker. He had seen the banner unfurl, too. Now he was hurrying across the road to reach Uncle Flick and the Aldens. “No, no, it’s too early!” he shouted as he reached them. He panted as he tried to catch his breath. “No … nobody was supposed to see that yet!”
    “Is that so, Dan?” Uncle Flick said. He glared at Dan. “Just what were you trying to do?”
    Dan’s forehead was sweaty. He stammered, “I … I had that banner ready so I could display it as soon as the papers were signed! I wanted this theater closed the first chance I got!”
    “You were trying to trick me, Dan!” Uncle Flick growled. “You knew I’d never sell this place to you if it meant closing down the theater, so you said you were going to keep it open! But you lied! You weren’t even going to wait until the end of the season!”
    “And you were the one who caused all the trouble around here!” Joey added bitterly. “Why? We trusted you!”
    “I think I know one reason why,” Jessie said to Dan. “You had to sneak around the theater to put that banner in place! You brought it over in your car on Thursday night. Then on Friday you broke Duke’s sign so you could climb up the back of the screen!”
    “And the ladder made your hands dirty,” said