The Creepy Sleep-Over by Beverly Lewis Page A

near the outside door.
    Dunkum was glad for his heavy jacket. “Tonight’s the sleep-over at Miss Hershey’s house,” he said.
    â€œMaybe we’ll get snowed in,” Jason said.
    Abby grinned. “I wouldn’t mind. I heard about Miss Hershey’s old house,”she said. “She has eight cats. And she likes Mozart—played in a minor key. Perfect for a haunted mansion, you know.”
    Sounds like a haunted cat shelter, thought Dunkum.
    The first bell rang. Miss Hershey’s classroom door swung open. She greeted the students. “Hurry, hurry, children. Come in where it’s warm.”
    Dunkum liked her cheerful voice. She was saying things his mom might say on a cold day. He watched her smiling face.
    She was cool. Really, really cool! Miss Hershey couldn’t possibly live in a haunted mansion.
    Could she?

    The teacher wrote the date on the board. January 19 .
    â€œToday is a famous person’s birthday,” she said. “Does anyone know who?”
    Abby Hunter raised her hand.
    â€œYes, Abby?”
    â€œIt’s Edgar Allen Poe’s birthday. He was born in 1809,” Abby recited.
    Dunkum’s hand shot up.
    â€œYes, Dunkum?” said Miss Hershey.
    â€œPoe was a mystery writer.” Dunkum grinned. He was glad Eric and Jason had filled him in earlier.
    Miss Hershey nodded and smiled. “That’s right. Poe was born almost two hundred years ago today.”
    Dunkum listened as Miss Hershey told about Edgar Allan Poe. “He was an American poet. A short story writer, too,” she said.
    Dunkum liked short stories. He’d even written a few himself.
    â€œPoe’s works are almost like music,” said Miss Hershey.
    Dunkum had never heard such a thing. He’d read tons of books. Lots of them! But he’d never found tunes hiddenin the words or sentences.
    He didn’t get it. What did Miss Hershey mean?

    By recess, the ground was covered white. But the snow had stopped.
    Some of the Cul-de-sac Kids made a fort. Abby and Stacy helped pack down the snow.
    Dunkum and Jason carried armfuls of white wet stuff.
    Eric and Shawn made little cannon-balls out of snow.
    Dunkum kept thinking about Miss Hershey’s house. “Why does she live in a mansion?” he asked Eric.
    â€œShe’s weird, that’s why,” Eric said.
    â€œHow can you say that?” Dunkum replied.
    â€œWell, she lives with a bunch of cats. No husband, no kids,” Jason chimed in. “Isn’t that kinda weird?”
    â€œSo what? Not everyone gets married,” Eric said.
    Dunkum knew that was true. His mother’s cousin was almost forty and still single.
    Whoosh! He plopped down a pile of snow near the fort. “Being single’s not weird.” Dunkum sighed. “I wanna know why she lives in a mansion.”
    â€œMaybe she’s rich,” Abby spoke up.
    Stacy shook her head. “I doubt it.”
    â€œHow come?” Dunkum asked.
    â€œTeachers don’t make much money. Besides, she doesn’t dress rich,” Stacy said.
    â€œNo diamond rings or bracelets,” added Abby.
    Dunkum thought about that. “Miss Hershey dresses real pretty, though.”
    â€œAnd her hair’s always perfect,” Abby said.
    â€œMaybe she gives her money away . . . to poor kids,” Dunkum said.
    â€œHey! I’m poor,” Jason laughed. He twirled his glasses around.
    â€œGrow up,” spouted Dunkum. “You’re rich compared to some kids.”
    â€œYeah, kids in India, for starters!” Abby said.
    Dunkum gave Abby a high five.
    Jason made a face and scooped up a handful of wet snow.
    POW!
    He threw the snowball hard.
    Dunkum dodged out of the way, laughing.
    Br-r-i-i-ing! The recess bell rang.
    â€œWhat’ll we do about the fort?” Dunkum said. It was only half finished.
    â€œWe’ll work on it later,” Eric said.
    The Cul-de-sac Kids agreed and ran toward the