Читать книгу Ghost Detectors Volume 1 - Dotti Enderle - Страница 8

Malcolm didn’t do the things that other kids did during the summer. While they were swimming and playing ball, Malcolm watched science programs and monster movies and conducted experiments in his lab. But this summer, he mostly waited . . . and waited . . . and waited.

Every day he’d sit on the front stoop, watching for Mail Carrier Nancy to approach. And every day she’d say the same thing.

“Sorry, Malcolm. No packages.” He hated those words.

Then finally, after two long weeks (which felt like two eternities to Malcolm), Mail Carrier Nancy walked up, wearing a grin bigger than her face.

“I believe this is for you,” she said, handing Malcolm a heavily taped box.

Malcolm wanted to jump up and hug her, but he didn’t think it would be appropriate. So instead, he thanked her and ran inside the house.

He rushed past Grandma Eunice as she sat watching her favorite soap opera. “Wheeeeeee!” she sang as he sped by.

He brushed by Cocoa, nearly knocking her down. “Hey, creep!” she shouted.

But Malcolm didn’t hear either one. He was already flying down the basement steps, two at a time.

He knocked some magazines and empty cups off the counter and set the box down. He wished he had X-ray vision because he couldn’t wait to see inside. He quickly took a pair of scissors and sliced through the label that said Ecto Corporation.

When he popped up the lid, an avalanche of white foam peanuts poured to his feet. After digging through what seemed like a million of those things, including the three that stuck to his arm, Malcolm found his prize! It was wrapped in a mile of Bubble Wrap. Oh well . . . it was better than getting a broken specter detector.

Malcolm unwound and unwound and unwound until—finally—he glimpsed it. The silver metal gadget shone like a trophy. It resembled a hand drill with three small bubbles on top, one red, one green, and one gold. It was the most beautiful thing Malcolm had ever seen.

He reached in to lift it out and was surprised at how heavy it was. This was no toy. On the left side of the handle was a small door for the batteries. On the right side was a switch. It looked easy enough. The switch was labeled Off—On—Detect.

Malcolm eyed the switch, butterflies thumping his belly. He took a deep breath and quickly flipped it on.

Nothing.

Then he remembered. *Batteries not included.

He opened a drawer and selected two C batteries. They popped out three times before he got them installed. Then he tried the switch again. This time, he wasn’t so nervous.

In the On position, the green light glowed, and the specter detector hummed. Malcolm was thrilled! He switched the gadget off and ran upstairs to the phone.

“Dandy, get over here quick. You’ve got to see this!”