Golden Box Book Publishing Three Ghosts in a Black Pumpkin | Page 18

With a frustrated sigh and a shake of her head, Nikki’s green
eyes searched the clear water of the creek. “I want to look for
river stones,” she told him.
“Oh, you always look for stones,” Jack whined. “Why do you
collect those useless stones?”
“Because I like stones,” Nikki said.
“You’re such a… such a girl!” Jack huffed.
“And you’re a dweeb,” Nikki spat, shaking her auburn-haired
head.
She ignored Jack and knelt at the edge of the creek, reached
into the water and pulled out a shiny, bright blue stone.
Scratching the side of her freckled nose, Nikki studied the stone
for a moment, wiped it dry on her T-shirt and then put it inside
one of the pockets of her jeans, which she always wore with the
cuffs rolled up above her ankles.
Bored out of his mind, Jack pulled a book of matches from one
of his pockets and started lighting them one by one. Every time
he lit a match, he’d watch it burn for a few seconds and then
toss it in the river. When Nikki saw him doing this, she stood
up and gently punched his shoulder to get his attention.
“Ouch!” he complained. “What was that for?”
“You know you’re not supposed to play with matches, Jack.
Matches are tools for adults, not toys for kids to play with,”
said Nikki. “Where did you get them this time?”
Jack shrugged and looked down at the grass. “I… um… I found
them in my Dad’s library.”
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