You Can't Come in Here! by P.J. Night Page B

‘Camp Chesapeake’ written on it in Magic Marker.”
    â€œSounds like my kind of place!” said Ethan.
    â€œIce cream time!” Emily’s mom called out from the top of the stairs. “Make-your-own sundaes.”
    The kids all charged up the stairs, as if they hadn’t eaten in a week. On the kitchen counter, Emily’s mom had set up three flavors of ice cream, plus cherries, M&Ms, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, and a spray can of whipped cream.
    One by one, the kids scooped ice cream into bowls, then tried to defy the laws of physics by cramming twenty ounces of toppings into a ten-ounce bowl that was already filled with ice cream.
    Ethan picked up the can of whipped cream, shook it vigorously, then sprayed a stream right at Declan. Reacting as if he knew the whipped cream attack was coming, Declan ducked. The stream of white foam shot over his head and struck Roger in the face.
    Rather than get mad, Roger picked up his spoon, scraped the whipped cream off his cheek, as if he were shaving, and shoved the spoon into his mouth.
    One of the girls, Sarah Cooke, winced. “Em, what time did you say the boys were leaving?”
    When everyone had finished their ice cream, thekids all tromped back downstairs.
    Emily pulled out a bunch of tents. “Time to go camping!” she announced. The girls each grabbed a tent and began to set them up, with the boys lending a hand occasionally.
    The girls set their tents up in a circle near the TV, under the dangling branches. Then Emily popped in her dad’s fireplace DVD, complete with a crackling fire in realistic surround sound.
    â€œThis is so dorky!” Ethan exclaimed.
    â€œSo it’s perfect for you,” Emily shot back.
    Declan laughed. “I think it’s cool.”
    â€œThank you, Declan,” Emily said. “You are welcome here anytime. Now who’s got a scary story?”
    â€œWhat kind of scary story?” Sarah asked.
    â€œAny kind,” Emily said, shrugging.
    â€œHow about monsters chasing people through the woods?” Ethan suggested.
    â€œOr maybe a wolf chasing someone through the woods,” Hannah chimed in, making a scary face and curving her fingers into the shape of claws. “Or how about a scary story about creepy neighbors?”
    Emily shot a look of mild annoyance in Hannah’sdirection. The last thing she wanted was to be reminded of her wolf hallucinations, or the Strigs.
    â€œShe’s talking about Drew and Vicky, right?” Ethan asked.
    â€œRight,” Emily replied.
    â€œWho?” Declan asked.
    â€œDid you notice that creepy old house across the street when my mom dropped us off?” Ethan asked.
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWell, the kids who live there are really weird,” Ethan explained. “Or so I’ve heard. I’ve never actually met them.”
    â€œWhat’s so weird about them?” Declan asked Emily.
    â€œOh, nothing,” Hannah jumped in. “Just the way they’re always together and the fact that they never seem to leave that house. The one time I met them, they never made eye contact with me. Not for one second. It was like they were somewhere else, even though we were in the same room.”
    â€œAnd their house is filled with all sorts of old, dusty things,” Emily added.
    That was all she would say. Just as she had promised herself earlier, she was not about to reveal the truthabout just how weird Drew and Vicky really were.
    â€œBut enough about them,” Emily continued. “Who has a scary story?”
    â€œI do,” Declan said. “It’s a tale all about vampires.”
    â€œCool, I love vampire stories!” Emily exclaimed.
    â€œMe too,” Declan said.
    â€œDid you ever see Vampire Babysitter ?” Emily asked. “That’s one of my favorite movies.”
    â€œOnly a dozen times,” Declan replied. “It’s a true classic.”
    â€œAgreed. So, what’s