CHAPTER EPILOGUE

They drove back home the next morning. It was a crisp, clear autumn day without a raincloud in the sky. “It figures,” Kevin’s father said when they pulled up in the driveway to their house. “The day we leave is the day the weather turns perfect for fishing.”

“And kite flying,” Kevin added.

Oh, well. But going to Aunt Carolyn’s had turned out to be fun in spite of the lousy weather. Fun—and exciting, if not a little too exciting at times!

Becky pouted as they got out and began to remove their luggage. “Wally was just so cool,” she lamented. “I guess I won’t see him again till next year.”

“Boo-hoo,” Kevin mocked, hoisting his suitcase.

“Shut up, you stupe!” Becky yelled.

“Becky,” Kevin’s father ordered, “don’t call your brother a stupe.”

Kevin silently stuck his tongue out at her.

Later, Jimmy came back over, and he and Kevin took the opportunity to finally fly their kites in Kevin’s big back yard.

The day was perfect for it, a good wind and—for once!—no rain or lightning.

“This is great, isn’t it?” Jimmy celebrated, pulling on his string. Their kites must’ve gotten up to several hundred feet.

“It sure is,” Kevin said.

“But it’s too bad we can’t be out on the bluffs.”

“Yeah, but we’ll get to go next year.”

Their kites rose even higher in the clear sky. And just then, Becky came out the sliding door into the long back yard.

“Hey, Kevvie!” she called out.

Kevin fumed. “I told you not to call me that! What do you want?”

“I just wanted to let you know that there’s a vampire movie coming on right now.”

Oh, wow! Kevin thought. A vampire movie! I wouldn’t want to miss th—

And then the rest of the thought fell off. “Watch it yourself,” he told Becky. “I’m going to stay out here and fly my kite some more.”

Because, he thought to himself, if there’s one thing I don’t ever want to see again, it’s a vampire movie!