The Creepy Sleep-Over (6 page)

Tap-a-tap tap
.

He wasn't afraid. “It's a tree blowing against the house,” he said.

Dunkum heard another sound.

Whooooooooooooooosh!

He punched the air with his fist. “ 'Tis the wind and nothing more,” he said.

“Pssssst! Who are ya talking to?” Jason whispered across the room.

“Me, myself, and I,” Dunkum replied.

“Just so it's not that raven,” Jason joked.

Dunkum didn't laugh. He went over and crawled into his sleeping bag. “Thanks for reminding me. I forgot all about trusting God tonight.”

Jason tossed his stuffed animal at
Dunkum. “Here, maybe this'll help you remember,” he said.

Dunkum could feel the skinny legs and the long beak. Why'd he ever think Big Bird was a raven? “Silly me,” he said. “This house isn't haunted. Never was.”

“Huh?” said Jason.

“Oh, nothing,” Dunkum replied. He peeked one eye open. He took one more look at the wall.

The night-light in the hall cast a shadow. But it was just a big, blobby shadow. Probably Miss Hershey's sleepy, fat cat. Nothing scary.

He turned over and hugged Jason's Big Bird.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Jason was already snoring.

“Sweet dreams,” Dunkum said and smiled.

What a super sleep-over!

THE CUL-DE-SAC KIDS
Don't miss #18!

THE GREAT TV TURN-OFF

It's “TV Turn-Off Week” all across America, and Eric Hagel decides that the Cul-de-sac Kids—their parents, too!—won't watch a speck of TV for the entire week.

All the kids agree. But what about the grown-ups? Can Eric and his friends convince the adults to go along with the plan?

Will it be a never-to-be-forgotten no-TV week? Or will the folks on Blossom Hill Lane be tempted by the tube?

About the Author

Beverly Lewis remembers being afraid of the dark as a child. She would even hide under her covers at night. Once, her father told her something important about fear. “The Lord is always beside you—in the darkness, as well as in the daylight,” he said. Beverly has never forgotten.

Jason's Bible verse in this story is Psalm 56:3. “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” (
NIV
).

Beverly thanks Peggy Littleton and her delightful students for the invitation to their real-life sleep-over. “I didn't see
any ravens or hear any mystery poems,” says Beverly. “But there was lots of laughter . . . and food and fun.” Congratulations to the CSCES L.E.A.D.E.R. readers!

Also by Beverly Lewis

Adult Nonfiction

Amish Prayers
The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook

Adult Fiction

Home to Hickory Hollow

The Fiddler • The Bridesmaid

Seasons of Grace

The Secret • The Missing • The Telling

Abram's Daughters

The Covenant • The Betrayal • The Sacrifice • The Prodigal • The Revelation

Annie's People

The Preacher's Daughter • The Englisher • The Brethren

The Rose Trilogy

The Thorn • The Judgment • The Mercy

The Courtship of Nellie Fisher

The Parting • The Forbidden • The Longing

The Heritage of Lancaster County

The Shunning • The Confession • The Reckoning

Other Adult Fiction

The Postcard • The Crossroad • The Redemption of Sarah Cain • October Song • Sanctuary
*
• The Sunroom

Youth Fiction

Girls Only (GO!) Volume One and Volume Two
†
SummerHill Secrets Volume One and Volume Two
†
Holly's Heart Collection One
‡
, Collection Two
‡
,
and Collection Three
†

www.BeverlyLewis.com

*with David Lewis    †4 books in each volume    ‡5 books in each volume

From Bethany House Publishers

Fiction for Young Readers

(ages 7-10)

A
STRO
K
IDS
by Robert Elmer

Space scooters? Floating robots? Jupiter ice cream? Blast into the future for out-of-this-world, zero-gravity fun with the AstroKids on space station
CLEO-7
.

T
HE
C
UL-DE-SAC
K
IDS
by Beverly Lewis

Each story in this lighthearted series features the hilarious antics and predicaments of nine endearing boys and girls who live on Blossom Hill Lane.

J
ANETTE
O
KE'S
A
NIMAL
F
RIENDS
by Janette Oke

Endearing creatures from the farm, forest, and zoo discover their place in God's world through various struggles, mishaps, and adventures.