Cutler 04 - Midnight Whispers

down. He had his report card tucked under his arm.
    "How bad is it?" I asked him when he reached me. I held my breath, afraid of the answer. He just looked up at me and started toward the limousine, in which Richard and Melanie were already waiting. "Let me see it, Jefferson," I demanded. He paused and reluctantly, he passed the envelope to me. I took out his card.
    It wasn't only that he received Unsatisfactory marks for every behavior category; he received two U's in his school subjects as well. Actually, it was his worst report card ever.
    "Oh Jefferson," I cried. "Mommy and Daddy will be so upset with you."
    "I know," he replied and began bawling in anticipation.
    "Get into the car," I said sternly.
    "Well?" Richard asked, a crooked smile of self-satisfaction already on his face. "How bad is it?"
    "I don't want to talk about it, Richard. It isn't funny," I said sharply. Jefferson turned into the corner of the seat and began to cry. When he was like that, all I could do was comfort him, even though I knew he didn't deserve it.
    "You can't cry over spilled milk," Melanie said. "You just have to do better."
    Jefferson wiped his eyes and turned around.
    "Melanie's right about that, Jefferson," I said. "You're going to have to make a thousand promises," I advised him, "and not get into a single bit of trouble this summer, not even a teeny-weeny bit," I said. He nodded.
    "I'll be good," he promised. "I'll clean up my room and pick up my clothes and never leave the front door open."
    "Believe that and you can believe there really is a tooth fairy," Richard said.
    "There is a tooth fairy," Jefferson spat back. "She left me a quarter under my pillow."
    "I told you," Richard replied, shaking his head, "your mother or your father put it there."
    "Or maybe they had Mrs. Boston do it," Melanie suggested.
    "They did not!"
    "Stop teasing him," I cried. The twins looked at each other and then out the window.
    "Hey!" Richard suddenly said. "What's that?"
    We all leaned forward and that was when we first saw the tower of ugly black smoke rising above the roof of the main building of our hotel.

 
    4
BURNING CURSE
     
    "JULIUS, WHAT IS THAT?" I CRIED. I WAS SEIZED WITH fear.
    "I don't know, Christie," he replied, but sped up. It took us almost ten more minutes to get there because of all the other people hurrying to the scene, and when we arrived, we found policemen and firemen on the street blocking traffic around the front of the hotel. People were out of their cars and gathering in dumps along the road to watch the flames spit out of the roof and the windows of the top floor of the great Cutler's Cove resort. Their eyes were wide, their faces lit up with the reflection coming from the fire and from their own excitement. I saw guests and members of the staff huddled together on the front lawn far back from the ropes put up to keep people away from the activity.
    "There's Mother," Melanie said, pointing to where Aunt Bet stood with some people, but I didn't see Mommy or Daddy beside her, nor did I see Uncle Philip. I imagined they were with the fire chief. My heart sank, realizing how terrible they all must be feeling. What a horrible thing to have happen just before our summer season.
    "Wow!" Jefferson whispered, his face filled both with awe and fear.
    "What happened?" Julius asked the policeman who was directing traffic to the side.
    "A boiler blew up in the basement and the fire spread quickly. That part of the hotel is quite old and had no sprinkler system," he added, smirking. "By the time the fire department could get up here, the fire had a good hold on the place."
    "Where are my parents?" I wondered aloud now. No matter where I looked, I didn't see them. "Julius, take us closer."
    "Yes," Richard commanded, sounding years older than he was. "Quickly."
    "I have the owner's children with me," Julius explained to the patrolman.
    "You can't drive any closer. You will have to park here," the policeman ordered, "and stay behind the lines."
    Julius pulled over but almost before he came to a stop, I grabbed Jefferson's hand in mine and thrust open the car door. I pulled my little brother out behind me and shot across the road.
    "Christie, wait!" Julius cried, but I couldn't listen to him or anyone. I was aware that Jefferson was gripping my hand tightly, but other than that, I could think of or see nothing but the fire.
    I found Mrs. Bradly off to the side with other members of the staff, but not my parents. She was embracing