You just want to see if Robby is there Lindy said making a face So Kris said blushing Go on Get some fresh air Mrs. Powell urged I'll see you later I'm off to the supermarket Kris peered into the dresser mirror She had gotten most of the gum off She brushed her short hair back with both hands Come on Let's go out she said Last one out is a rotten egg She darted to the doorway beating her sister by half a step As they burst out the back door with Barky yipping shrilly behind them the afternoon sun was high in a cloudless sky The air was still and dry It felt more like summer than spring Both girls were wearing shorts and sleeveless T shirts Lindy bent to pull open the garage door then stopped The house next door caught her eye Look _ they've got the walls up she told Kris pointing across their backyard That new house is going up so quickly It's amazing Kris said following her sister's gaze The builders had knocked down the old house during the winter The new concrete foundation had been put down in March Lindy and Kris had walked around on it when no
workers were there trying to figure out where the different rooms would go And now the walls had been built The construction suddenly looked like a real house rising up in the midst of tall stacks of lumber a big mound of red brown dirt a pile of concrete blocks and an assortment of power saws tools and machinery No one's working today Lindy said They took a few steps toward the new house Who do you think will move in Kris wondered Maybe some great looking guy our age Maybe great looking twin guys Yuck Lindy made a disgusted face Twin guys How drippy can you get I can't believe you and I are in the same family Kris was used to Lindy's sarcasm Both girls liked being twins and hated being twins at the same time Because they shared nearly everything their looks their clothing their they were closer than most sisters ever room get But because they were so much alike they also managed to drive each other crazy a lot of the time No one's around Let's check out the new house Lindy said
Kris followed her across the yard A squirrel halfway up the wide trunk of a maple tree watched them warily They made their way through an opening in the low shrubs that divided the two yards Then walking past the stacks of lumber and the tall mound of dirt they climbed the concrete stoop A sheet of heavy plastic had been nailed over the opening where the front door would go Kris pulled one end of the plastic up and they slipped into the house It was dark and cool inside and had a fresh wood smell The plaster walls were up but hadn't been painted Careful Lindy warned Nails She pointed to the large nails scattered over the floor If you step on one you'll get lockjaw and die You wish Kris said I don't want you to die Lindy replied Just get lockjaw She snickered Ha ha Kris said sarcastically This must be the living room she said making her way carefully across the front room to the fireplace against the back wall A cathedral ceiling Lindy said staring up at the dark exposed wooden beams above their heads Neat
This is bigger than our living room Kris remarked peering out the large picture window to the street It smells great Lindy said taking a deep breath All the sawdust It smells so piney They made their way through the hall and explored the kitchen Are those wires on Kris asked pointing to a cluster of black electrical wires suspended from the ceiling beams Why don't you touch one and find out Lindy suggested You first Kris shot back The kitchen isn't very big Lindy said bending down to stare into the holes where the kitchen cabinets would go She stood up and was about to suggest they check out the upstairs when she heard a sound Huh Her eyes widened in surprise Is someone in here Kris froze in the middle of the kitchen They both listened Silence Then they heard soft rapid footsteps Close by Inside the house Let's go Lindy whispered Kris was already ducking under the plastic heading out the doorway opening She leaped
