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
off the back stoop and started running toward their backyard Lindy stopped at the bottom of the stoop and turned back to the new house Hey look she called A squirrel came flying out a side window It landed on the dirt with all four feet moving and scrambled toward the maple tree in the Powells yard Lindy laughed Just a dumb squirrel Kris stopped near the low shrubs You sure She hesitated watching the windows of the new house That was a pretty loud squirrel had When she turned back from the house she was surprised to find that Lindy disappeared Hey where'd you go Over here Lindy called I see something It took Kris a while to locate her sister Lindy was half hidden behind a large black Dumpster at the far end of the yard Kris shielded her eyes with one hand to see better Lindy was bent over the side of the Dumpster She appeared to be rummaging through some trash What's in there Kris called
Lindy was tossing things around and didn't seem to hear her What is it Kris called taking a few reluctant steps toward the Dumpster Lindy didn't reply Then slowly she pulled something out She started to hold it up Its arms and legs dangled down limply Kris could see a head with brown hair A head Arms and legs Oh no Kris cried aloud raising her hands to her face in horror
