Quotes from Betty Ren Wright

I was sitting in the living room doing my homework, when the house started to get cold. Cold as—cold as a tomb." "When were you in a tomb?

I know you and Lloyd enjoy the idea of a ghost and that sort of silliness, but a sick old lady isn't going to understand your flights of fancy—or appreciate them!" Enjoy! Sarah thought indignantly. Flights of fancy! What would her mother say if she saw the porcelain shepherd moving across the dresser top!

He looked serious—worried, Erin decided—but as he crossed the street, his expression changed. He tilted his visored cap over one eye and leaned through the open car window. The coast is clear, sister, he said in a gangster whisper. Drop my raincoat over the loot, and I'll smuggle it in.

I like the country, too, she agreed. Look! Did you see that bird swoop across the yard? That bird was a bat, Aunt Clare said. She chuckled as both birds ducked their heads.

She was halfway up the stairs, the flashlight beam bobbing on the steps in front of her, when she heard a small sound. Mice. Please let it be mice. A funny thing to wish, considering how much she hated mice.

Today you're a teen-ager, and they're supposed to have plenty of problems without borrowing extra ones. Right, Amy said. I have to find a boyfriend. And think about a career. And wear eye makeup. And learn all the new dances. And get to school on time!

They could practice making themselves gorgeous. After the pizza. Fat and gorgeous. Ellen sighed. Oh, well. Aunt Clare made caramel corn, Amy said wickedly. But if you think it's too fattening-- Ellen groaned. I'll blow up and burst, but I'll die happy, she said.

I bet there's nothing wrong with Barbara's husband, she said. I bet he'd be surprised if he found out he's supposed to be in the hospital.

So here I am, she said dryly, scaring my two nieces to death with all the gruesome details I wanted to forget--and with a haunted dollhouse, so you tell me, up in the attic.

A docent is another name for a teacher. Mr. Peters will walk through the art museum with us and tell us about the artists and their work. Docent shmocent, Gracie muttered. Her eyes were on the eighth graders clustered at the other side of the lobby. This isn't going to be any fun after all. Meg hoped Gracie wasn't going to sulk. I think our docent is handsomer than theirs, Meg whispered. Actually, he's a pretty decent docent. To her relief, Gracie began to giggle.

Linda told me all about the party. She's having boys! Meg stared. At a slumber party? You're making that up! Of course not at the slumber party, silly. Gracie giggled. She's having a boy-girl party first, and then some of us--her best friends--will stay for the slumber party. Wait'll you see her house! What's it like? Meg was trying to ignore the steady chorus of who-cares pounding through her brain.

Did Gracie call me? She sure did. She wants you to meet her at Darys' to talk about the party. And she didn't sound as if she was looking for a giggle-and-gossip session, either. She sounded M-A-D! He grinned at her over his book. Need a bodyguard? My rates are reasonable.

Louann is ours, Amy thought. That's it. We know what she can do and what she can't do. We don't need any Mrs. Peck trying to change things.