Ch7-Skid-Dat-De-Dat!

CHAPTER SEVEN Skid-Dat-De-Dat! Dipper closed the door. It was pitch-black inside the shop. As the wind howled outside, the broken shutters banged against the brick walls. A gust of damp air blew through the room. "It's dark in here," said Annie. "And cold." "It's creepy," said Jack.

"Yup," said Dipper. "Let's leave. I've changed my mind about staying here. We can find some other place to get out of the storm." "Good idea," said Annie. "Great idea!" said Jack. Jack heard Dipper rattle the door handle. "Uh-oh," said Dipper. "Uh-oh what?" said Jack. "Won't open," said Dipper. "It's stuck." Jack felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. The shutters banged in the wind. "Hold on a second, I've got some matches in my pocket," said Dipper. "I just hope they didn't get wet in the rain."

Jack heard Dipper trying to strike a match. He tried one, two, three times—then he held up a small flame. "Yay" breathed Annie. Jack looked around the room. In the dancing light, he could make out wooden buckets on the floor, a couple of broken chairs, a doorway leading to a back room, and— Squeak! A bat flapped above their heads. "Ahhh!" Jack, Annie, and Dipper ducked. The match went out. Dipper quickly lit another match. He held it up high, trying to light the room. Jack didn't see the bat, but he saw a bricked-over fireplace, some rusty lanterns, and lots of spiderwebs.

"Yikes!" said Annie. The match went out. "Help," said Annie in a small voice. "More light, please." "Nobody panic," said Dipper. "I got two matches left." "Just two?" said Annie. "Hey, I thought I saw some lanterns," said Jack. "Near the fireplace. Maybe we could light them."

"Good idea," said Dipper. "Maybe there's oil still in 'em. I just hope I can light the wicks. Or we'll be left in the dark with the bats." "And spiders," said Annie. And ghosts, Jack thought. Dipper struck his next-to-last match. He held it up to find the lanterns. "Over here," said Jack, pointing. "I see," said Dipper. But as he knelt on the floor, the match went out. "I got just one more," he whispered. "So we better be real careful." Dipper lit his last match. Jack slowly lifted the glass on both the lanterns. Very carefully, Dipper touched the match flame to the wick of the first

lantern. The wick sputtered and flickered to life. A yellow glow filled the room. "Ahh!" said Dipper. He lit the second lantern. "Beautiful. You can each carry one." Jack picked up one of the lanterns. Annie put down her trumpet and picked up the other one. The firelight cast eerie shadows on the walls. Screeeee! A sound from the back room startled them. It sounded like the creak of a door opening. Jack's heart began to pound. WHAM! The sound of a door slamming shut! Jack's heart beat faster and faster. "Hey!" called Dipper. "Who's back there?"