Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11 DO YOU KNOW WHY THE villagers were cheering? I'm sure you do. Suddenly the lights were on and the village was all lit up. The merry-go-round was going round and round and up and down. The popcorn machine was pop-pop-popping away. The birthday celebration was right back on! The Monster Mash competition was back on schedule! "Hip, hip, hooray!" cheered the mayor. "Hip, hip, hooray!" cheered the villagers. Go ahead—you try it. Give a big cheer. It feels good, right? Well, now you know how the villagers felt. They were very happy to

have their birthday celebration back, even if they didn't know how it had happened. However, not everyone was happy.... Baron Von Grump had been sitting in his chair. He watched the soft glow of the single candle. He held his violin against his neck and shoulder. He took a deep breath, placed the bow against the strings, and— WHOOM! The lights of the village shone as bright as day, right in his eyes. The violin made a horrible screech as Baron Von Grump fumbled the bow across the strings. SPLOING! Three of his violin strings broke. "Caw! Caw!" screeched Edgar. POP-POP-POP-POP went the popcorn machine.

Baron Von Grump tumbled back out of his chair and landed on the floor with a THUD. "Yeow!" he roared. "Caw! Caw!" hollered Edgar. Baron Von Grump jumped to his feet, scrunching his thick, black, angry eyebrows together and waving his hands in the air. "Edgar, what do you mean it's the Junior Monster Scouts?" "Caw, caw!" "The power is coming from Castle Dracula?" "Caw, caw!" Baron Von Grump pulled at his hair. "Why, you Junior Monster Scouts! Wait until I get my hands on—" Baron Von Grump tripped over his violin and fell face-first onto the floor with an even louder THUD. "—youuuu," he moaned.