The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery at Missile Town
T minus ten minutes Holly chirped looking at her wrist watch Hey Hold it an outsider’s voice suddenly de manded What’s going on here Joey Brill and Will Wilson twelve-year-old pals strode into the yard Uh-oh Trouble Pete whispered to Holly Hold the countdown Joey Brill unpopular with the Hollisters because of his many mean tricks wore a scowl most of the time Will a slender boy usually tagged along after his hus kier friend What kind of a sissy game is this Joey asked We’re playing Cape Kennedy Pete answered rising Why are girls in it Joey questioned Only men launch missiles (cid:30) at shows how much you know Ricky called down from his high perch Plenty of women have jobs at the missile range Our Uncle Walt who works there said so Pete explained that their uncle was in charge of in stalling the pay load which was often shot into outer space in the nose cone of rockets It’s a very important job and we’re proud of him Holly added I’m going to be an astronaut some day Ricky said lifting his helmet An aster-nut ha ha Joey laughed You’re a nut all right to be fooling around with silly stu(cid:29) like this 8
He walked over and kicked the pole sending a quiver up to the missile in which freckle-nosed Ricky sat Stop that Pete ordered He advanced toward Joey at the same time keeping an eye on Will Okay We don’t want to play your jerky old game anyway Come on Will Joey gave the pole an extra kick then ran o(cid:29) with his pal following (cid:30) ey dashed out the driveway and dis appeared down the street I hope those pests don’t come back Holly said breathing a sigh of relief From his seat in the nose of the make-believe rocket Ricky glanced about the launching site To him the white rambling Hollister home on the shore of Pine Lake was the Central Control Building (cid:30) e glistening body of water was the Atlantic Ocean and the rowboat tied to the Hollisters dock was a crash boat ready to make any necessary rescue Pete had squatted into place again beside the sand box and was turning the radio dials once more How’s everything down range he asked Pam His sister scanned the lake with her (cid:31) eld glasses Weather good Clouds parting Resume operations T minus nine minutes Holly said and Ricky adjust ed the space helmet more securely awaiting the lift-o(cid:29) o(cid:29) o(cid:29) Holly’s eyes were glued to the sweep hand on her watch T minus eight seven six six six (cid:31) ve four four four three Earlier the Hollisters had practiced making a roar ing sound when the lift-o(cid:29) took place (cid:30) ey were all set o(cid:29) took place (cid:30) ey were all set o(cid:29) as the countdown neared zero 9
Two One Holly went on her voice rising with excitement Just then the back door of their home burst open and a little dark-haired girl raced out Pete Pam Ricky Holly she cried Come into the house quick Hold the shot Pete commanded his rocket crew Sue you spoiled our launching Sue paid no attention She raced across the lawn as fast as her chubby legs could travel At four she was the youngest of the children and fondly loved by them all (cid:30) e little girl dashed to Pete’s side then tugged him by the hand Come on everybody Has something happened Pete asked You’ll see It’s a secret Hey Ricky called I want to hear it too Me three Pam declared She inched toward the edge of the sloping roof and scrambled down the ladder by which she had reached her watching post Meanwhile Ricky had shinned down the pole Together the (cid:31) ve children raced for the house (cid:30) ey found their mother a slender pretty woman with a happy smile seated on the living-room couch an open letter in her hands What’s so important about a letter Ricky asked Sue rather disappointed It’s from Aunt Carol the little girl replied and it came extra-special-delivery air mail Didn’t it delivery air mail Didn’t it delivery Mommy Without waiting for a reply Sue continued to bubble And on the back Randy and Sharon wrote SWAK 10
