Aunt Tabby’s big surprise
Araminta Spook, a young girl living in a haunted-style house with her eccentric aunt and uncle, is devastated to learn that her aunt plans to sell their home. She decides to concoct a plan to scare off potential buyers by proving the house is truly haunted.
Why it matters
This is a fictional excerpt from a children's book, serving as entertainment rather than news.
Excerpt: And then, because Aunt Tabby likes polite conversation at breakfast, I said, “Have you been having trouble with the boiler again, Aunt Tabby?”
“Yes, dear – but not for very much longer.” Aunt Tabby said, hardly moving her lips. I used to think that when Aunt Tabby spoke like that, she was practising to be a ventriloquist, but now I know it means she has made her mind up about something and she doesn’t care whether you agree with her or not.
“Oh, why is that, Aunt Tabby?” I asked especially nicely, while I covered my porridge with brown sugar and stirred it all in really fast so that the porridge went a nice muddy colour.
Aunt Tabby sort of gritted her teeth and said, “Don’t do that with the sugar dear. Because we’re moving, that’s why.”
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