The Ghost at the Drive-In Movie

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

  Jessie couldn’t stop thinking of what Mr. Duke had said. What did he mean by trouble? It sounded almost like a threat.

  The children returned to the minivan. Grandfather had brought back dinner from the snack bar. There were slices of pizza, chicken fingers, and bowls of chili.

  “Good thing we didn’t fill up on popcorn,” said Jessie, as she took a pizza slice.

  “I never fill up on anything!” said Benny. It was true that the youngest Alden always had a great appetite.

  “This chicken is delicious,” Violet said. “Mr. Duke was wrong when he said that the food at the Diamond Drive-in isn’t as good.”

  “It’s great,” said Henry. “But there aren’t hot dogs here. And I could see how someone might want a hot dog at the movies.”

  Everyone agreed it was too bad that Uncle Flick and Mr. Duke didn’t get along with each other.

  The sky over the drive-in theater had darkened to deep blue, and a few stars had come out.

  “Look at the screen!” said Benny. “Here comes the movie!”

  They turned the car radio on so they could hear the movie. Violet and Benny moved up to the front seat with Jessie so they could have a good view out the windshield. Henry and Grandfather sat in the back seat, since they were the tallest. Watch curled up in Jessie’s lap.

  First they watched trailers for upcoming movies, and then a funny commercial for Brinker’s Auto showing Dan Brinker on roller skates. “I love speedy deals!” he shouted.

  Finally, it was time for the movie Island of the Horses to begin. The Aldens fell quiet as they followed the story, which was about a boy who had been in a shipwreck and was on a raft looking for land. It was so good that they began to forget they were even in the car. Jessie felt like she was in the scene, too, out on the softly rolling sea—

  “One-two-three o’clock, four o’clock rock! Five, six, seven o’clock, eight o’clock rock—” The sudden loud music from the radio surprised everyone.

  “Yikes! What’s that?” Jessie cried. “Did someone change the station?”

  “It just changed by itself! And it’s really loud!” shouted Benny.

  The music blasting out of the radio was clearly not the sound that was supposed to go with the movie. Henry looked around at the other cars. People reached for their radio dials or covered their ears.

  “Oh, no!” Violet said. “It’s ruining the movie!”

  The children got out of the car and started running towards the projection booth. Car horns were honking. “Fix the sound!” someone yelled. When they got to the projection booth they saw the door was wide open.

  “No one’s there!” Jessie said, gasping. But then they saw Amy Castella running towards the booth. She hurried up the steps in a panic. Henry and Jessie could see her fumbling with the controls inside the booth. Finally, the cars stopped honking.

  “That was strange,” said Henry.

  Violet ran up behind them. “It’s fixed now. You can hear the movie again.”

  They went back to the car and watched the rest of the movie. The children had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last strange thing to happen.

  After the movie ended, the children lined up at the snack bar to get ice cream. They were standing near a door marked OFFICE when suddenly it opened and Uncle Flick and Amy came out.

  “I just don’t know what happened!” Amy was telling Uncle Flick.

  “The sound just accidentally switched, I guess!”

  “Why weren’t you in the booth?” Uncle Flick asked her. “You’re not supposed to go anywhere, not with all these pranks that have been happening lately. Where were you?”

  “I just stepped out for a second!” Amy cried. “I promise I’ll keep a better eye on things!” She hurried off back to her booth. And Uncle Flick walked back into his office, shaking his head.

  The children looked at each other. What were all these other pranks about? Why were they happening?

  “Maybe two movies in a row is a little too much for Benny,” Jessie said later on, as they all trudged up the front steps of the Fletcher house. Grandfather carried Benny, who had fallen asleep not too long after the start of the second movie.

  “He’ll get another chance to see Pirate Spy,” Henry said. “It’s showing tomorrow night, too.”

  Benny woke up just then. “I like pirates,” he said. Then he yawned a very big yawn.

  After the children got ready for bed in their guest room, they came back downstairs to say good-night to Grandfather. He was in the kitchen drinking coffee with Uncle Flick.

  “I’m so glad you kids could come visit the Diamond Drive-in,” Uncle Flick told the Aldens. “At least while I’m still running it.”

  “What do you mean?” Violet asked. “Is it going to close down?” The thought made her sad. She knew there weren’t many drive-in theaters anymore.

  “No, I hope not,” Uncle Flick replied. “But I was just telling your grandfather—I think I’m going to sell the place.”

  “Is it because of all the pranks?” Jessie asked.

  “Oh, you’ve heard about those, have you?” Uncle Flick said. “Yes, we’ve had a few lately. Someone fiddled with the lens on the projector to make the movie blurry. Someone poured popcorn salt into the soda fountain. That’s been a pain! But the main reason for selling the place is just … well, my job isn’t as much fun anymore.”

  “Don’t you like showing movies?” asked Violet.

  “Yes I do,” said Uncle Flick. “But I used to do more than show movies. We’d have fireworks after the show, and contests, and Kids’ Night. Things like that were always good for business. And they were fun. But they’re a lot of work, too. I’m getting older and don’t have as much pep. I’m feeling more and more like this tired and tuckered-out fellow here.” He smiled at Benny.

  “I’m not tired,” Benny said. “Or tuckered out.” He yawned again. Everyone laughed.

  “But don’t worry,” Uncle Flick went on. “I won’t sell the theater to just anyone. I’m going to make sure that whoever buys this place keeps it open. They’ll have to promise me that movie screen will always stay standing.”

  Jessie thought of something. “What about your nephew Joey? Maybe one day he’ll want to run the theater.”

  Uncle Flick sighed. “I doubt it. All he wants to do is leave this town and—”

  Screech!

  Suddenly outside there was the sound of tires squealing, and then a thud. Watch, who had been napping near the front door, leapt up and started barking.

  “What on Earth was that?” Uncle Flick said. He and the Aldens hurried out to the porch.

  “It’s Dan Brinker’s car!” said Henry. “Or at least, the one he’s trying to sell.”

  The shiny red car had driven off the road. Now it was in a small ditch. Some of the balloons that had decorated the car had come loose. The car door was open. Dan Brinker was hurrying about trying to pick up the balloons. He looked pale and shaken.

  “Are you all right, Mr. Brinker?” Henry asked.

  “What happened, Dan?” Uncle Flick called out.

  “It was … it was a ghost!” Dan Brinker said, gasping. “I saw it. Over there.” He pointed towards the darkness of the outdoor theater.

  “A ghost?” Benny whispered. “Wow.”

  “I … I was taking the back road. I was driving back to my office,” Dan went on. “And then I saw the ghost! It was walking along! And … I suppose I began to panic … and I lost control of the car …” He took several deep breaths and wiped his brow with his handkerchief.

  “Do you think it was really a ghost?” Jessie asked Henry quietly.

  “No, of course not,” said Henry. But he wasn’t so sure himself.

  “This ghost stuff is nonsense, Dan,” Uncle Flick said. “You must have been seeing things! Maybe it was one of those balloons. It’s foolish to try to drive with those all over your car.”

  “I know what I saw, Flick,” said Dan. “And what I saw was a ghost!” He straightened up and smoothe
d his hair. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way. Thank goodness the car wasn’t hurt. I’m just … spooked, that’s all.”

  He got back into the car and closed the door. He started the car and drove off.

  “I wonder what that was all about,” said Grandfather.

  “He sure looked like he’d seen a ghost,” said Henry. Everyone agreed.

  “Wait—what’s that?” Violet asked.

  Just then, they all heard footsteps coming out of the darkness behind the road. Benny held his breath. Was it the ghost?

  But it was only Joey Fletcher. “What was all that racket?” he asked his uncle.

  “Nothing,” said Uncle Flick. “I thought you’d finished cleaning up the snack bar an hour ago. What took you so long?”

  “Oh … I was just being extra careful. I wanted to make sure nobody was trying to make any more trouble,” Joey said. He shrugged and went inside the house.

  By now it was past bedtime. Jessie and her brothers and sister went back upstairs. They all sat on the big bed Jessie and Violet were sharing and looked out the window towards the dark drive-in theater. They could see the screen in the moonlight.

  “There really is a lot of trouble here,” Jessie remarked.

  “Yes,” said Violet. “So many strange things are happening.”

  “I think it is haunted!” Benny said. “And I want to see the ghost.”

  “Benny, you know there’s no such thing as ghosts,” Henry said. “Now let’s go to bed.”

  Jessie added, “Yes, Mr. Brinker was just seeing things that weren’t really there.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” Benny said. But he also thought to himself: Maybe not.

  CHAPTER 3

  Strange Intermission

  “Uncle Flick, is there anything we can do to help out while we’re here?” Henry asked. “Besides fixing breakfast, I mean.”

  They were eating breakfast with Uncle Flick in the kitchen of the Fletcher house. Grandfather had brought back muffins from a bakery in town, and the children had helped wash and cut fresh fruit.

  “Yes, we can lend a hand around the theater,” Jessie added.

  It was true—the Aldens always liked being helpful. But they also hoped that by helping out around the theater, they could figure out why so many odd things were happening.

  “Why, thank you,” said Uncle Flick. “There are plenty of things you can do before the theater opens tonight. Pick up litter, check to make sure the car speakers are working, stuff like that.”

  “I can test popcorn!” Benny said. “I can taste it to make sure there’s enough butter!”

  Uncle Flick laughed at this. “No need to do that, Benny! But we’ll figure out a job for you.”

  After lunch, the children got right to work. Henry carefully checked the cords on all the speakers. Jessie and Violet picked up litter with special spiked poles. And Benny’s job was to bring everyone water and supplies. Uncle Flick found Joey’s old dirt bike for Benny to ride. They filled the front basket with water bottles and trash bags.

  “You can ride over to the projection booth and see if Amy needs anything,” said Uncle Flick.

  “I’ll head right over!” said Benny. He pedaled off across the lot.

  But when he got to the booth, Amy wasn’t there. So he got back on the bike to find Jessie and Violet.

  Meanwhile, Henry had finished checking the speakers. He went to the snack bar to ask Joey if he needed any help. When he walked inside the lights were on, but the place was empty.

  “Hello?” he called. But there was no answer.

  Jessie and Violet had picked up all the litter they could find on the lot. They had nearly filled a whole bag of garbage.

  “I’m getting thirsty,” Violet said. “I think I saw Benny riding his bike over by the snack bar. I’ll go find him and get some water for us.”

  “Good idea,” said Jessie. “It’s getting hot out!”

  Violet walked off across the lot. Jessie looked up at the movie screen, which was shining brightly in the sun. She realized there would be shade on the other side of the screen, so she walked behind it.

  It was nice and cool behind the screen. Jessie picked up a few pieces of litter and looked around. She noticed a large bundle near the back of the screen—it was something rolled up, like a tent. She would be sure to ask Uncle Flick what it was. Just then, she heard Henry calling her name, and she went out to the front of the theater.

  “Have you seen Joey?” Henry asked. “He was supposed to be at the snack bar, but he’s not there.”

  “No,” Jessie said. “What about Benny? Violet’s looking for him. He’s got the water, and we’re thirsty!”

  “So am I,” said Henry. He turned and looked around the lot. “Look, there he is now!”

  They both saw Benny riding his bike near the front gate.

  “Benny! Over here!” Jessie called. But Benny wasn’t paying attention. He liked the bike very much.

  Henry groaned. “We’ll have to go over there to get our water,” he said. So he and Jessie ran across the lot to Benny.

  Over on the other side of the theater, Violet hadn’t seen Benny at all. She was still looking for him by the snack bar. She was walking along the edge of the building when she heard a voice around the corner. “Benny?” she said.

  But it wasn’t Benny. Amy and Joey were there, and they had been talking. They both jumped a little when they saw Violet. Violet jumped, too.

  “Gosh! I didn’t mean to surprise you,” said Violet.

  Joey stood up straighter and pushed the hair out of his eyes. “Uh, what do you mean, ‘surprise?’”

  “Oh … well … I thought I interrupted you while you were talking,” Violet replied.

  “We weren’t talking!” said Amy. “I mean, we weren’t talking about anything important.”

  “Like, why would we be?” said Joey.

  Violet thought they were acting oddly. “I’m sorry. Never mind,” she said. She was turning to leave when suddenly Amy said, “Wait!” and ran up to Violet.

  “What is it?” Violet asked.

  Amy’s voice was sharp. “Do you see that storage shed over there?” she asked. She pointed to a long low building on the far edge of the theater grounds.

  “Y-yes,” said Violet.

  “You and your sister and brothers need to stay away from there. If any of you go in there you’ll … you’ll be in trouble. Do you understand?” Amy sounded very serious.

  Violet nodded.

  “You be sure to tell them,” said Amy. She marched off towards the projection booth. Joey went back inside the snack bar. And Violet took a deep breath. She was glad to see Jessie and Henry walking back across the lot.

  “What was that all about?” Jessie asked her.

  Violet told her sister and Henry what had just happened.

  “There’s something strange about Amy,” Jessie remarked. “She always acts like we’ve caught her at something.”

  “Well, she’s never where she’s supposed to be,” Violet said. “Come to think of it, neither is Joey.”

  “And neither is Benny!” said Henry, looking around. “Did he ride off on his bike again?”

  Benny had indeed ridden off again. After he’d given Henry and Jessie their water bottles he’d decided to find Violet, too. He wondered if she was on the other side of the theater, so he rode along the edge of the lot until he saw something he hadn’t noticed before. It was an old storage shed. Benny got off his bike and walked up to the open door to peek inside.

  What he saw inside made his eyes widen. He couldn’t believe what he saw. “I have to tell Henry and Jessie and Violet about this!” he whispered.

  He ran back to his bike and rode off across the theater lot. Soon he saw Jessie running up to him.

  “There you are!” said Jessie. “You shouldn’t ride off like that without telling anyone where you’re going,” she said firmly Jessie often acted like a mother to Benny

  “I’m sorry” Benny said.r />
  “It’s important,” she added. “Because there are places where you’re not supposed to go. Like the storage shed. Amy told Violet that if any of us go in there we’ll all be in trouble. Okay?”

  “O-okay,” said Benny. He did not want anyone to be in trouble. So he did not tell Jessie that he’d been to the shed. He would not tell anyone what he’d seen inside.

  Evening came, and the drive-in theater opened for the night.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind seeing Island of the Horses and Pirate Spy again?” Grandfather asked the children.

  “We don’t mind,” said Jessie. Sometimes the children liked watching the same movie more than once. But they also wanted to find out more about the pranks at the drive-in—and the ghost, too.

  “Let’s find a spot for the car,” Grandfather said. “And then I’ll walk back over to the Fletcher house and read my book on the porch. You can call me on my cell phone if you need anything.”

  Soon the minivan was in a good spot in the third row of the drive-in. It was still twilight, and the Alden children decided to walk around to look for anything unusual. Henry walked with Violet and Benny. They saw Dan Brinker in the second row. Tonight he had a shiny silver car decorated with green and blue balloons.

  “Maybe he can tell us more about the ghost,” Violet replied.

  “Let’s talk to him at intermission,” Henry said.

  “What’s in-ter-mish-un?” Benny asked.

  “That’s the break in the middle of a show,” Henry said. “Here at the theater, it’s the break between the first movie and the second one.”

  Meanwhile, Jessie was walking Watch. They were near the projection booth when she heard a voice call, “Jessie?”

  It was Amy Castella. She was standing in the doorway of the booth. “Hi. Er … could you do me a favor?” Amy asked. “Could you just keep an eye on the booth while I run and get a soda?”

  Jessie didn’t know what to say for a moment. Amy hadn’t been very friendly.

  “Listen,” Amy went on. “I’m sorry about today. I guess I wasn’t very nice to your sister. It’s just that things have been crazy around here lately.”

  “What happened with the sound last night?” Jessie asked.