The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery Read Online Free

make him a Christmas card,” Stacy said. She was good at that.
    â€œDefinitely,” said Abby.
    â€œDon’t forget the Christmas cookies,” Dee Dee piped up.
    Shawn wanted to give something, too. “I teach Mr. Tressler Korean folk tune.”
    Jimmy jumped up and down. “I sing, too!”
    â€œHey, great idea,” said Dunkum.
    â€œWhat about you?” Eric asked him. “What will you bring?”
    Dunkum laughed. “Maybe I could write a poem about angels and mysteries. You know, from the Christmas spelling list.”
    Eric liked that. So did the others.
    Jason couldn’t stand still. He was like that when his hyper medicine wore off. “I could dance with Mr. Tressler’s angels,” said Jason. He jigged around the snowman.
    Dee Dee giggled. “Me too!”
    â€œIf we sing the carols loud enough, he might open the door,” said Jason. “Then we can see those flying Christmas angels of his.”
    â€œWait a minute,” Carly spoke up. “I thought we were doing it to be friendly— not to spy.”
    Abby put her arm around her little sister. Carly grinned up at Abby in the moonlit night.
    The moonlight reminded Eric of Mr. Tressler’s flute. That strange, warm feeling stirred inside him again. Maybe caroling for Mr.Tressler wasn’t such a bad idea. Maybe he would give the old man a gift after all.
    â€œI want to give our new neighbor something he’ll never forget,” Eric said.
    â€œWhat is it?” the kids shouted.
    â€œA friend,” Eric said. He was thinking of his grandpa.
    â€œNow everyone has something to give,” said Abby. “Meet tomorrow after school at Dunkum’s.”
    The kids scattered and went home.
    Eric still wasn’t sure about those angels. Did they run on batteries? Maybe not. Maybe Mr. Tressler was a true angel keeper. If so, Grandpa might be just the friend for him.
    Sometimes, late at night, Eric could hear Grandpa talking to God. Some people called it praying. But with Grandpa it was just plain talking.
    Eric went to his room and put on his pajamas. He thought about Mr. Tressler. How could the old man dance with angels and still be so creepy?

TEN
    It was December 15th.
    After school, the Cul-de-sac Kids met at Dunkum’s. They practiced five songs. They sang them five times in a row. “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells” were good, but “Angels We Have Heard on High” was the best.
    Eric whistled. Jason jigged. And Abby said they sounded double dabble good.

    The next night, the kids lined up on Mr. Tressler’s porch. Candles burned in the window.No one moved. Eric took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.
    When the porch light came on, the kids started to sing “Joy to the World.” Eric whistled along.
    Slowly the door opened.
    There stood the old man without a smile. He reached for his cane!
    Eric froze.
    Mr. Tressler raised his cane in the air.
    He’s gonna chase us away! thought Eric.
    Instead, the cane began to wave in time to the music. Mr. Tressler kept it up through “Silent Night” and “Frosty the Snowman.”
    But then, Mr. Tressler left.
    What should they do?
    Eric started whistling “Jingle Bells” as loud as he could.
    The old man came back with his flute. He began to play along, with his eyes closed.
    Eric felt a lump in his throat. The old man wasn’t scary. Not one bit!
    At the end, the kids clapped.
    Mr. Tressler bowed low. “Thank you kindly,” he said. “And you—what voices! You sound like the angels.”
    Angels! Eric peeked around the corner. He didn’t see any angels. Had the batteries run down?
    Abby pointed to Eric. It was time for him to talk. He introduced Stacy Henry first.
    Stacy gave Mr. Tressler an angel Christmas card made from white construction paper. Glittery gold.
    â€œWelcome to our cul-de-sac,” she said.
    â€œThank you, dear” said Mr.