The Old House

The Old House

From three-time Edgar Award–winning author Willo Davis Roberts comes the “instantly compelling” ( Kirkus Reviews ) classic mystery, originally published as Buddy Is a Stupid Name for a Girl , about a young girl who unravels her family’s deepest, darkest secrets. All Buddy ever wanted was a normal family. But with her mother dead, her father missing, and her brother on the road searching for him, Buddy has a hard time believing it will ever happen. Instead she’s living with relatives she hardly knows who resent her for reasons she can’t figure out. They think everything about her is strange, especially her name. Despite all this, Buddy clings to the hope that her father is out there, somewhere, and that her brother will find him so they can be a family again. Until then will Buddy find a way to accept her new life and figure out the mystery behind her relatives’ disapproving stares? Willo Davis Roberts wrote many mystery and suspense novels for children during her long and illustrious career, including The Girl with the Silver Eyes , The View from the Cherry Tree , Twisted Summer , Megan’s Island , Baby-Sitting Is a Dangerous Job , Hostage , Scared Stiff , The Kidnappers , and Caught! Three of her children’s books won Edgar Awards, while others received great reviews and other accolades, including the Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award, the California Young Reader’s Medal, and the Georgia Children’s Book Award. The Old House Chapter One She had always liked the landlord, Mr. Beaman. Until today. Buddy watched his mouth as he talked, and she hated him. “If your dad don’t show up,” he said, “you know, in a reasonable period of time, I can call Washington Social Services for you. They know what to do about kids who don’t have anywhere to go.” Buddy didn’t have to look at her brother to see that he shared her feelings about that. Being put in a foster home, or a shelter? There wasn’t even a shelter, as far as she knew, except in the big cities like Tacoma or Seattle, away. And she was sure Dad wouldn’t want them to resort to anything like that. Mr. Beaman must have read their rejection in their faces. He switched tactics. “You kids got relatives. Idaho, ain’t it? Or Montana, someplace like that. Go to them. That’s the thing to do.” Beside her, Bart stood stiff and frozen in shock. The same shock Buddy was feeling, only her brother didn’t speak. “We can’t go to Montana,” Buddy exclaimed. “They don’t even write to us, didn’t write much even before Mama died.” Mr. Beaman licked his lips and looked miserable. “Still, they’re family. You’re just kids. They’ll look after you. See, the thing is . . . you’re two months behind on the rent now. And . . . well, you know I lost my job, too, when the mill closed. Same as your dad. I need the rent money. And . . . I got a family wants to rent the house. They got cash, first month and a deposit. I . . . told ’em they could move in Friday, first of the month.” Bart looked as if he were frozen. His lips barely moved. “I don’t think . . . it’s not legal to just throw us out with no notice.” “Well, you know and I know you haven’t paid me any rent for almost three months. That’s notice enough to be legal, I reckon. I need the money myself. I have to take this while I got the chance.” “But you told my dad—” “He said he’d get money to me before this. I can’t wait any longer,” Mr. Beaman said with determination, even though he was looking somewhat guilty. “You’re gonna have to move, anyway, right, if the only job he could find is out of town? So you’re gonna have to get out of the house before I lose these renters.” Buddy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “But we can’t go to Haysville,” she told him, glancing at her brother in the hope he’d back her up. “We have to wait until Dad comes back!” The man licked his lips again. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I already told ’em. Monday, I said.” She felt as if she were drowning, suffocating. Bart made a strangling sound, and finally spoke in a voice that wasn’t like his at all. “We couldn’t take all our stuff with us. Not in a car.” “No, no, I realize that. You can store it in the garage. I told the new people you wouldn’t be able to clear that out yet. You don’t own any of the furniture, so just pack the rest of it. Get some boxes at the Stop and Shop. They always have boxes.” And then he was gone, letting the door slam behind him, down the front steps to his car. Buddy glared after him through the sting of tears. “What’re we going to do?” she demanded. Bart rubbed a hand across his mouth. “Get out, I guess.” “But Dad won’t know where to find us when he comes back!” “We only got relatives in one town. He’d call them if he couldn’t find us here. But we don’t have to go yet. We . . . we could manage in the car for a day or two, couldn’t we? Park near the bus station. It’s open all night. We could use the bathroom there, just for a couple of days. Watch for Dad, if he comes in on the bus.” “