The Best Worst Summer by Elizabeth Eulberg

Author:Elizabeth Eulberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781547601516
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“Welcome to bustling downtown Lake Springs!” Lucas announces as he gestures toward the three blocks of Main Street.

Perhaps bustling might not be the correct term. In fact, it’s the complete opposite of what’s going on in front of us.

There are no other people currently on the sidewalks of downtown. This block has four storefronts that are empty. There are only seven cars parked on the street.

I’m sure at one point Lake Springs was, in fact, bustling. There had to be a reason people settled here, and it couldn’t solely be the college.

Lucas looks at the receipt in his hand and moves toward one of the empty storefronts. “This is it: 128 Main Street.”

We both look at the narrow store, with a For Sale sign in the window. We peer inside and see a few bare shelves lining the wall.

“So this was Book World.” I press my nose against the window, hoping to see something to prove that it was a bookstore once upon the eighties.

While we wait for the film to develop—which can take five to seven business days, we learned—we decided to go downtown to visit the places on the coaster and two receipts.

“Well, this answers absolutely nothing,” I reply.

“Now, hold on, hold on. This is where Melissa and Jessica bought”—Lucas looks down at the receipt—“four items that totaled nine dollars and forty-five cents. At least we know they weren’t psychopaths, since they liked to read. Although . . . ​ I’m wondering if they bought magazines, given the cost. My mom said that entire wall on the right was filled with different types of magazines. Hundreds.”

I didn’t even realize there were that many magazines out there. My dad gets one that has a bunch of long articles. There are a couple of cartoons, but only with one illustration and then some line I never understand. I thought cartoons are supposed to be funny, but not these. Dad says I’ll appreciate the humor when I’m older. We’ll see.

“What’s going on?” Lucas says. “You don’t seem that excited.”

Of course I’m not that excited.

All I get from the box are a whole lot of dead ends. Plus, my “playdate” was one big disaster. And Lily and I could only talk for ten minutes last night because she was meeting up with our—well, my former—soccer team. So, basically, my initial suspicions were right: Worst. Summer. Ever.

“I mean, it’s an empty bookstore. How is this going to help with figuring out what happened? Or anything at all?” I’ve never been the kind of person to give up, but there’s a first time for everything.

“Ah, I thought that it would be a good way for me to show you downtown—through Melissa and Jessica’s footsteps. Two birds, one stone, you know?”

“Don’t I!” I reply quietly and then hang my head because Lily isn’t here to think it’s funny.

“Has anybody ever told you that you can be quite odd?” Lucas says with a snort.

“Oh, I’m odd?”

He sits up a bit straighter. “I prefer the term unique.

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