Alexa slammed the notebook shut. Was there actually something interesting going on in this drab little half-house? She called, “I’ll be right down!” and tucked the notebook back under the pillow. She wasn’t sure if Katie heard her so she yelled, “Coming!” even louder, and instantly there came a banging from the other side of the wall. Ghost, or neighbor? She wasn’t sure. She banged back, three times, and after that there was only silence. Probably a ghost.

She hightailed it down the stairs and into the living room to see who won the cupcake war. It was not yet dark, not even really twilight, and there was no need to turn on either of the mismatched table lamps that sat on the elderly tables in the living room. Even so, Alexa found that she was suddenly considering Katie Griffin in a whole new light.

While they were watching, there came a knocking at the front door. Katie and Alexa looked at each other, startled.

Outside the door stood a shriveled specimen of a woman. She was holding a small dog with giant ears. The woman made Alexa think of what would happen if somebody took a walnut and glued it on top of an old rag doll. She was looking at Alexa sternly.

“Can I help you?” asked Alexa. She had no problem being stern right back.

“Noise!” the woman said, her face crumpling into even more wrinkles, if that was possible.

“Excuse me?” Alexa couldn’t stand looking at really old women up close. It was depressing. Supposedly their tiny little eyes contained the wisdom of the ages or whatever, but all Alexa saw was a complete lack of collagen and the absence of an actual neck.

“Too much noise!” said the woman, pointing an angry finger toward the house. “Somebody was just banging on the wall at me.”

“You banged first!” protested Alexa.

The woman ignored this. “The crying all the time, the screaming. It’s too loud!”

Alexa smiled her sweetest smile and said, “It’s under control. I’m so sorry we bothered you. Thanks for stopping by.”

“Who was that?” asked Katie when she returned to the cupcake wars.

“An angry old lady,” said Alexa.

“Miss Josephine,” said Katie, nodding sagely. “From next door.”

Alexa was about to ask Katie about the “crying all the time, the screaming,” but she decided to hold her tongue. There was something going on in this house. And she was going to find out what it was.

Cupcake Wars had become a real nail-biter, and she asked Katie if she could get her anything from the kitchen while they waited for the winner. She was going to start right now being the world’s best babysitter so that she got asked back again.

32.

Sherri