The Double Dabble Surprise Read online

  Beverly Lewis Books for Young Readers

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  THE CUL-DE-SAC KIDS

  The Double Dabble Surprise

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  The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery

  No Grown-ups Allowed

  Frog Power

  The Mystery of Case D. Luc

  The Stinky Sneakers Mystery

  Pickle Pizza

  Mailbox Mania

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  Green Gravy

  Backyard Bandit Mystery

  Tree House Trouble

  The Creepy Sleep-Over

  The Great TV Turn-Off

  Piggy Party

  The Granny Game

  Mystery Mutt

  Big Bad Beans

  The Upside-Down Day

  The Midnight Mystery

  Katie and Jake and the Haircut Mistake

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  The Double Dabble Surprise

  Copyright © 1993

  Beverly Lewis

  Originally published by Star Song Publishing Group under the same title.

  Interior illustrations by Barbara Birch

  Ebook edition created 2012

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  Published by Bethany House Publishers

  11400 Hampshire Avenue South

  Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

  www.bethanyhouse.com

  Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

  eISBN 978-1-4412-6064-2

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  To the memory

  of my little friend

  SKIPP CHOON GEUN

  who now lives in a heavenly

  cul-de-sac paved with gold.

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  About the Author

  Other Books by Author

  Back Cover

  ONE

  Abby Hunter drew an X with her red marker.

  The X looked perfect on her teddy bear calendar.

  “Next Saturday is the BIG day;” she said. “In one week we’ll meet our new sisters from Korea.”

  She made dancing stars around the red X.

  “I can’t wait,” said Carly, her little sister, looking up from her first grade spelling list.

  Abby snapped the cap on her marker. “Just think, there will be four girls in our family.”

  “I think Daddy wanted some boys,” Carly said.

  “Mommy doesn’t know how to raise boys,” Abby said. “There aren’t any boys in her family for three generations.”

  Carly twisted one of her blonde curls. “What’s a generator?”

  Abby sighed. “Not generator—generation.”

  “Well, what is it?” Carly asked.

  “It’s all the kids born in a family. When they get old—about thirty—those kids get married and have kids. Then those kids . . .”

  “Okay, I get it,” Carly said.

  Abby straightened her calendar. “That’s why we only have girl cousins.”

  Carly wrote a spelling word. “I’m glad generator isn’t on this list!”

  “Generation,” Abby insisted.

  “Whatever,” said Carly. She made a tic-tac-toe on her paper. “Wanta play?”

  “Can’t,” Abby said. “Dunkum is coming over to shoot baskets.”

  Dunkum was the best player in Abby’s third grade class. His real name was Edward Mifflin, but no one called him that.

  “Dunkum thinks he can’t be beat, but I’m trying,” Abby said.

  “Is Dunkum your best friend?” Carly asked, looking down at Abby’s sneakers. One was red and one was blue.

  “Maybe,” Abby whispered.

  The doorbell rang, followed by pounding on the front door.

  Abby grabbed her jacket. “That’s definitely Dunkum.”

  Carly sighed. “When our Korean sisters come, maybe they’ll play with me.”

  After lunch the girls helped their mother put up a pink wall hanging. It read: WELCOME SISTERS.

  “Soon, I’ll have three sisters,” Abby said.

  Carly jumped up and down. “Just in time for Thanksgiving.”

  “Before,” corrected Abby. “Thanksgiving’s in twelve days.”

  “Carly, please hold your end still,” said Mother.

  “She’s too excited,” said Abby.

  They stepped back to admire the wall hanging. It looked perfect in their soon-to-be new sisters’ bedroom.

  Now the room was ready. Matching pink spreads covered the beds. Fancy curtains and bows covered the windows.

  “I like this room better than mine,” Carly said.

  Abby swung her sister around. “I’ll trade your room for mine.”

  “Nope,” Carly said.

  Abby had Carly’s room when she was little. There was a secret place in the closet. A secret, secret place. She missed hiding there with a flashlight and a good book.

  Now Carly had the room. And the secret place.

  Sometimes Abby and Carly hid there together. Abby would read softly to Carly. Mother often forgot to look for them, in the secret place behind the closet.

  “Meet me in five seconds,” Abby whispered.

  “Where?” Carly said.

  “In the secret place,” Abby said. “We have secret plans to make.”

  Carly’s eyes shone. “Okay!” she said, and she dashed out of the room.

  Abby hoped things wouldn’t change too much when her Korean sisters arrived next Saturday.

  But . . . she would wait before sharing the secret place with them. Just a little while.

  TWO

  Abby pulled a pillow into the secret place.

  “Shh! Don’t make a sound.” She slid the skinny door shut.

  Abby switched on two flashlights. One for Carly. One for herself.

  “Call the meeting to order,” Carly whispered.

  “Okay. The meeting will come to order. Now, is there any news?”

  “Nope,” Carly said. “Get to the important stuff. What’s the secret plan?”

  “Let’s buy welcome-home presents for our new sisters.”

  “Like what?” Carly said.

  “Let’s buy matching bears—bride bears!” Abby said.

  “With lots of white lace.” Carly wiggled all over.

  Abby twirled her flashlight. “Mommy and Daddy will be surprised, too.”

  Carly grinned. “If we keep it a secret.”

  “When Daddy buys gas for the car, we’ll ride along,” Abby said. She planned everything. She always did.

  Abby had another idea. “Let’s make cards for our sisters, too.”

 
“Out of pink paper,” Carly said.

  “And lace from Mommy’s sewing box,” Abby said.

  Carly clapped her hands. “To match the bears’ gowns.”

  The girls did their hand-over-hand secret code. Then they prayed.

  “Dear Lord,” Abby began. “We’re getting new sisters.”

  “They might not know about you,” Carly added.

  Abby finished the prayer. “Please help us show Your love to them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

  They turned off the flashlights and crawled out of the closet.

  Abby curled up on Carly’s bed and cuddled two teddy bears.

  Carly looked worried. “What about our secret place? Can we keep it a secret from our new sisters?”

  “Definitely,” Abby said. “But not for too long.”

  Carly looked like she was going to cry.

  “What’s wrong?” Abby said. She moved close to her sister.

  “I’m afraid you won’t be my best friend anymore,” Carly whimpered.

  She hugged her bear. “Maybe you’ll like our new sisters better.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Abby said, patting Carly’s hair. She wished her own hair would grow. Long and curly like Carly’s.

  “Let’s make a braid,” Abby said.

  “Goody!” Carly said. She hopped off the bed to get some hair ribbons.

  “Make four braids,” Carly begged.

  “Four will look silly,” Abby said.

  Carly pouted. “Come on, Abby. Just for fun?”

  Abby tossed the hair ribbons onto the bed. She stomped out of Carly’s room. She could hear Carly yelling for Mother.

  Let her tattle. Abby didn’t care.

  It would be great having a sister who wasn’t such a baby.

  THREE

  Abby put the bride bears in a yellow basket.

  “I’ll carry it,” Carly said.

  Abby slid the welcome-home cards into the basket.

  Carly twisted her hair. “Do you think they’ve seen bride bears before?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. There will be lots of stuff in America they’ve never seen.”

  “When will we give the presents?” Carly asked.

  “You’ll see,” Abby said. She wished Carly would stop asking so many questions.

  The airport buzzed with people. Some carried suitcases. Others pushed carts and pulled luggage.

  Mrs. Roop, the caseworker, spotted the airline schedule. “Flight 225 is late.” She pointing at the screen above their heads.

  Abby and Carly groaned.

  “Let’s have some dessert while we wait,” Mother suggested.

  They strolled toward the snack shop.

  “Show us the pictures again,” Abby said after dessert.

  Her father pulled out pictures of two Korean girls.

  Carly stood on tiptoes to see the pictures. “Will they get homesick?”

  “Our home will soon become their home,” her father said. “We want to make things easy for them. You and Abby can help us.” He hugged Carly.

  “We'll help them learn our ways, Daddy,” Abby said.

  Carly nodded. “And God’s ways. We promise.”

  Abby couldn’t wait to give the bride bears to her new sisters.

  She remembered getting her first bear dressed as a bride two years ago, at Christmas. Her father had read the Christmas story from the Bible on Christmas Eve. Everyone opened one present. They saved the rest for Christmas morning.

  Abby’s was a bride bear. It had a tiny red bow on its veil.

  That same Christmas, Abby’s parents had told them the plan to adopt Korean girls. It was a long wait. Too long for Abby. She had always wished for another sister closer to her own age. Soon she would have that sister. Carly would too.

  Abby thought the hour would never end. She leaned against her mother, who seemed tired. Maybe the waiting bothered her, too.

  At last, flight 225 arrived. The Hunter family raced to gate B-7. Abby arrived first.

  The waiting area was full of families and caseworkers. All of them waited to welcome Korean kids to America.

  Abby watched the kids and their escorts stand in line, showing their passports.

  She held her breath. There were hundreds of people. How would they find their sisters? Or Miss Lin, the escort who brought them from Korea?

  This could definitely be a problem, Abby thought.

  Definitely.

  FOUR

  Abby spun around. Her parents and Mrs. Roop stood behind her. “Quick! Get the pictures out.” She tugged on her father’s coat sleeve.

  “We know what our sisters look like,” Carly insisted.

  But Abby wanted to be double sure.

  “We’ll stay here and wait for the escort,” her father said. He unfolded a paper square and gave it to Abby. On the paper were the words: HUNTER FAMILY.

  “Great idea, Daddy,” Abby said, holding it high. “I’m going to explode if we don’t see them soon.”

  “Be patient, dear,” Mrs. Roop said. “It won’t be much longer.”

  “I can’t wait,” Abby said. “Come on, Carly, let’s go look for them.” She handed the sign to her father, but kept the pictures. Grabbing Carly’s hand, Abby led the way through the crowd.

  In the far corner sat two girls.

  Abby studied the girls, then the pictures. “What do you think?” she asked Carly.

  “Maybe they grew a lot.”

  Abby inched closer. She saw the name tag on the escort. It was not Miss Lin. Abby felt brave. “Excuse me, do you know who Miss Lin is?”

  The lady smiled. “Are you getting a new sister?”

  “Two,” Abby said. She felt like a jitterbox inside.

  The lady pointed. “Miss Lin is over there.”

  “Thank you,” Abby said, looking. She stood stone still. “Something’s crazy wrong,” she whispered.

  Carly came closer. “What is?”

  “Can’t you see? Miss Lin is with two boys!”

  The girls stared.

  “Let’s find our sisters,” Abby said. She walked up to Miss Lin.

  Carly followed.

  Miss Lin knew nothing about sisters. She introduced the boys. “I’d like you to meet Li Sung Jin and his little brother, Li Choon Koo,” she said.

  Carly reached out to shake hands.

  Abby turned away. She hurried to find her parents and Mrs. Roop. “Daddy! Mommy! Come quick! Something’s crazy wrong!”

  They pushed through the crowd and found Miss Lin again. She introduced the boys who bowed to Abby’s parents.

  Mrs. Roop studied some papers. So did Miss Lin.

  Abby watched her mother’s face turn pale. She was puzzled at the twinkle in her father’s eyes.

  The Korean boys sat down and waited. They looked stiff and scared as Abby’s father led Mrs. Roop around the corner.

  Abby stared at the boys’ black hair. It was dark blue. The younger boy was skinny. She couldn’t see a single muscle on him. Not one.

  The older boy had sad eyes. He played with a shiny round tag. He seemed to be in charge of his little brother, Choon Koo.

  Abby walked around behind the seat for a better look. She was dying to see Sung Jin’s silver tag.

  What is it? she wondered.

  Both boys sat as straight as boards.

  At last the grown-ups returned.

  “Let’s take a walk,” Mother suggested.

  The Hunter family huddled in the hallway.

  “There’s been a mistake,” Mr. Hunter explained.

  “But I . . . uh . . . we don’t want brothers,” Abby said.

  “Your sisters will arrive in three days.” He put his arms around Abby and Carly.

  “What about the boys?” Carly asked.

  Mother answered, “They will stay with us until Mrs. Roop clears up the mistake.”

  “We have to keep them?” Abby cried.

  “It’s only three days,” said her father.

  “Oh, no!” Abby shouted. “Wher
e will they sleep?”

  “In the new room,” Mother said softly.

  “Not our sisters’ room,” Abby said. She pushed the presents down in the basket. She looked at Carly. “Keep the bears hidden.”

  “Good idea,” said Carly. “But what kind of gifts can we give them?”

  Father smiled. “What about kindness? That’s one gift these boys could use right now.”

  Abby stared at the floor. “They won’t want bride bears, that’s for sure,” she said.

  Her throat felt lumpy. This can’t be happening, she thought.

  FIVE

  Abby lagged behind as Sung Jin and Choon Koo walked between her parents, down the long hallway.

  Abby’s father talked to them. They seemed to understand English. Choon Koo kept nodding—not talking.

  Carly giggled. She pointed to a crop of hair sticking straight out on Choon Koo’s head.

  Abby poked her. “Shh!”

  Abby stared at Sung Jin’s wrinkled shorts and T-shirt. He must have slept in them, she thought. Boys! How will I ever get through the next three days?

  They waited for Father to bring the car around.

  Abby set the yellow basket down.

  Choon Koo stared at the shiny paper peeking out. He bent down to look inside. “Pret-ty pa-per,” he said slowly.

  Before Abby could stop him, he pulled a present out. His brother spoke to him in Korean.

  Choon Koo held the present up. He turned it over and over.

  Abby wished her mother would do something.

  In a flash the wrapping paper was off! A bride bear smiled up at Choon Koo.

  Abby thought she would choke.

  Sung Jin grabbed the bear away from his brother. He turned it around and around, giggling.

  Abby looked at Mother. “Stop them!” she cried.

  Mother raised a finger to her lips.

  On the ride home, Choon Koo balanced a bear bride on his feet. So did Sung Jin. Then they bounced the bears on their sandals, pointing and giggling.

  The giggling bugged Abby. And the bears would be dirty when her sisters finally came. Phooey!

  Carly turned around in the front seat. Her eyes got big.

  Abby looked away. She couldn’t wait to get home. “How many more minutes?” she asked her father.

  “Be polite, honey,” he said.

  Polite. Usually that was easy. But not today! Today she would call her friend, Stacy Henry. Maybe Stacy would let her move in for three days.