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ANTHILL S INC.

ANTE ROOM

CLOTHING

ANTS IN PANTS

9 788378 290728

danger at the circus

THE runaway DOG
the secret of the spooky house
the goofed up science project

S
CON DO

DR. FEELERS - ANTENNA REPA IR

Look for Andy Ant in his other books, too!

Y L AN D PA R K

The Secret of the Spooky

House

the secret of the spooky house

Have you ever heard of a place that is haunted? If so, you were most likely
afraid of that place. Maybe some other kids told you that someone scary lived
there. One day, Joey and Andy find themselves near such a house. Read to find
out what happened there!
After a long and adventurous day, Joey discovers that it is not always
good to believe others when they say that someone is old and ugly. Sometimes
we can miss out on meeting someone special!

ISBN 978-83-7829-072-8

IR
Y

DETO UR

A N TR A C K D E P O T

CAUTION
RO OT
TRIMM ING

ANTRHOPOLO GY

GRAND ANT THEATER

CHARLIES ANT ANTY MAMME

A little ant with big ideas, and his human friend Joey
will delight your children with their exciting adventures.
The imaginative stories in these fun, colorful books will both entertain
your children and help them learn valuable lessons
that every kid should know.

lawn mower on the loose

runaway ants
the swimming hole disaster
the band music mystery

EXPRESS

JOEYS HOME

ANDYS HOME

Mr. DAVIS
HOME
Creator: Lawrence W. ONan created Andy Ant in the 1970s when he told bed-time
stories to his children. He developed Andy Ant to assist him in instilling values and
providing an imaginary hero for his two daughters. He regularly lectures and teaches
on subjects dealing with values. He and his family reside in California, where is he is
a fund raising consultant with nonprofit organizations.
Author: Gerald D. ONan is the author of the Andy Ants stories. The stories are based
on events that occurred during his childhood and individuals who played important
roles in his life as a child. He actively works with children in his community as a
teacher and storyteller and also teaches seminars in public and private schools on
creative writing and storytelling. He and his family reside in Colorado, where he is
an attorney.
Illustrator: Norman McGary is an internationally recognized illustrator. He began
his career in 1957 when he illustrated childrens books for Walt Disney and became
known for his illustrations in 101 Dalmatians and Sleeping Beauty. His career also includes extensive work with Hanna-Barbera Productions, Warner Brothers, and Jeremiah Films. He resides in California, where he continues to illustrate many projects.

ANDYS
SWIMMING HOLE

ANDYS
ROOM

FAMILY
ROOM

ANT SCHOOL

JOEYS
SCHOOL

STORM
DRAIN

INSIDE
ANDYS HOME
PORCH
STEP

SIDEWALK

HALLWAY

DINING ROOM

Dear
aid of a
Have you ever been afr
aunted?
h
s
a
w
t
h
ug
o
th
u
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c
pla
unted beAnd you knew it was ha

it was?
id
sa
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th
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th
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us
ca
to Andy
d
e
n
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p
p
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t
a
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w
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Well, th
that I nearid
a
fr
a
so
s
a
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I
.
e
m
d
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ing very
ly missed out on someth
rn the same
a
le
u
yo
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I
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ia
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sp
nd I did.
neat things that Andy a
Sincerely,
Joey

The Secret
of the Spooky House
Created by Lawrence W. ONan
Written by Gerald D. ONan
Illustrated by Norman McGary
To our Mom, Ida Frances,
who loves children

Vocatio PUBLISHING HOUSE

Warsaw

Joey, Joey, Andy said tapping on my cereal

bowl, over here.
I looked down to see Andy and his sister, Angelica, standing next to the bowl.
Are you crazy? I asked. You know what my
mom will do if she finds ants in the kitchen?

Andy knodded his head that he knew, but said, Ive got a problem
and really need your help.
I was kind of surprised that Andy needed my help. Usually, I
was needing Andy to help me do something. So, I listened very
carefully as Andy started telling me his problem.
You see, Joey, Andy began, we need to be someplace by 10
oclock, but mom said I had to finish cleaning my room first. Angelica helped me, but it was still a big job. And now we wont be
there on time, unless... well, unless you give us a ride on your bicycle.
Sure, Ill take you, I said. Where do you have to go?
Oh... just over to Arthur Ants house, Angelica said, but for
some reason she had a funny look on her face.

While I finished eating, I asked Andy who this

Arthur fellow was.
Oh, hes a good friend of mom and dads. In
fact, he lets us call him Arty, even though his
real name is Arthur, Andy said.
At first we didnt know if we would like
him, Angelica began, because he was even
older than uncle Andrew. But mom said that
shouldnt make any difference.
And she was right, Andy said.
Mom said that by the time ants get older, they really know a lot.
And if we pay attention, they can teach us some important things,
Angelica stated.
Yeah, like teaching us how to paint pictures, Andy blurted out
as he ate some crumbs of toast.
Wow, do you think he could teach me how to paint? I asked.
I dont know, Angelica answered, but Ill ask him if you want
me to.
As we ran outside, my two passengers climbed up on the handle
bars and I started peddling my bike down the street.

Hey, look whos following us, Andy

said pointing to my dog Freckles. Maybe he wants to learn how to paint pictures, too!
Freckles was really my brothers dog,
but I always liked having him around so
I was glad he was following us.
Andy started giving me directions to
Artys house. We had gone about six
blocks when Andy announced that Arty
lived in the wood pile behind the house
with all the trees. I slammed on my brakes, and the bicycle slid to a stop.
Thats the haunted house, I said.
And Im not going near that place.

11

We were afraid you would say that, Angelica said.

But really, Joey, theres no such thing as a haunted house, Andy
argued in just half a philosophers voice.
Oh yes there is. All the kids at school say so. And theres a
mean old lady who lives inside! I insisted.
Ive been coming over here for a long time, and Ive never seen
a mean old lady there, Angelica said.
Oh, yeah, well she probably doesnt bother ants, but I tell you
that place is haunted and Im not going in there. And besides, theres
no way to get through that big fence, I said.
Just then there was a noise in the weeds. At first nobody moved.
Then Freckles headed out like a shot. He ran right between one of
the iron bars in the fence and started chasing something.
Here Freckles, here Freckles, I called. But Freckles didnt come
back. I called him again, but he still didnt come. I could hear Freckles barking and yelping and it sounded like he was in trouble.
What am I going to do now? I asked myself right out loud.
Well probably have to go in there and find him, Andy said.

13

I told you Im not going near that place! I

answered.
Well, hes your dog and you can do what
you want, but if he were mine and I thought
he was in trouble, I would sure go after him,
Andy said.
Andy was probably right. If Freckles was in
trouble, I had to go help him... even if the house was haunted. But how was I going to get in there?
The gate was locked, and I didnt think I could get through the
bars. Andy must have known just what I was thinking.
You can get in over there, Joey. See, the bars are bent, and I
think you can squeeze through the fence, he suggested.
It took some doing, but I finally made it. Andy and Angelica
even tried to help a little. Anyhow, here we were inside the fence
by the haunted house. I could still hear Freckles yelping, but it sounded like he was on the other side of the house now.
As we started walking in that direction, I promised God that I
would always keep Freckles on a leash, if I made it out of here alive.
Joey, Angelica whispered, I think somebody is watching us.
My body froze, and my heart started pounding so hard that I was
sure the mean old lady could hear it.

Did you see somebody? Andy asked.

No, it just feels like somebody is watching us,
Angelica answered.
Oh, dont be silly, Angelica. You cant feel somebody watching you, Andy responded. But just
to make sure, he climbed up on my shoulder and
looked all around.
Theres nobody watching us, Joey, lets go find Freckles so we
can get out of here, or a-a, I mean so Angelica and I can get to our
art lesson, Andy said with just a little quiver in his voice.
As we slowly crept toward the old house, I was beginning to
think that Angelica was right. Maybe somebody was watching
us. But Andy was up on my shoulder, and I was sure he would
see anybody... if they could be seen!

I stopped for a second to look at the house. Im

sure the kids at school were right, it was haunted!
And they said the mean old lady kept kids down
in her basement. Just thinking about it made me
shiver all over.
What are you stopping here for, Joey? Andy
asked. We had better get moving so we dont
get eaten up or something.
Andy, what are you saying? You dont believe in this haunted
house stuff, do you? Angelica asked.
Well, no-o-o, Andy said as his voice faded away. Joey, Joey,
there is somebody watching us.

Now dont do that to me Andy, Im scared enough as it is, I

said.
Really, Joey, Somebody is watching us... and shes standing
right over there, Andy whispered into my ear.
I could tell that Andy wasnt kidding. Ever so slowly, I turned
my head in the direction Andy had pointed. There stood the mean
old lady. I wanted to run, but my legs just wouldnt move. I started
wondering if her basement was really as cold and damp as the kids
said it was.

What are you doing here, little boy? She

asked in a real gruff voice. Have you come
to steal my apples? Huh? Answer me, boy!
My mouth was wide open, but I couldnt get
anything to come out.
Speak up, boy. What are you doing trespassing on my property! the old lady demanded.
Please dont lock me up in your basement. I
was just trying to find my dog. He was chasing something, and he
wouldnt come when I called him. And please dont lock me up in
your basement, I blurted out again.
The old lady kind of smiled, So you have heard that I put little
kids in my basement?
Yes maam, I said trying to be as nice as I could. The kids at
school said so.
And what else did the kids at school say? she demanded.
Well... they said your house was haunted and that youre mean,
I answered.
Did any of those kids ever tell you they had been locked up in
my basement? she asked.

No, they just said thats what you do, I answered.

Did any of them tell you that they broke one of my windows
with a rock? she asked.

I shook my head no.

Did any of the kids tell you that I caught them playing in my
garden after they had ruined most of the vegetables? she asked in
a softer voice.
I shook my head again to let her know I had never heard that before either.
Well now, you said you werent here to steal my apples, but it
had something to do with your dog?
Thats right. Freckles, my dog, heard something in the weeds,
and he started chasing it, and he wouldnt come back when I called
him. Then he started yelping, and I was afraid he was in trouble.
The old lady thought for a few seconds then said, Would you
like me to see if I can get Freckles to come back?
Would you do that? Would you really? I asked.
She nodded her head and walked into her house.

23

When she was out of sight, Andy and Angelica climbed out of my
shirt pocket. We havent deserted you, Joey, but we dont want the
lady to see us... just in case you get thrown in the basement and
need somebody to go for help, Andy said. Before Andy could say
anything else, the old lady came out of the house with a bowl of
milk.
This will get your dog to come back, she said.
Well, Freckles doesnt like milk very well, I said.
Thats alright because Im pretty sure it will make the old cat he
was chasing come back. And that way Freckles will come too, she
answered with a smile.

Sure enough, the yellow cat came sneaking over to the milk. Then,
just like she said, Freckles came running back trying to find the
cat. I think he must have been glad to see me because he jumped
up and licked my face real good.

The old lady laughed and gave Freckles a

hug. I could tell from the way she laughed
and hugged Freckles that she wasnt mean.
And when she smiled, she didnt look nearly
as old either.
I guess Andy and Angelica could tell she
wasnt mean either. So they quietly snuck out
of my pocket and headed for Artys.
Before I could leave the lady started talking about the things she
liked to do. And then she wanted to know about the things I liked
to do! We talked for a few minutes, but I knew it was time for me
to go home. After all, mom and dads first rule is dont talk to
strangers. And I wouldnt have talked at all if I hadnt already
been on her property!
That night as I was getting ready for bed, I heard the familiar tap
on my window.
I wanted to make sure you didnt get thrown in the ladys basement, Andy said.

Oh, she would never do that! I said. And

besides, were going to be good friends. And
boy, is she ever smart! You saw how she got
Freckles to come back right away.
Yeah, that was neat, Andy said as he started to leave. Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you. We
asked Arty about teaching you how to paint.
But he said he only teaches ants.
Thats O.K., I said. The lady is learning how to paint, and I
get to learn right along with her. Mom and dad said it would be O.
K. because they already know her. They even talked to her on the
phone!
Wow, Joey, if Freckles hadnt run off you would still think a
mean old lady lived in the haunted house. And you might never
have learned how to paint, Andy said in his philosophers voice.
You even have a new friend now!
As I turned off the light, I thought about my new friend and what
I had learned today. From now on I wasnt going to always believe

what the other kids say. Because people are usually

nice if you are nice, too. And I think I learned that
people are kind of like the ants that Andys mom
talked about by the time they get older, they
really know a lot; and if we pay attention they
can teach us some important things.
So remember, dont believe the other kids if
they say somebody is old and mean. If you
do, youll probably miss out on having a
new friend. And you might not learn how
to paint!

Mom

Dickter

Uncle Andrew

Parker

Angelica

Dad

Your Friend,
Andy
Andys Family (Me)

Mom

Dad

Freckles

Becky

Dwayne
Your Friend,
Joey
Joeys Family (Me)

The Adventures of Andy Ant

The Secret of the Spooky House

Copyright 1995 by Andy Ant Productions, Inc.

10951 W. Center Ave., Lakewood, CO 80226, U.S.A.
All rights reserved

Copyright for the English edition

(excluding North America)
1996 by VOCATIO PUBLISHING HOUSE
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or any portions thereof, in any form.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, magnetic, chemical, optical, manual, or otherwise, including photocopying, recording,
or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from VOCATIO.
For the permission please contact:
VOCATIO PUBLISHING HOUSE
Polnej Ry 1
02-798 Warsaw
POLAND
e-mail: ceo@vocatio.us
www.vocatio.us
Printed in Poland

ISBN 978-83-7829-072-8