CHAPTER 4

All the Ghouls Are Going!

Across the room, Cleo and Deuce were putting down their lunch trays with Draculaura. Frankie hurried over to them. “Ooh! Hey, Cleo!” she called out. “Is it true? You’re going to Boo York! I would give my right arm to go to Boo York!” With that, her right arm actually did fall off, and Frankie caught it before it hit the floor. She reattached it. “Oops!”

Cleo didn’t even notice. She had just realized something. “Well,” she said slowly. “You know, Frankie… my dad did say I could bring a friend… or two.”

Draculaura gasped. “I’m a friend or two!”

“Oh, Cleo,” sighed Clawdeen, sitting down at the table. “I have to go to Boo York. The fashion scene there is to die for.”

Operetta, daughter of the Phantom of the Opera, popped up behind Cleo. “I hear that in Boo York they play music on every street corner.” She smiled at her friend. “You know… just sayin’.”

“Boo York?” said Catty, sitting down with the ghouls. “Maybe that’s where I’ll find my music.”

Cleo threw up her hands, her gold bangles jingling. “Okay, okay, I have decided.”

All the ghouls froze in anticipation. Who would get to go? Who was Cleo going to pick? As Cleo looked from one ghoul to another, her heavily-lined eyes narrowed. “The ghoul going to Boo York,” she announced at last, “is… ALL OF YOU!”

The Creepateria was filled with thrilled cheers and squeals of excitement.

“I have to pack!”

“What should I bring?”

“Boo York, here we come!”

Deuce scratched his head. “Are you sure about this?” he asked Cleo. “Your dad said only a friend or two.”

“Hey, I can handle Daddy. Look at them!” replied Cleo breezily. “They love me! I’m Cleo de Nile, and I’ve got to give the people what they want.”

Catty looked down at the scribbles for songs in the notebook in front of her. “They say that whatever you’re looking for, you can find it in Boo York!”

All the ghouls sighed, picturing the skyscrapers and bright lights of the famous city. Clawdeen was imagining the fashion shows and the models and the runways she was going to see. Draculaura wanted to visit all the tourist sites—from the Monster of Liberty to Times Scare. Operetta could already hear the music from violinists on the subways to Bloodway stars belting out show tunes.

“You can find it all in Boo York,” murmured Catty. “You can find what you are looking for.” She thought of her wish on the comet. Was love waiting for her in Boo York? Was her voice there to be found? Maybe, just maybe it was.

Cleo clapped her hands, reminding everyone who was making this trip possible. Not only would she bring her boyfriend but she’d bring her ghoulfriends too.

“You are all invited; come with me now. I’ll take you to the greatest city unearthed!”

Everyone cheered. They were going to Boo York, together!