previously on Adventures on Ahway Island.
Marie found a curious piece of paper tucked into an old book in the restricted section of the library and she took it without telling anyone.
Eager to examine it further, she secretly hoped the paper would hold the key to something special.
Welcome to Adventures on Awe Island.
Chapter 1.
The Mysterious Paper.
Part 2.
Emerging from the depths of the library, Marie and her father headed back upstairs, clicking off the fluorescent lights before closing the door to the restricted section behind them.
All the while, Marie's mind was on the secret paper hidden in the pocket of her hoodie.
She couldn't wait to look at it further and see if the faint pencil lines said anything.
She felt like it just had to be important.
Why else would someone go to the trouble of hiding the paper in such a safe and secret place?
"'Oh, I forgot.
I need one more book,' Mr. Duguay stated as he abruptly stopped in his own tracks.
"'It might take me a little while to find the right one,' he finished.
Marie shoved her hands back in the pocket of her hoodie and caressed the folded paper again."
Usually she loved hanging out in the library, but right now she just wanted to get home so she could examine the note more thoroughly in private, where nobody else could see it and ask her about it.
I'll meet you at the information desk in oh, let's say, 30 minutes, Mr Duguay suggested with a twinkle in his eye.
Okay, Dad, Marie replied with a disappointed sigh.
She'd have to wait a little longer to look at the paper again.
To distract herself from thinking about it, she headed off to one of her favorite sections in the library Kids How To.
This was a special section curated by the Junior Librarians Club.
Books in this section were recommended by kids 12 and under, and all the books were about how to do something the recommender enjoyed.
From these books, Marie had learned all sorts of wonderful things, like how to make bead jewelry and how to draw cartoon animals and how to make a diorama.
On this occasion, a book titled Mini Magic Tricks to Fool Friends and Family caught her interest.
She selected the book and sat down at one of the tables to peruse the book.
The upstairs of the library was much warmer than the rare books section and absentmindedly, Marie took off her hoodie and draped it over the back of the chair she was sitting in.
Before long she was engrossed in the magic book in a chapter on disappearing ink.
Deep and creative thought, Marie was imagining all the ways she could use disappearing ink.
When her smartwatch vibrated, she glanced down.
There was a message from her dad.
Ready, the message said.
Marie realized it was well past the 30 minute meetup time.
She jumped up, grabbed the magic book and raced to meet her dad at the information desk.
Sal was busy organizing some new books that had just arrived while chatting with Marie's dad.
Thanks, Sal, Mr. Duguay said.
We turned off the lights and closed the door.
I'm going to borrow this book.
He handed Sal the book.
Instead of scanning it out the same way, regular library books are borrowed, Sal noted the title and manually typed the information into the computer.
Then they opened a drawer and took out a bright red bookmark.
After stamping the due date on the bookmark, Sal inserted it into the book, then took an extra thick clear plastic bag and slid the book inside.
Printed on the plastic were the words, out of print book, handle with care.
Marie had never seen a book treated with such care, and she watched the whole process with interest.
Sal handed the bag to Mr. Duguay.
This cannot be returned in the book drop.
It needs to come back to this desk so it doesn't get damaged or lost amongst the regular books.
Sal said.
Will do, Mr. Duguay agreed.
Thanks again and have a great day.
You're welcome, Sal replied.
Happy reading.
Next, Marie and her dad stopped at the front desk and checked out the regular library books.
They had also selected.
As Marie exited the library with her dad and the duo began their walk home, the soon-to-be 10-year-old animatedly told her dad about the disappearing ink chapter in the magic book.
She rattled off all the ideas she had about what she could do with the magic trick.
Marie was so caught up in the excitement of the magic trick that she didn't give her hoodie a thought on the way home.
The afternoon sunlight kept her plenty warm, so the missing sweatshirt never crossed her mind.
As soon as they got home, it was time to begin making dinner.
Marie's mom, Mrs. Duguay, was a hospitalist, and she usually arrived home around 7.
Father and daughter wanted to have dinner ready when she got home.
Knowing Mrs Duguay would be especially appreciative of the effort after her 12-hour shift at the hospital.
As she helped prepare spaghetti and homemade marinara sauce with her dad, Marie continued to imagine all the possibilities of what she could do with disappearing ink.
By the time Mrs. Duguay arrived home, the house was full of the aroma of garlic and basil.
The family sat down to dinner, as they often did, and shared stories about their day.
Marie excitedly told her mom about the out-of-print and rare books room at the library.
And there was a kids' section, Mom Marie added with the same incredulity she felt when she first discovered it.
Some of the books had funny titles and, oh my gosh, Marie shouted abruptly, cutting herself off mid-sentence.
Both parents looked concerned.
What?
Mr. and Mrs. Duguay asked at the same time.
Oh no, oh no, Marie jumped up from the chair.
I left my hoodie at the library, she cried in a panic.
A dozen worst-case scenarios flooded Marie's mind.
What if someone took her hoodie and she never got to see what the old folded paper said?
What if someone turned the hoodie in and the librarian found the folded paper and realized it was stolen?
Marie darted to the front door and began slipping on her shoes.
"'I have to go get it,' she said with great urgency.
She took a halting gulp of air and added, "'Please,' as she looked towards her parents."
Her mom glanced at her watch.
It's after six o'clock, sweetheart.
The library closes at six on Friday nights.
Don't worry.
We'll go first thing in the morning and pick up your hoodie.
I'm sure the cleaners will put it in the lost and found.
Marie fought the urge to give in to her panic.
Her mom was right.
The cleaners would find the hoodie and place it in the lost and found where it would be waiting for her in the morning.
The thought was reassuring, but it only made her feel a little better.
She still worried someone would look in the pocket of the hoodie and find the paper.
If that happened, she'd be accused of stealing and the paper would get taken away and she'd never get the chance to figure out what was on it.
The evening seemed to drag on forever as Marie counted the minutes.
Patience was not her strong suit.
Once the clock read 8 p.m., she told her parents she was getting on her PJs and going to bed.
Going to read more of your book?
Mr. Duguay asked, giving his daughter an understanding smile.
Marie nodded and then charged upstairs.
She brushed her teeth, donned her PJs and dove under the covers of her bed before propping herself up in a partially upright position with two squishy pillows.
Having the magic book certainly helped pass the time, and sometime in the middle of Chapter 3 Marie fell asleep reading lights still on.
The next morning Marie was up early, dressed and eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast when her parents came downstairs around 730.
It's Saturday.
You're allowed to sleep in, Mrs. Duguay teased with a laugh.
I know, Marie said, grinning, but I want to get the paper, I mean my hoodie, as soon as possible.
She breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she'd corrected herself before she'd accidentally mentioned the folded paper that she was really interested in.
Marie wasn't sure why she didn't want to tell her parents about it.
Usually, she told them everything.
But this paper, this mysterious old paper, felt special.
Hello, Awe Islanders.
Did you know we have a companion podcast?
If you're enjoying adventures on Awe Island, you might also love our original podcast, Be Calm on Awe Island.
It's filled with gentle bedtime stories and calming meditations, perfect for winding down after a day of adventure.
Take a deep dragon breath, relax, and join us for a cozy story time.
You can find Be Calm on Awe Island, wherever you get your podcasts.
When the library opened at 9 a.m. sharp, Marie and her mom were waiting at the door.
Marie rushed in heart pounding, in nervous anticipation, and went right to the table where she'd left her hoodie draped over the back of the chair.
It wasn't there.
Her heart skipped a beat.
The cleaners must have found it and put it in the lost and found.
It's not here, Marie told her mother pointedly, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.
I'm going to go to the desk and see if it was turned in.
Without waiting to hear her mom's response, Marie darted off to the information desk.
Sal was there and greeted Marie with a smile as soon as they made eye contact.
Noting the little girl's concerned expression, Sal immediately asked, "'What's up?'
"'I left my hoodie here last night,' Marie blurted out automatically.
"'It's dark blue and it has sparkly stars on the back.'
Sal ducked under the desk and pulled out the storage bin that held all the lost and found items.
Inside was a plain gray sweatshirt, a small pink pencil case, a few pairs of sunglasses and a tiny stuffy that looked like a dragon.
"'I'm sorry, Marie.
It's not here,' Sal said gently." crestfallen, Marie muttered, thanks, and she turned away from the desk.
The mysterious paper and her favorite hoodie were gone.
Who could possibly have it?
Would they find the paper that Marie was so very curious to examine?
The rest of the weekend disappeared in a blur of weekend goings-on.
Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house, shopping at the grocery store, preparing sack lunches for the week ahead, cleaning her room.
Throughout it all, the question of the missing hoodie lingered in the back of Marie's mind.
The distraction of Monday morning school was a relief.
Marie still hadn't told her parents about the mysterious paper.
And now that it was gone, she saw no need to say anything.
But she did want to tell her two best friends.
She just needed to share her disappointment with somebody.
And share she did.
At recess, Marie found her friends, Christian Bowski and Jules Young, who went by the nickname JJ.
She told JJ and Christian every bit of the story, from the first moments in the out-of-print and rare books section to the mysterious old folded piece of paper falling out of the secret spot book.
When she'd finally finished, JJ let out a dramatic sigh.
Gosh.
Now I want to know what was on that paper too.
She said, having hung onto every word of Marie's story with rapt attention.
Christian had also listened intently.
But when Marie looked to her friend's face for their sympathy, Christian didn't look upset or worried at all.
In fact, he was smiling broadly.
"'Why are you smiling?'
Marie asked him in disbelief.
Irritation laced the words almost like an accusation.
There had been nothing to smile about in her story, as far as she was concerned."
Well, Christian said with a dramatic flourish.
He paused for a moment, eyes twinkling, then opened his bag and pulled out Marie's hoodie.
Marie's jaw dropped.
You had my hoodie this whole time?
Marie said in utter shock.
She gave her friend a dubious look.
Why didn't you tell me sooner?
You started talking as soon as we met up.
You didn't give me a chance, and I didn't want to interrupt you, Christian stated matter-of-factly.
Besides, I forgot I even had it until you mentioned it in your story.
I was at the library Friday night and I saw it on the chair, so I grabbed it to give to you.
He tossed the hoodie into Marie's arms.
Any trace of irritation Marie felt melted away.
She hugged the soft spun cotton to herself a wash and relief that felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her heart.
She had her special hoodie.
And that meant she had the mysterious paper back too, she hoped.
Without another word, she slid her hand into the deep pocket and smiled broadly.
The second her hand closed around the piece of folded paper.
Immediately, she started to pull it out to show her friends, but JJ stopped her.
Not here, JJ hissed.
We don't want someone to see it.
Let's go to the library after school and look at it in one of the collaboration rooms.
The other two nodded solemnly, exchanging knowing looks with one another.
A collaboration room at the library was ideal because it was soundproof, so they could talk confidentially.
Plus, it would have a brightly lit table where they could examine the folded paper without damaging it.
The recess bell rang and Marie smiled slyly to herself.
She and her friends had a shared secret and a mystery to uncover together.
It was quite exhilarating.
Now they just had to wait for school to be done for that day.
As is fickle about time, the more you want it to pass quickly, the slower it goes.
And so the afternoon seemed to drip by at an ant's pace for Marie.
When the last bell finally rang, she dashed out of the classroom and to her locker where she packed her book bag.
Then she raced to the spot outside the school where she always met JJ and Christian.
They were both waiting for her.
Without a word, the group set off for the library at a fast walk.
It was only a few blocks away, and soon they were tramping through the entrance door.
They headed straight to the information desk.
Sal was not there.
Instead, there was an eccentric-looking old man whom Marie had never seen before.
He was short and barrel-chested, with wispy white hair, watery blue eyes and a pocked, round-tipped nose.
He was wearing a neatly pressed suit that looked like it had been made many years ago, replete with a white handkerchief embroidered with a strange design.
It gave an old-world vibe.
We'd like to use one of the collaboration rooms, please, Marie said to the unfamiliar librarian.
He smiled at the trio warmly.
Library cards, please.
He replied.
One by one.
The three friends produced their library cards.
The attendant scanned them, then handed jj a key card for the green collaboration room that was on the second floor.
As they climbed the stairs, marie slipped one hand back into her pocket, tracing her finger along the crisp edge of the folded paper.
She was so close to uncovering its secrets.
Grinning with excitement, Marie glanced at JJ and Christian.
Whatever mystery lay ahead, she was glad they would unravel it together.
What's the location of the cryptic map?
A mysterious stranger just might have the clue.
Find out when the adventure continues in our next episode of Adventures on Awe Island.
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