The Adventure Club Page #3

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That is crazy.

Goosebumps.

And scene.

You got the key, right?

Yep.

Let's do this.

It's not working.

Maybe it's the other way around.

Let me see it.

This is a yoga membership card.

It is?

Dude, you've gotta

be kidding me!

They both look very similar.

I was in a rush.

You had one job!

Well, I guess we have

to go home now.

- Not yet.

- What?

What's that?

It's a key code descrambler

I've been working on.

Found the instructions online.

Thought it might come in handy when we're

late for school, and they lock us out.

- Does it work?

- I don't know.

Right this way, gentlemen.

Nice save, Sandy.

Curtis goes on his rounds

at the top of every hour.

Which is right...

Now.

We have to be in

and out in 30 minutes.

Psst.

So, how do we open it?

I've got an idea.

Open sesame!

What? Sometimes it's the most

obvious thing that works.

Well, there's got to be a lever,

or a switch, or something.

Well, at least we tried, right?

Let's go home.

There's definitely

something behind here.

Huh. That's pretty cool.

You're like royalty around here.

Key.

"The key to adventure

is right in front of you."

We're not going in there...

Are we?

This is the point of no return.

Well, then I guess

we'd better get going.

And how is this a good idea?

What is this thing?

I don't know.

I think it's an elevator.

Where are we going?

I don't know.

This must be my

grandpa's clubhouse.

Just like the one we have.

Do you know the combination?

It's gotta be a significant

number for your grandfather.

Do you know his birthday?

It's may 21st...

But I don't know the year.

What was it?

09, 29, 05...

My birthday.

It's just a wooden box.

That's it? A wooden box?

That's why we broke

the law this evening?

"True wishes are granted

from within."

What do you think it is?

I don't know.

We better get going.

Stealing?

We're stealing now?

Oh, great, another crime.

Hmm.

We're clear.

That was close.

There's got to be more to this.

Well, it has to be

something important.

Otherwise it wouldn't have

been hidden away like that.

And this note.

What does it mean?

I don't know...

But I know who might.

Do you think he's even here?

Of course he's here.

He's always here.

Where else would he be?

Cool.

Ozzie, you in here?

Hello?

Well. Well, well, well, well,

well, well. Well. Well. Well.

It's the adventure club

in the flesh.

Bam.

Zing.

Adventure club!

So, good to see you guys.

To what do I owe the honor of

this little visit? Can I guess?

You want to get a gift.

You need the perfect present

for the perfect person

who has perfectly everything

from this perfect store.

It is the perfect store.

This is our favorite shop.

I know.

You're my favorites.

My best customers. I mean,

people today, kids... kids!

They're so invested

in those video games.

They don't appreciate old-fashioned

knickknacks like I got here.

And smart phones,

don't get me started.

Don't. Please don't. My heart, I can't.

Dumb phones.

Dumb phones. They should

be called dummy phonies.

- Ozzie...

- Yeah.

- We need your help.

- Of course you do.

I'm all ear. Fire away.

What do you know about boxes?

What do I know about boxes?

Like what, like a toy

box, like a shoe box,

like a tack box, like a toolbox,

like a Jack-in-the-box,

like I-could-go-on-forever-box box?

I need more specifics.

What about an ancient box that

was locked away in a safe...

With this note?

That looks really old, Ricky.

Where did you get

that parchment?

Ricky?

Huh! You know what?

This could be

pertaining to a wish box.

- A wish box?

- Oh, yeah.

Bill, they are extremely,

extremely rare.

What is it?

Follow me, kids.

Wish boxes,

wish boxes, wish boxes.

I mean, kids, you know what?

I recall that they were magical devices

first used by Sumerian fortune tellers

in ancient Mesopotamia.

And I know you kids know that's where the

cradle of civilization started, right?

That's where the term "genie

in the bottle" originated.

Found it.

Come on, Ozzie, over here.

Okay, table of contents.

Oh, my gosh, 143, 143, 143, 143.

Hang on a minute.

Okay, hang on.

Ready? Here it is.

"In ancient times, magic wish boxes were

believed to Grant wishes to whomever

"was fortunate enough to find

it and lay hands upon it.

"Once you had touched the wish

box, you were given three wishes.

"These wishes were allowed by simply

writing it onto a piece of paper

"and dropping it into the box. Any

wish, no matter how outlandish.

The only catch is wishes will only

be granted to the pure of heart."

That's a bummer. I can't imagine too many

wishes being granted if that's true.

Right?

"During the time in which a person

or persons are owed their wishes,

"another party cannot use the

wish box unless the possessor

wishes the box

to be transferred."

Oh, wow. Even in ancient

times, they had legalese.

Isn't history just

so amazing, you guys?

Okay, why? What? Why? What is the

meaning of the interest in this matter?

No reason, really.

Just idle curiosity.

Hmm.

Well...

You know what?

If I ever found something

that possessed the power

of being able to Grant

three wishes,

I'm pretty certain I'd put that

box back to where I found it,

and I would turn around and run

or bike away as fast as I could.

But, why?

Because, Billy...

They're so powerful.

Wish boxes... are so powerful.

I've read about it.

I know about this.

They possess... they've turned

people's minds into crazy,

crazy, crazy greed,

and greed, and want, and want.

Oh, and there are people out there that will

stop at nothing to get their hands on one.

Thanks, Ozzie.

Peace, kids.

A magical wish box?

A magical what?

It's none of your business.

Well, I'm gonna

make it my business.

Seth, scram.

Hey, chill out, Ozzie. I was just

coming by to pick up some old comics.

Well, not until you pay for the

ones you "picked up" before.

We'll continue

this another time.

Hey, my three adventure clubbers,

remember everything I said.

Ride safe.

- Thanks, Ozzie.

- Okay.

Well, I guess we should meet up

tomorrow night to get the wish box

back into the science museum.

Sounds good.

Wait.

Wait, you guys.

We can't just give up now.

What? What about

what Ozzie said?

Ozzie is a grownup. He's being overly

cautious. You know how adults can get.

I don't know, dude.

I don't want to get in trouble.

Me neither.

But, that's the risk that every great

adventurer takes, and that's who we are.

We're not great adventurers.

We're just kids.

Do you know what happens

if we give up now?

We become just like everybody else out

there, living boring, normal lives.

One day we'll probably

end up like that.

But let's not give in just yet.

Right now, this is our one

chance to be different.

We could do

something great with it.

Like save the science museum.

We grew up going to that

place our whole lives.

It's gave us so much.

This is an opportunity

to give something back.

Besides, aren't you curious?

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