A Big Box of Memories Read online

  “Now, you all probably know by now that someone was apprehended by the police for digging a hole next to the courthouse and ruining a flower bed on public property. Well, Tim Noon was the boy on the news. However, no serious damage was done, and Tim now knows he should ask an adult before digging anywhere again.”

  “I don’t have to dig anywhere now,” said Tim. “I was trying to make more room for a bigger space capsule. I knew Molly wanted to put her diary in, and it would fit if I could dig a bigger hole. And I could get my Snoopy alarm clock in too. But now I don’t need to. The diary fits now. And my mom took my clock to be fixed so I can use it again.”

  Rat’s knees! Tim had been digging a bigger hole for her! What a kind thing to do! Molly felt tears coming to her eyes. Whenever she was happy she cried. It was so embarrassing.

  “That was a very generous motive,” said Mrs. Peters. “But even though you were being helpful, Tim, you can’t break rules and deface property.”

  “My mom is paying for the flowers,” said Tim. “And I filled in the hole already. The police made me.”

  “Well, that’s a happy end to a bad situation,” said their leader. “And now we can move on.”

  So Tim wasn’t going to jail or boys’ school! His mother wasn’t paying a thousand dollars! Molly had been worried sick again, all for nothing! When would she be able to get a grip on her wild imagination? How could she stop her mind from spinning make-believe tales? Rat’s knees, it wasn’t an easy habit to break!

  “Mrs. Peters, I have something else to say,” said Rachel. “I think Jody should get the prize for finding something for Molly to put in the capsule.”

  Then Rachel explained about the treasure hunt, and how no one had found anything suitable. But Jody definitely had come up with the right thing.

  “That’s a great idea!” said Molly.

  “I’ll give my extra video game to Jody,” said Rachel.

  “That’s really nice,” said Jody. “But I think Tim deserves the prize for trying so hard to make room for Molly’s real diary.”

  Tim looked happy when Jody said that. And of course Jody was right. Tim didn’t have a video game. Jody probably had lots and lots of them. And Tim had been very generous. Risking his life to help Molly! No one could do more than that!

  “That’s a very good idea,” said their leader. “If it’s all right with Rachel, that’s what we’ll do.”

  Rachel nodded. Tim smiled. All the other Pee Wees cheered again.

  “And now,” said Mrs. Peters, with a deep sigh, “I think we’ll wind up this emergency meeting by giving out the badges.”

  As their leader called out names, each Scout came forward to get the brand-new badge. It was a red badge with a little white time capsule embroidered on it. Underneath the capsule it said “2000.”

  Molly pinned hers to her blouse. At home her mom would sew it on her Pee Wee scarf with all the others. It was fun earning the badges, and it was fun collecting them!

  “Let’s end the meeting and then go to the time capsule ceremony,” said Mrs. Peters.

  The Pee Wees made a big circle and joined hands and sang their Pee Wee song.

  Molly held Jody’s hand on one side and Tim’s on the other. She sang more loudly than anyone else. So loudly that Sonny put his hands over his ears. But that didn’t stop her.

  Molly was happy.

  She had a new badge. And the best friends in the world.

  Rat’s knees, Molly was glad she was a Pee Wee Scout!

  Scouts are helpers, Scouts have fun,

  Pee Wee, Pee Wee Scouts!

  We sing and play when work is done,

  Pee Wee, Pee Wee Scouts!

  With a good deed here,

  And an errand there,

  Here a hand, there a hand,

  Everywhere a good hand.

  Scouts are helpers, Scouts have fun,

  Pee Wee, Pee Wee Scouts!

  We love our country

  And our home,

  Our school and neighbors too.

  As Pee Wee Scouts

  We pledge our best

  In everything we do.