high-pitched giggle.
Dunkum closed the backyard gate. He ran as fast as he could to his house next door. He thought about the time capsule. He wished it were at his house.
His dad was sitting on the front steps. He looked up from his newspaper. âAre you hungry?â
âSure am,â said Dunkum.
His dad put the newspaper away.
âWere you doing todayâs crossword puzzle?â asked Dunkum.
His dad nodded. âYou know me well.â He stuck the pencil above his ear. âYour momâs cooking hot dogs. Letâs go eat.â
Dunkum dashed up the steps.
âWhoa, just a minute.â His dad hadspotted the muddy clothes and shoes. Hands too. âWhere have you been?â
âUh, just digging,â Dunkum admitted.
âIn mud? Better go wash up.â His dad pointed to the garden hose.
Dunkum clumped to the side of the house. This was the second time today.
When he went inside for lunch, his mom frowned. âWhy must you play in the mud?â
âDonât be hard on him, dear,â Dunkumâs dad said. âI did the same thing when I was a kid.â
âIâll go change my clothes,â Dunkum offered.
âPlease donât track mud!â his mom called.
âIâll be careful,â Dunkum said, tiptoeing downstairs.
He headed for the washroom. Dirty clothes were piled up. Saturday was not their wash day.
Finally, Dunkum was cleaned up. Heheaded back to the kitchen. The table was set. The hot dogs and baked beans smelled great.
His mom asked about the muddy mess. But Dunkum didnât tell much about the mystery. Or the time capsule.
His parents were grown-ups. Theyâd forgotten what it was like to be a kid. Dunkum was sure of it!
ELEVEN
After lunch, Dunkumâs dad returned to his newspaper. Word puzzles were one of his favorite hobbies.
Dunkumâs favorites were shooting hoops and digging in the mud.
Today basketball came in second. Dunkum had something else to do. He wanted to see the time capsule again.
And he had an idea. A great idea!
Dunkum hurried around to the Huntersâ backyard.
The time capsule was still there.
Abby, Shawn, and Carly Hunter had just finished lunch. They were outside looking in the chest. They pulled out many objects, looking and talking.
âWe need to have another meeting,â Dunkum said.
âOh, hi, Dunkum.â Abby turned around. âWhatâs the meeting about?â
âAbout that.â Dunkum pointed to the chest. âLetâs make an exhibit.â
âYou mean like a museum or something?â Abby asked.
âSure, why not?â
âShould we charge money?â Abby asked.
Dunkum walked over to the chest. âYes. We could use the money for something special. For our club.â
Jimmy was counting the rock collection in Korean.
Carly was trying on the pretty watch.
âThis stuff is ancient history,â saidDunkum. âItâs twenty years old, at least.â
Abby nodded. âI see what you mean.â
âWhen the rest of the kids come back, weâll decide,â he said.
Abby grinned. âItâs an excellent idea.â
Dunkum leaned over and pulled out the old Sherlock Holmes book. âI still canât believe this was in here.â
Abby asked, âHow did you know about Mysteries Are Marvelous Day?â
Dunkum told her about his grandmaâs holiday book. âIt has all kinds of special days listed.â
âLike what?â Abby asked.
âOh, letâs see.â Dunkum thought for a second. âThereâs the birthday of basketball.â
âYouâre kidding.â
âNope.â
âWhen is it?â Abby asked.
âJanuary fifteenth,â Dunkum replied happily. âBack in the year 1892.â
âWow,â she said. âWhat else?â
âChildrenâs Day is May fifth,â he said. âItâs a national holiday in Korea and Japan. In honor of all