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May 27, 2025 20 mins

Marie, JJ, and Christian have a huge secret. The clues are fragmented, though, and the trio struggles to decipher the meaning. They desperately need a little help but have nowhere to turn.

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Previously on Adventures on Alway Island, Marie was
devastated when the mysterious paper that she took from the
restricted section of the library went missing after she
left it in the pocket of her hoodie.
However, luck was on her side. Her hoodie was found and with
her friends Christian and JJ by her side, the race to discover

(00:24):
the secrets of the paper was on.Welcome to adventures on our Way
Island. Chapter 1 The Mysterious Paper

(00:44):
Part Three With the key card in hand, Marie, JJ, and Christian
hurried up the library stairs tothe green Collaboration room,
eager to uncover the mystery behind the strange paper she had
found. Marie was practically vibrating
with anticipation. What secrets would it reveal?

(01:05):
Where would it lead them? As soon as the group was
esconced in the privacy of the collaboration room, Marie took
out the old piece of paper and gently unfolded it, spreading it
on the table in front of everyone.
Three curious faces peered down.The paper contained strange
markings lightly drawn in pencil.

(01:28):
A circle, a cloud, some dashed lines, some numbers, a rather
large X, and an arrow with an N above it.
Marie's curiosity kicked into OverDrive.
What exactly were they looking at?
Whoa. Christian gasped.

(01:48):
What does it all mean? I don't know, JJ replied
breathlessly, staring unblinkingly at the paper as if
willing the document to explain itself.
Christian frowned. Random shapes and lines and
numbers. He muttered skeptically.
Maybe this is just some kids homework from a long time ago.

(02:11):
Maybe. JJ conceded, though the doubtful
tone of her voice implied otherwise.
If that were true, it would be ahuge disappointment.
After a long pause, Marie spoke.I think it's a map, She
whispered softly. A map?
Christian repeated disbelievingly.

(02:33):
How could it be a map? It's just some random pictures
and numbers. It doesn't look anything like
the map on my phone. This paper is old, Marie said
resolutely. It must be from a time when maps
were not on a phone, so it makessense that it looks different.
Meanwhile, JJ had been studying the paper intently.

(02:56):
Look. She chimed in.
I think this is a map. That arrow with the N above it
means that direction is north. But if it's a map, what's it a
map of? Christian asked, glancing
between his two friends. Marie sighed.
No idea. The lack of words on the map

(03:19):
made it hard to pinpoint the location, and the drawings
didn't seem to match someplace familiar on Awe Island.
Marie cast her gaze towards JJ. It could be anywhere.
She concluded. Don't look at me.
JJ deflected. We need to ask someone, How
about Sal? She suggested.

(03:41):
No, Marie said firmly. Sal's not working today.
Besides, we can't show it to anyone who knows us, or they
might tell our parents or ask where we got it.
I don't want to get into troublefor stealing something from the
rare book section. Silence hung in the air, filling
the space with uncertainty. Abruptly, Marie slapped her open

(04:06):
palm on the table, causing her friends to jump.
What? Christian blurted in surprise.
We need to look at a map of Awe Island.
Marie declared. Then we can compare it to this
map and see if anything matches,if it really is a map and if it

(04:26):
really is a location here on theisland.
Christian retorted. He raised a skeptical eyebrow
for emphasis. It has to be, it just has to.
Marie sighed wistfully. Nothing as exciting as finding
this paper had ever happened to her before.
She felt like she was the detective in her very own

(04:49):
mystery novel, and she wasn't about to fail her first
assignment. Marie stood up, determined.
She carefully refolded the paperalong the original crease lines
and tucked it safely back into her pocket.
Come on, let's find a map. With that, the group exited the

(05:11):
collaboration room, rushed back to the first floor, and headed
straight to the information desk.
The same reference librarian whohad helped them sign out the
collaboration room earlier was still tending the desk.
Despite his distinctive appearance, there was something
that felt vaguely familiar abouthim, even though Marie was sure

(05:35):
she had never seen the man in the library before today.
Can we please see a map of Awe Island?
Marie asked, his eyebrows raisedand his face lit up with a big
smile. Yes, we have an amazing
interactive map of the whole island online.
He noted then with an unwaveringgaze at Marie.

(05:59):
Locking his eyes on hers, he asked.
Is there a particular location you especially want to see?
Marie felt the hairs on the backof her neck go up and she
inadvertently shivered. It felt like this man knew what
they were up to. But that was impossible, Marie

(06:19):
told herself. It took a significant effort for
her to look away. The three friends exchanged an
uncertain look. Well.
Marie hesitated thoughtfully before she had an idea.
Is there any location with a bigcircle on it?
She asked hopefully, looking to JJ and Christian for their

(06:41):
reassurance. A big circle?
A big circle? The librarian mused.
Come follow me, He said as he led them over to a computer
terminal. He sat down and with a few
clicks brought up the interactive map.

(07:01):
I don't know where a big circle might be offhand, but you can
zoom out and scan around to lookfor one.
He suggested. If you can't find what you need,
I'll help you look. The old man said again, looking
at Marie. Then he winked right at her.

(07:22):
She gasped in surprise. OK, thanks.
She mumbled, before quickly turning her gaze towards the
computer screen. How she really had the feeling
that somehow that man knew more about what they were up to than
he led on. But that's impossible, she told
herself again. Get it together, Detective

(07:46):
Duguay, she told herself. JJ sat down at the terminal, and
Marie and Christian pulled up chairs.
Marie tried to shake off that suspicious feeling, putting her
full attention on the interactive map.
Over the next hour, the front scanned all over the map of the
island, zooming in and out, searching especially for a large

(08:11):
circular spot on the map. There weren't many things that
could be so distinctive. First they guessed the circle
must be in town, but they had noluck finding one there.
Then they checked the animal sanctuary and the beach and
outlying areas like the airport.They couldn't find any location

(08:34):
that had a large circle. Told you it wasn't a map?
Christian whispered dejectedly. At least not a map of anything
on Outweigh Island. Marie felt deflated too.
This detective work was not as easy as they made it seem in her
mystery novels. The group decided to go back to

(08:55):
the collaboration space so they could talk more freely.
Hello AAWE Islanders, did you know we have a companion
podcast? If you're enjoying adventures on

(09:16):
AAWE Island, you might also loveour original podcast, Be Calm on
AAWE 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,

(09:36):
relax, and join us for a cozy story time.
You can find Be Calm on Awe Island wherever you get your
podcasts. Once inside the collaboration
room, the trio opened the paper again and stared at it, studying

(09:57):
each element more carefully. There's also this big rectangle
that is much bigger than the circle, Christian noted.
Maybe if we find that, we will find the circle, he mused
uncertainly. Maybe.
Marie's voice trailed off. There were so many buildings on

(10:18):
our Way Island that were rectangular.
It would be like trying to find one particular Firefly in a sea
of fireflies. She tapped on the table
thoughtfully, racking her brain.Suddenly, an unexpected idea
popped into Marie's mind, inspiring her to make a
suggestion. I think we should show the paper

(10:41):
to the reference librarian. He might recognize what it is a
map of, truth be told. She wasn't sure why the thought
came to her, but once it did, she felt confident the old man
could help them. Christian frowned in confusion.
But you said you didn't want to show anyone?

(11:03):
He protested. I know, but he doesn't know us.
I've never seen him here before,so he won't tell our parents.
And he's older, like my grandpa's age.
Marie explained. Maybe he will recognize what
this is a map of and where it is.
Marie's friends looked at her wide eyed, clearly surprised

(11:27):
that she was suggesting showing someone the map after she had
been so certain they should keepit a secret.
Silence hung in the air for a moment.
I just feel like he might be able to tell us something.
Marie stated a little less confidently.
She silently willed her friends not to press her on the matter

(11:50):
because she had no idea why she felt so certain.
It was simply that, a feeling. After a moment, JJ nodded.
Agreed. She said firmly.
If you say so. Christian conceded.
Relieved, Marie pocketed the mapand the group headed back to the

(12:10):
first floor to the reference desk once more.
Excuse me? Marie greeted softly.
The reference librarian looked up from the workstation, a warm
smile once more spreading on hiswrinkled, leathery face.
Marie gulped. It was now or never.
We have a drawing that we think is a map of somewhere on the

(12:33):
island, but we can't figure out where it is.
Would you mind taking a look to see if you recognize it?
Marie asked hopefully, eyes fixed on the man as she awaited
his answer. The man's smile broadened.
I love maps, I'd be happy to take a look.
He replied. Marie breathed a sigh of relief

(12:57):
as she took out the paper and unfolded it on the counter.
As the man looked down at the map, the three kids stared
expectantly at his face, hoping for any sign of recognition.
My, my, he muttered. This is a bit Spartan, shall we
say, for a map. I can see why you're not sure

(13:19):
where it is, He muttered to himself some more, as if trying
to work something out. Marie held her breath, heart
pounding in anticipation. If the reference librarian
wasn't sure what this was a map of, she had no idea who else to
ask. She silently willed the man to
have a stroke of insight. Oh.

(13:42):
He whispered with a sudden wilt in his voice.
Oh yes indeed. He said a little louder.
Indeed. What?
JJ cried, unable to control her excitement.
I know where this is. The man stated with certainty.
It has been a long time since itlooked this way, but I'm quite

(14:03):
confident this is. He paused, staring down once
more at the map as if to confirmwhat he was about to say.
The kids all stared at him in anticipatory agony.
Where could it be? Hope and excitement etched their
faces. It's this library.
The man concluded deftly, wearing a pleasant smile.

(14:28):
He looked up to see dubious expressions on the kids as they
stared at him. Oh, you don't recognize it
because this is how things looked before they did the
renovation 10 years ago, he explained.
See this? He tapped the paper in the
center of the circle. There used to be a big fountain

(14:53):
that was on the east side of thebuilding.
That's the circle. Then he pointed at the large
rectangle. And this big rectangle is the
library before they did the addition, he noted.
And this The librarian pointed to the thing that looked like a
cloud on the West side of the map.

(15:16):
This has to be the old oak tree that everyone used to sit under
in the warm weather. It became diseased and died
shortly before they started the renovation.
Marie, JJ, and Christian were stunned.
Here they looked far and wide tofigure out the map, and the

(15:36):
location was right under their feet.
To Marie, it all seemed to make sense.
Then finding the folded paper inthe library wasn't just a
coincidence. The map was hidden at the
library because it was an overhead view of the library
grounds at the time it was drawn.

(15:58):
Someone had drawn this map of the library long ago, before the
renovations, before the oak treedied, and they'd hidden it in a
book called The Secret Spot. But why would they do that?
Marie wondered. It was yet another mystery.
This was getting exciting. Thank you for your help.

(16:22):
Marie said breathlessly as she went to fold up the map.
Hang on. JJ whispered.
She took out her smartphone and snapped a picture of the map.
OK, now you can put it away. Marie grinned at JJ, impressed
with her friends. Quick thinking, she folded the
map and slipped it back into herpocket.

(16:45):
Goodbye. The old reference librarian said
as the trio turned to leave. The man's craggly voice followed
them. I'll see you again if you need
me again. The hairs on the back of Marie's
neck tingled. What did that mean?
He would see them again if they needed him.

(17:07):
But there was no time to ponder.Her friends were already moving
towards the front door of the library, so she hurried after
them. Moments later, the three dashed
outside, squinting in the suddenly bright sunlight.
JJ pulled out her phone, grinning.
Now we can look at the picture of the map instead of worrying

(17:28):
about losing or damaging the real map or having anyone see it
and ask us about where we got it.
JJ explained. Brilliant.
Marie said, giving her friend a fist bump of appreciation as
they studied the map on JJ's smartphone.
JJ pointed to the east side of the library, which was closest

(17:50):
to the street where the circle was on the map.
There was now a planting of wildflowers.
That must be where the fountain was.
She stated thoughtfully, then pointing to the West side where
the addition to the original building now stood.
She added. And over there, that's probably

(18:11):
where the oak tree used to be. For the longest time, the kids
just stood there, looking from one side of the building to the
other. Marie tried to imagine how
different it must have looked when this map was drawn.
After a while, Christian clearedhis throat.
Now what? He asked, looking uncertainly at

(18:34):
his friends. I mean, what do we do?
Marie's eyes twinkled. Detective Duguay was ready to
lead the team into solving the mystery of the map.
We follow the dashes to the X, she asserted confidently.
That's how the sleuths do it in the mystery novels, she

(18:55):
explained. Just then, a voice called out
from the pickup area. Hi kids.
J JS father, Mr. Young was waving from the driver's seat of
his car. Oh no, I have to go.
JJ cried, disappointment dripping in her voice.
I told your parents I'd drop both of you off at your homes.

(19:18):
Mr. Young said to Marie and Christian.
Marie looked at her two best friends with a resigned sigh.
We'll follow the map tomorrow then.
She asked them. Tomorrow.
They repeated as they hopped into Mr. Young's car.
As the car drove away, Marie's heart buzzed and she fidgeted in

(19:41):
anticipation. She couldn't shake the feeling
that the mystery was just beginning.
The mysterious paper appears to be a map of the library grounds.
Will Marie and her friends find the treasure they're looking
for? Find out when the adventure

(20:01):
continues in our next episode ofAdventures on Awe Island.
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