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July 8, 2025 19 mins

The next riddle is revealed, bringing even more uncertainty, especially when Marie tells JJ and Christian that Sophos no longer works at the library. Now it feels like they have nobody to turn to…or do they?

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Previously on Adventures on Awe Island, still not speaking to JJ
and Christian after their disagreement, Marie hit major
roadblocks as she tried to solvethe Riddle.
She was shocked to learn that Saphos had quit working at the
library and the book she wanted to borrow had been taken out by

(00:21):
someone else. Luckily, she remembered where
she'd seen another dragon that resembled the figurine that was
part of the buried treasure. To her amazement, she discovered
that both Dragons also had the same strange symbol on them.

(00:43):
Welcome to adventures on Awe Island.
Chapter 3 X Marks the Spot. Part 3 When Marie met up with JJ
and Christian the next day at lunch, she started by repeating

(01:05):
her apology. I'm sorry for not listening, she
said. I was just worried that you were
right. What if this mystery is
unsolvable? Especially since we don't even
know what the actual problem is or who was asking for help?
Then she paused, giving her friends the space to talk just

(01:26):
like her dad had suggested. I'm sorry too.
JJ said, looking her friend in the eyes.
I didn't mean to give up so quickly.
I was just really frustrated that we had so little
information and I was scared it was already too late to find any
answers. In his usual style, Kristen

(01:47):
summed things up well. We still don't know who was
asking for help or what the problem was, and maybe we are
too late, but whoever buried thetreasure put a lot of work into
hiding the riddles and things, knowing they might not be found
for a long time. So I say we keep trying.

(02:08):
We could still solve this. I hope so.
Marie said. She paused a moment.
She wanted to ask about the library book, but did not want
to sound accusatory. After all, JJ didn't know that
she had intended to borrow the same book.
So you checked out the secret spot?

(02:29):
Marie asked carefully, keeping her tone friendly.
Yes. JJ replied.
When we found another Riddle in the treasure and still didn't
have any answers, I thought maybe the book would have more
clues to help us out since that's where you found the map.
Help us out? Marie repeated J JS words with a

(02:51):
smile. Does that mean we're in this
together again? JJ grinned back at her friend.
Yeah, we're in this together. She said, holding her thumb out
in a thumbs up. Marie mirrored the gesture, glad
their fight was over and nothingmore needed to be said.

(03:12):
Christian watched the girls for a second, then raised his thumb
too and held it out towards theirs.
Their three thumbs met in the center.
Relief bubbled in Marie's chest as she pressed her thumb in with
theirs, and suddenly all three of them burst out laughing.
It was as if their argument hadn't happened at all.

(03:37):
So you found another Riddle? Marie asked, unable to contain
her curiosity. Yes.
JJ said breathlessly. At first I thought there was
nothing there when I flipped through the book, she explained.
Then I found this. She took the book out of her
book bag and carefully slid off the dust cover.

(03:58):
On the inside, written small andfaintly in pencil, in the same
handwriting as before, was another Riddle.
The symbol is the key. You need the thing to find the
thing. To see where to find it, you may
ask, observe and think. That's the task.
The oldest on this island. Home.

(04:20):
That's the place for you to roam.
There you'll find the gift that's best for you to continue
on your quest. The symbol?
Kristen said. The Riddle from the buried
treasure mentioned that too. Do you think it's the symbol
from the treasure bag? The hairs on the back of Marie's

(04:40):
neck prickled. She had a strong suspicion that
was exactly the case. It has to be that weird logo.
Safos had it on his handkerchiefand his ring, and I found it on
the linen bag holding the treasure.
And. Marie paused for dramatic

(05:01):
effect, reaching into her backpack.
It's on both of these, too. Marie drew out the metal dragon
figurine and the small dragon stuffy.
Turning the stuffed dragon over,she showed them the logo
stitched on its bottom. Then she flipped the figurine,
revealing the tiny etched symbolon its underside.

(05:24):
Whoa. JJ exclaimed, taking the dragon
stuffy from Marie. Where'd you get this?
The lost and found at the library.
Marie stated. She explained how she'd seen it
when she'd gone to get her lost hoodie the other week and how
the metal dragon figurine had looked strangely familiar, but

(05:46):
she couldn't place where she'd seen something similar until she
remembered the dragon stuffy at the library.
Just then the bell sounded. Lunch period was over.
JJ quickly put the dust cover back on the book and tucked it
into her book bag as Marie returned both Dragons to hers.

(06:07):
There's more. Marie said hurriedly as they got
up from the lunch table. Want to get ice cream after
school? She asked.
JJ and Christian both agreed, and the three friends parted
ways to go to their classes. After school, the trio walked to
Amado's ice cream. Along the way, they talked about
the symbol and what it could possibly mean.

(06:30):
Marie still felt it looked like a sun on top of butterfly with
some extra swooping lines. How do you know it's a sun or a
butterfly even? JJ said.
Marie shook her head. I don't, I have no idea.
She acquiesced. Could be a four leaf Clover.
Christian suggested. It could.

(06:53):
Marie said with a sigh. If it is, I hope it gives us a
lucky break soon. They arrived at Amato's,
immediately greeted by the intoxicating scent of waffle
cones, toasting, and melted chocolate.
As they stepped inside, Marie's attention went immediately to
the end of the glass case where the speciality flavor was, and

(07:16):
her mouth watered as she saw what she'd been hoping for.
Creamy vanilla swirled with crumbly cinnamon streusel and
those bright red mystery berries.
When it was their turn at the counter, they greeted Madame
Amato, who smiled warmly at them.
Back so soon? She said with a chuckle. 1 scoop

(07:38):
of vanilla visi Berry crumble ina cup, please.
Marie said cheerfully, already anticipating the sweet tart
bursts of the visi berries. I had a feeling you might like
more of this, Madam Amato said to Marie as she scooped A
generous ball of the decadent ice cream into a cup as JJ and
Christian ordered theirs. Marie brought a spoonful to her

(08:02):
mouth. It was just as delicious as
she'd remembered. This flavor stayed.
It might just replace peanut butter cookie dough as her
favorite. After paying, the three friends
headed out front to one of the white patio tables to eat and
talk some more. As they sat, Christian suggested

(08:24):
they ask Saphos about the symbolsince it had been on his
handkerchief and ring. It was then that Marie shared
the news that Saphos had quit working at the library.
Oh no, Christian groaned. He has to know something.
How are we supposed to ask him now?

(08:44):
Maybe we'll see him at the park again?
JJ suggested. It was a good point, but Marie
wasn't so sure that would happen.
Saphos always seemed to appear on his own time, whether they
were looking for him or not. Still, as she sat eating the
vanilla visiberry crumble ice cream, Marie's determination

(09:06):
grew steadier than ever. True, it was frustrating that
Saphos was gone from the library, but deep down she was
confident they could solve the mystery.
Anyway, they still had the latest Riddle to follow.
Let's re examine the third Riddle.
Murray said, changing the subject.

(09:27):
Maybe we can pick up on more clues in it.
Between bites of ice cream, JJ took out the book and read the
third Riddle out loud to see if they could glean any further
information from it that would guide them on what to do next.
She stopped when she reached thelines.
The oldest on this island home. That's the place for you to

(09:50):
roam. Oldest what?
JJ wondered aloud. A building, maybe, and we'll
find another symbol there. Christian set down his ice
cream. That makes sense, he said.
The Riddle says the symbol is the key we need to find, and
it's got to be somewhere at least 25 years old.

(10:14):
What building though? He glanced towards the ice cream
shop thoughtfully. Hey, maybe Madam Amato knows
she's been here forever. Great idea.
Marie agreed. Madam Amato had lived on Ahwe
Island so long she felt like everyone's adopted grandmother.

(10:35):
If anyone knew the island's history, it was her.
As if on cue, the door to the shop jingled open and the kindly
old woman stepped outside to tidy up the tables.
Madam Amato? Marie called gently to grab her
attention. Yes, dear.

(10:56):
The woman said, turning to the trio.
What is the oldest building on Away Island?
Marie asked. The oldest building, Madam Amato
repeated. Hmm, may I sit with you for a
moment while I think? Yes, please do.
Marie replied eagerly. Madam Amato pulled out a chair

(11:20):
and sat beside them, consideringthe question.
The oldest buildings on Away Island were the original
library, Arc pavilion, civic building, my shop, and a few
early houses, she said. Marie's mind raced through that
information, unsure what to makeof it.

(11:43):
Nothing jumped out particularly.They'd already spent a lot of
time at the library and the park, and she figured they would
have noticed if they'd seen the symbols somewhere on one of the
other places. Marie let out a heavy sigh.
What's wrong, dear Madam? Amato asked, reaching out her
hand on the table and resting itnear Marie's in a gesture of

(12:08):
comfort. Marie hesitated to answer.
They had been so protective of this mystery up until now.
It was their secret. But with Saphos gone, they
needed help from someone else. Someone who really knew the
island. Someone to give them a nudge in

(12:28):
the right direction. Her eyes darted between Kristen
and JJ, silently asking for permission to share.
Kristen gave a tiny shrug. JJ looked uncertain, but after a
second, she nodded. Marie took a deep breath.
We've been working on something.She admitted carefully.

(12:51):
It started when I found a paper hidden in a book at the library.
Madame Amato raised her eyebrowsbut didn't interrupt.
Marie found that as soon as she started telling the tale, the
whole story came tumbling out like a bursting dam.
How they discovered the paper was a map, How Safos had helped

(13:14):
them find the buried treasure. How he had continued helping
them, but now he'd quit his job at the library and seemingly
disappeared just as Jay. Jay found yet another Riddle
that like the second Riddle, also mentioned a symbol that
Marie wanted to ask Saphos about.

(13:36):
Saphos had a symbol on his handkerchief and his ring and it
stitched on the linen bag the buried treasure was in.
And it's on these two Dragons. Marie explained as she took out
the two Dragons from her backpack and showed Madam Amato
these and pointed out the symbol.

(13:56):
So we think it is the symbol theriddles are talking about.
As Madame Amato examined the Dragons, Marie stole a glance at
JJ and Christian who both lookedshocked that she was divulging
every bit of their secret adventure.
She mouthed the sheepish sorry to her friends before turning

(14:18):
back to Madame Amato. The riddles are so vague.
Marie added, her voice low with frustration.
We have no idea what to do next.When all was said, a long
silence settled over the table. Madam Amato looked from Marie to
Christian to JJ, then back at Marie.

(14:42):
Her expression was hard to read.Was it shocked?
Perhaps resigned, Perhaps uncertain, perhaps she said
nothing for a very long time. Her gaze drifted down to her
wrinkled work worn hands as she clasped them together and

(15:04):
kneaded them a bit. A few times she opened her mouth
as if she were about to speak and closed it again.
Marie, JJ and Christian exchanged uneasy looks as they
waited. At last, Madame Amato spoke.
Safos and I go way back, she said, her voice trailing off,

(15:30):
eyes distant with memory. Marie leaned in, eagerly,
waiting for Madame Amato to continue.
You know Safos, she whispered, hoping the kind old woman would
share more with some gentle prodding.
I do. Madame Amato said softly.

(15:52):
Her voice suddenly sounded much older and weaker than usual.
There was still warmth in her voice, but something heavier
too. She looked up at the trio once
more. And I can help you, She added.
They stared at her in stunned silence.

(16:13):
Nobody moved for the longest time.
The moment was broken, however, when Madam Amato abruptly stood
up, energy returning to her voice.
But I need to get back to work right now.
Can you come back tomorrow morning at 9:00 before the shop
opens? We can talk more than.

(16:35):
She headed into the ice cream shop without looking back or
waiting for an answer. After she was gone, Marie, JJ,
and Christian looked at each other.
Christian raised his eyebrows pointedly and spoke first.
I don't know about you 2, but I definitely will be back here at

(16:56):
9:00 AM tomorrow. Me too.
JJ added. Besides, I have to return the
library's book. I'll be here.
Marie agreed. With their ice cream finished,
they decided to head home. The friends walked in silence,
each deep in thought. Marie half expected them to ask

(17:20):
why she had told all their secrets to Madame Amato, but no
one said a word. She didn't know how she would
explain it anyway. As they'd eaten their ice cream,
she'd just abruptly had a feeling like Madame Amato was a
safe person who might be able tohelp them.

(17:41):
They reached Marie's house first, since it was closest to
the library. See you tomorrow.
Marie said, waving as she headedinside.
JJ and Christian continued down the street toward their homes.
Marie closed the front door behind her, taking a moment to
process all that had happened. Adam Amato knew Safos, and she

(18:07):
was willing to help. Thank goodness tomorrow would be
Saturday. Marie had no doubt she would be
wide awake tonight thinking about what Madame Amato might
reveal to them. One thing was certain, she'd be
back at Amato's at 9:00 AM on the dot.

(18:30):
Marie, JJ and Christian can't wait to talk to Madame Amato and
find out what she knows about Saphos and how she can help them
solve the riddles. What will she reveal to them?
Find out when the adventure continues in our next episode of
Adventures on Awe Island. Thanks for listening to

(18:58):
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