“It looks like you’re taking our clay,” Mr. Ross said. He pointed to the clock on the wall. “Shouldn’t you get back to class? It’s almost time for recess.”
Leo dropped his things on the ground. His stomach flip-flopped. Oh no! They were going to be late! Leo picked up his things and raced back to class.
In the downstairs hall, Leo saw Nadia drinking at the fountain. Leo walked up to her. “Did you finish your map yet?” Leo asked Nadia.
“Don’t you mean our map?” replied Nadia.
“No, I decided to make my own,” said Leo.
“Leo!” a voice boomed from the classroom.
Leo turned to see Mr. Chang standing in the doorway. He did not look happy. “Where were you?”
Leo pointed to the pylon by the washroom. “I had to go upstairs,” he said.
“But there is no washroom pass on your desk.”
Then Eli came skipping down the hall. “Oh, hi, Mr. Chang. Look. I got us some clay!”
“Come inside,” Mr. Chang said. “You have been late too many times. I hope things go better on the field trip…”
Leo’s heart jumped a beat. “It’s not my fault!”
But Mr. Chang had already gone back into the classroom.
How was Leo ever going to earn the responsibility award now?
Chapter Six
Over the next two weeks, Leo practiced getting to school on time every day. When recess was over, he was always the first in line when Mr. Chang came to take the students inside. “I’m front of the line again, Mr. Chang!” Leo would say.
But Mr. Chang was usually too busy helping Eli and Larry back into line to notice Leo.
Soon it was the day of the field trip.
Leo’s alarm clock went off early. He bolted out of bed and raced into his parents’ room. “It’s the day of the field trip, Mom! You know, the one with the maps? I’m going to be responsible. Can I bring my special compass watch? It’s great for mapping.”
Leo’s mom and dad grumbled in bed. “What time is it?”
“Five thirty in the morning! Hey, guess what? I brushed my teeth.”
Leo’s mom rubbed her eyes. “But your alarm clock doesn’t go off for another hour.”
“I set it for earlier today. See how responsible I’m being?” He beamed.
“That’s great,” Leo’s dad said. “Why don’t you go and get a bowl of cereal?”
Leo nodded. “Great idea!”
He ran out of the room.
Five minutes later there was a knock on Leo’s parents’ bedroom door.
“What is it?”
“Here you go!” Leo said. “I brought you breakfast in bed.” He thrust two bowls of honey-coated Sugar-O’s in front of their faces.
Leo smiled. Today, he was the king of responsibility!
* * *
Leo made sure he got to school extra early.
His mother pulled up to the front of the school in her car. She stared out the window. There was nobody on the playground. There were only a few cars in the parking lot.
She looked at Leo. “Are you sure you need to be here this early?”
Leo nodded. “I don’t want to be late for the field trip.”
“But I don’t even see your teacher here yet.”
Then a car pulled into the parking lot. Leo watched as Mr. Chang got out of it.
“There he is!” Leo said, pointing to him.
Leo’s mom sighed. “You have a good day. Be safe!”
“I know. I will!”
Leo jumped out of the car and ran toward Mr. Chang.
Mr. Chang was carrying a stack of schoolbooks and had a big bag slung over his shoulder. He didn’t look fully awake yet. Mr. Chang tripped on a rock and dropped all of the books.
Leo sprang into action. He started helping him pick up the books.
It took Mr. Chang a second to notice what was going on.
“Leo? What are you doing here?”
“Being responsible,” Leo said with a big, big smile.
Mr. Chang watched Leo pick up all of the books and stack them into a neat pile.
He took the books from Leo and gave him a long look. “Thank you, Leo. You have been very helpful lately.”
“Thanks, Mr. Chang. I have been trying my best.”
“I know that I have been busy with the other students. But I just want you to know how proud I am of how hard you are trying.”
This made Leo’s smile grow so big it filled his face.
“Do you need any more help?” Leo asked.
Mr. Chang looked past Leo. A few kids had arrived at the playground. “Is that Eli over there? It looks like he needs a buddy to play with. Why don’t you play with him while I get things ready for the trip?”
“Sure thing, Mr. Chang!”
Leo couldn’t believe it. Mr. Chang knew how hard he was trying. Leo couldn’t wait to use his compass watch on the trip today. He could almost taste that responsibility award! And it tasted good!
Chapter Seven
Leo was so happy, he was even okay when Mr. Chang sat him on the bus next to Larry. He did not mind when Larry took the window seat and drew his name on the frosted windowpane.
Instead, Leo looked at his compass watch. An arrow on it turned as the bus moved. “What’s that?” Larry asked.
“My compass watch,” Leo said. “See that arrow? It always points to the north. So when I use it, I never get lost.”
Larry shook his head. “But can you play video games on it?”
Leo shrugged.
Larry showed Leo his watch. There was a large screen with a video game on it. “Check it out. I’m on level twelve!”
Finally, the bus rolled to a stop at a bumpy parking spot. The doors opened and all the kids piled out.
Leo looked around. They were in the middle of a large forest. A sea of pine trees towered over them. An old cabin stood at the end of the parking lot. The door to the cabin opened. A tall man with a red beard came out. He wore a cowboy hat and a bandanna. He also had a shiny watch on his wrist.
Larry pointed to the man. “Look at his watch! It’s just like yours. No video games or anything! And check out his hat. It’s supercool.”
“I’m glad you like it,” the man in the hat said. “It’s my lucky cowboy hat. I used to be a cowboy, you know.”
Then the man in the cowboy hat pulled out a whistle and blew it hard. Everybody stopped and stared at him. The man waved to the kids. “Hi, I’m Mr. Taylor. Today, you will all put your mapping skills to good use.” Mr. Taylor gave the students maps of the forest.
Leo took the map. He could see all of the trail markings on it. There were red flags on the map that told you where not to go, and green flags that told you where it was safe. There were also some Xs.
Larry scratched his head. “What do those Xs mean?”
Eli came bumping up to Leo and Larry. “It’s a treasure map, guys. X always marks the spot. But why are there so many of them? There must be tons of treasure!”
The class started to walk down one of the trails. “No, Eli. This is not a treasure map. See that red flag?” Leo said.
Eli nodded. “The red flags are where other pirates didn’t find treasure.”
Leo shook his head. He pointed to a tree ahead. There was a red flag hanging from a high branch. “No, that means you can’t go off the path here.”
Eli shrugged. “But then how do we find the treasure?”
“It’s not a treasure map, Eli.”
Leo walked away from Eli. He followed the rest of the class down a trail to a clearing. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Chang stopped the class.
“What are we doing now?” Leo asked.
“Now that you have seen the trail, you will explore it by yourself. Mr. Taylor and I will keep an eye on you. When you hear the whistle, come back to the clearing.”
“Okay,” Leo said. He started to wander off, but Mr. Chang stopped him.
“No, you need to stay with your group.”
“Group?�
� Leo said.
“Yes. I’ve put you with Eli and Nadia.”
Leo stopped in his tracks. He turned around. Eli and Nadia were waiting.
“Shiver me timbers, let’s go find that treasure!” Eli said.
Leo groaned. This was going to be a problem.
Chapter Eight
It did not take long for Eli and Nadia to wander far away from the rest of the class and deeper into the thick woods. Leo kept looking from the map to his group. “Wait!” he said. “You took a wrong turn. Look for the green flags!”
“Green flags? Those are there to distract us from the treasure,” Eli said.
“The red flags are prettier,” Nadia said.
“No, no, no,” Leo warned. “You are wandering too far away. Can’t you see it on the map?”
“What map?” Nadia asked.
“The one Mr. Taylor gave us.”
“The treasure map, yes.”
Leo shook his head. He was supposed to show Mr. Chang how he could win that responsibility award.
Then Leo heard a loud whistle.
“Great,” Leo said. “That’s the signal from Mr. Taylor. We have to head back now.”
“No,” Eli said. “I’m going to find us the treasure. We’re so close. I can feel it.”
“Eli, pirates sailed boats. We are in a forest, and there is no water.”
“We’ll see about that. Come on, Nadia!”
Eli marched off the path and even deeper into the woods.
Nadia looked at Leo and shrugged. “Let’s get him before he gets lost,” she said.
Nadia followed Eli off the trail. Then Leo saw the red flag on a tree nearby. “But we’re not supposed to go there!”
Leo heard the whistle blow again in the distance. And again. He could hear voices. “Leo! Nadia! Eli!” It was Mr. Chang. He sounded worried.
Leo stood there. He didn’t know what to do. If he went after Nadia and Eli, they would be late getting back. And they would probably get into trouble. If he went back alone, he could say they had run off without him. He wouldn’t be late, and it would not be his fault.
He heard Mr. Chang’s whistle. He took a few steps back toward the clearing.
Then he stopped.
Eli and Nadia were not good with maps. It was not safe.
The whistle kept blowing.
Leo pulled out his compass watch. He looked at the needle. He knew how to get back on the trail. It was time to rescue Eli and Nadia.
He marched into the thick bushes. There were thorns that scratched at his jacket. Leo pulled his collar up so he would stay safe.
“Eli? Nadia? Where are you?”
“Oh no!” a voice called out.
Leo heard screaming and crying. He ran after the sound. Were they hurt?
“Are you okay?” Leo asked.
Leo pushed some branches aside and stopped.
Eli was standing in a mud puddle that went up to his ankles. Eli pulled his feet out, looked down at his shoes and wiped his eyes. “Look at these shoes. My mom is going to be so mad. Who would put treasure in a swamp?!”
“I don’t think the Xs meant treasure,” Nadia said.
Behind him, Leo could hear the whistle.
“Let’s get him back, Nadia,” Leo said. Together they helped Eli out of the mud. The three of them walked through the forest. It seemed bigger and darker than before.
Nadia looked around. Leo could tell she was scared. “I don’t even know where we are anymore. These trees all look the same.”
“Are we lost?” Eli said.
Leo looked at the map. He looked at his compass watch. He shook his head. “Don’t worry. I know the way.”
Leo led the group back through the forest. The sound of the whistle and Mr. Chang’s voice got louder.
Soon Leo pushed the trees aside. There was the trail! He stepped back onto it.
“Leo!”
Leo turned. Mr. Chang was there. So was Mr. Taylor. So was the rest of the class.
In the crowd of people, Larry shook his head. “Wow, Leo! You are in big trouble now!”
Chapter Nine
Mr. Chang let out a big sigh. “What were you doing off the trail? We looked everywhere for you.”
Leo gulped. “But…I was only trying to help…”
Then Nadia stepped forward. “He did help, Mr. Chang. In fact, he saved us.”
“He did?” Mr. Chang asked.
Nadia nodded. “Eli went looking for buried treasure. I followed him. All we found were mud puddles.”
Eli looked down at his shoes. “That may have happened.”
Nadia went on. “If Leo hadn’t come to get us, we would still be stuck in the mud.”
Mr. Taylor and Mr. Chang looked at each other. Then they turned to Leo. “How did you know how to get back on the trail?” Mr. Taylor asked.
“Remember my compass watch?” Leo smiled. He held it up. “The needle always points north. I always know where to go when I use it.”
Mr. Taylor took off his cowboy hat and put it on Leo’s head. “Leo, you showed courage and responsibility. You get to wear the cowboy hat for the rest of the day.”
The hat fell over Leo’s eyes. “I do?”
“Yee-haw! You’re the hero!”
Everybody cheered for Leo. They didn’t stop cheering, even on the long bus ride back to school. Larry even let Leo take the window seat.
Leo had never smiled so hard.
By the time the bus pulled back into the school parking lot, it was almost time for the kids to go home.
Mr. Chang stood up before they could all get off the bus. “Hold up a minute,” he said. “I have an important announcement to make.”
Leo’s classmates looked at each other. What was it?
Mr. Chang dug into the small knapsack beside him. “I’d like to announce the winner of our classroom responsibility award. He showed great responsibility not just today, but many, many days before.” Then Mr. Chang pulled out the award.
All of the students leaned forward to see whose name was on it.
“Three cheers for Leo!” Mr. Chang said.
Everybody on the bus cheered. They cheered so loud that the students in school looked out the windows to see what was going on.
“Leo won the award!” Nadia screamed to her sister in the seventh grade.
Mr. Chang handed the award to Leo. “Thank you, Leo.”
“Thank you, Mr. Chang.” Then Leo smiled. “Mr. Chang, I have an idea. But it’s a secret.”
Mr. Chang leaned in close. Leo told him.
Mr. Chang nodded and smiled. “Yes, I think we should do that tomorrow.”
“Do what tomorrow?” Larry asked.
Leo grinned. “You’ll see.”
Chapter Ten
Leo couldn’t wait to show everyone the surprise. He had to keep it a secret, even when Larry and Eli walked up to him before class. “Tell us, Leo.”
Leo shook his head. “You’ll have to wait.”
Then the bell rang. Leo went to the front of the line to meet Mr. Chang.
The class walked into the school, down the hall and to their room.
“Look at that!” Nadia said.
Taped to the door was a huge piece of brown paper with the words TREASURE HUNT written on it.
Mr. Chang dug into his pocket. He pulled something out and put it on his head. Then he turned around and growled, “Arrrr, mateys!” He was wearing an eye patch.
“No way,” Eli said.
“Yes way,” said Leo. Then Leo opened the door and went into the room. He came out with a big stack of papers. He handed them to the rest of the students.
“Today we are going on a real treasure hunt,” he said. “I made a map of the whole school. It’s your job to find the treasure. Use the green flags to help you find your way.” He pointed to a green flag that was on the wall in the hallway. “It’s just like our trip from yesterday.”
“Oh no,” Eli groaned. “There better not be any mud puddles. I just got my shoe
s clean.”
Leo laughed.
“Don’t worry,” Mr. Chang said. “There’s no mud. But you can find the treasure if you find the X on the map.”
“That’s right,” Leo agreed. He held up his copy of the map. “Because this time, X marks the spot!”
Leo watched as the rest of his class began hunting for the treasure. Eli and Nadia teamed up together. So did Larry and Justin. Everybody worked really hard to find it.
Of course, Leo knew what the treasure was. It was shiny and golden. It was Mr. Chang’s next class award. This time, the whole class was working together to find it.
“Now that,” Mr. Chang said softly to Leo, “is the real treasure.”
Jeff Szpirglas and Danielle Saint-Onge are married, live together in Toronto, Ontario, and teach in classrooms with students of diverse cultural backgrounds. Jeff has written several books and enjoys writing scary novels like Evil Eye and Dentures of Doom. Danielle has a master’s degree in social anthropology and is a crusader for equity in the classroom. Besides teaching, they spend their time writing stories and taking care of their twin toddlers.
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