Peter took it back and shook his head. “Nope. I thought that was kinda weird. Just like the one in Adventureland. Walt musta really been in a hurry. I don’t see how they could’ve stayed up there for so long and not be nailed down.” He held the canister up to his ear and copied his dad’s movement. “Sounds empty.” When he fiddled with the sealed end, it came right off in his hand.
Lance frowned at the ease with which Peter pulled off the cap. To him it had felt like it had been welded on. Must not have turned it the right way. “Yeah, that is odd. With all the renovations and additions to Fowler’s Harbor over the years, you’d think it would have been found or fallen or something. Maybe Wolf had something to do with this one.”
“I asked him, but he didn’t seem to know anything about it when he stopped by.”
“Wait, hold on a sec.” Lance put a hand on Peter’s shoulder as the boy headed for the stairs. “When did you see Wolf? I, uhm, heard he was back, but didn’t see him. Your mom did, though.”
Peter wondered at the expression on his dad’s face. It looked like Lance was trying hard not to laugh. “He popped into my room yesterday when I was working on the last clue.” Peter gave a shrug. “He didn’t even have any thunder or lightning. Just pop, and he was there. He just took the pearls and left. I think he was taking them back to Walt.”
Feeling the beginnings of a headache, Lance ran a hand over his face. “The pearls from the mermaid? How does that figure into this Hidden Mickey search?”
“It doesn’t,” Peter answered really slowly, unable to understand why his dad wasn’t keeping up. “He just told me he wanted to take them back to Walt.”
With the realization he wouldn’t be getting any more answers to his many questions, Lance sent Peter up to his room. “Go get cleaned up and then head up to the War Room to say hi to your mom. She’d like to see for herself that you’re okay.”
Always happy to get into the War Room and pretend he was a full-fledged Guardian of Walt, Peter bounded upstairs. He would work on the next clue as soon as he explored the secret hideaway a little more. Another thought hit Peter and he leaned over the oak banister. “Hey, Dad! Can we go back to the apartment tonight if I figure out the next clue?”
As much as Lance wanted to stay there himself, he shook his head. “You’ve just had four days off from school. You go back to the grind tomorrow. So, no.”
Unfazed by the negative answer, Peter just grinned as he headed into his room. If he found something really, really interesting in the capsule, he figured he could probably change his dad’s mind.
A large raven sat outside the window of Peter’s room. His body the color of midnight, his red eyes stood out like two glowing embers from a fire. Ignoring the constant barking of the frustrated Dug one story below, the bird tilted his head as he watched the boy. Ever patient, he stood at his post while Peter finished his homework and, finally, finally, pulled the canister’s endcap off. As the yellowed paper was held in his hands, the raven leaned in closer, his beak accidently tapping the window. He froze when the boy looked in his direction, only to relax when Peter appeared to show no interest. When the boy’s attention returned to the paper, the bird maintained his position. It had taken a couple of days, but, once the boy gave the awaited cry of discovery, the raven could finally take to flight. Before he got too far, though, he made a swooping dive at the frantic dog, pulling a long, golden hair from her tail. With a victorious, “Caw!,” he took to the open sky once more, disappearing from sight as he flew straight to Disneyland.
“I’m wishing you would figure out this clue. If you get grumpy, you will find your way to your heart’s desire.
“Now it is time for you to bring me my heart’s desire. The third and last clue is: Its gold is more brilliant than the sun.
“Do not fail me.”
“That has to be it. It has to be Snow White’s Wishing Well.” Peter leaned back from the computer screen and let out a long sigh. It had taken him three days to figure out this latest clue. “Hmph, I have no idea what Walt’s heart’s desire is. Wonder why he keeps saying that in all the clues. Doesn’t make any sense. How can I bring Walt something?”
Peter glanced over at his bedroom window. The pesky bird that had been irritating Dug was finally gone. “I need to text Catie. She’s probably still working on it.”
Hey, I figured it out. Snow White Well. You think that’s right?
Catie’s text came back within ten minutes. !!!!Sounds perfect!!!! Wishing is song at the Well. What about grumpy part????
Not sure. Figure it out when we get there. Can you go Sat?
Have to ask. Text back later!!!!! So excited!!!!!! J
Peter silently wondered if a phone could be worn out by using the exclamation point too much. “Oh, I’d better ask Mom and Dad, too. Forgot to tell them.” After glancing at the clock, he turned to rush from his room. “Ooh, dinner time. I’m starved.” At the door, though, he paused and made a wry face. “Dad’s turn to cook tonight.” He hurried back to his desk and quickly ate a granola bar from his hidden stash. “Better safe than sorry.”
Flashback — Disneyland — 1961
“Wishing has long been a favorite subject of mine. Wishes have come true for many of the characters in my motion pictures… and for me, too. A wish is really the first step in the realization of a dream or goal. Down through the ages, people have used different symbols to wish for things. Sometimes they looked at the stars, and other times the symbol was something else—very often wishing wells. This international club is known throughout the world. Its work—helping needy children—is carried out through many charities in many lands. So here at Disneyland, where we have visitors from all over the world, this Disneyland-International Club Wishing Well is dedicated to youngsters everywhere. When you throw your coins into this wishing well, just remember that wishes made here at this well will really come true… for the children of the world.”
On the east side of Sleeping Beauty Castle, surrounded by children from twenty-five nations, Walt finished his speech to dedicate the lovely new addition to Fantasyland. Behind them was a beautiful wooded glen where the Little Princess, Snow White, stood at the top of a rocky waterfall. Next to her, also made out of white Carrara marble, was a deer. The seven dwarves and other woodland animals were spread out over three levels, while happy fish and frogs spurted water high into the air from the pond at the bottom.
As coins were being tossed into the golden-spired well, the guests were reminded by the words painted onto the well that “Your wishes will help….children everywhere.” The children who participated in the ceremony and the sponsors were dismissed and they quickly dispersed to spend the rest of the day in the Magic Kingdom.
Left alone with John, Walt looked up at Snow White, a contented smile set on his face. “You did well, John. Nobody guessed that the Little Princess was the same size as the dwarves! Forced perspective did its job on Main Street, here at the Castle, and now in this grotto.”
John just nodded. It was a beautiful little spot in the Park. And, as the years passed and the trees and plants grew and filled in, it would become even lovelier. Just as his boss knew from the beginning. “It’s odd that all we know about the statues is that the artist is Leonida Parma and they were fashioned after a set of bath soaps. Just wish we knew who sent them to you.”
Walt dug into his pocket and then tossed another coin into the well. “Maybe now your wish will come true.”
John gave a laugh as Walt turned to go. “Where you off to, Walt?”
“Back behind the Jungle Cruise. Those four electric runabouts are scheduled to start running on Main Street in two days and I want to check them out.”
“You just want to drive them around first.”
There was a twinkle in Walt’s eye as he gave a broad smile. “Well, I have to make sure everything is well tested for our guests.”
“Right. Have fun.”
“Always, John, always.”
Disneyland – Current Day
>
“Hey, Peter, do you know how many wishing wells are in Disneyland?”
“You mean besides this one and the one at Minnie’s house in ToonTown?”
Catie made a face. “I can never pull one over on you! You’re too smart.”
“Did you know when the song was added to the Wishing Well?”
“Oh, I thought it was here from the beginning. When was it added, Peter?”
“Way back in 1984. I didn’t know it ran all the time until your mom told us.”
Both Peter and Catie leaned over the rim of the wishing well to look for anything obvious. The coins that littered the bottom were protected by an elaborate, scrolled grillwork. Peter tried to look into the blue shingled, peaked roof, up past the brown lintel, but it was boarded over. There was no capsule and no good place to hide one.
“I don’t see anything. There isn’t anything carved into the well or the wood, either. Maybe it’s something else in this area. What do you think, Catie?”
Catie was looking over at the Grotto and smiling. This is such a romantic spot. She knew that some couples come here to get engaged. Peter’s voice broke into the little, private fantasy running through her mind. “What did you say?”
“Why do you look all mushy?”
A blush crept up the girl’s neck. “I’m not mushy! I…I just like this place, that’s all.”
Peter shrugged at her discomfort. “Whatever. I just wondered if you had any ideas on where we might look next.”
“Can I see the clue? I’d like to read it myself.”
“Oh, I left it at home with the others. Didn’t think we’d need it. Sorry. It just said something like if we got grumpy we would find our way.”
“Well, I could get grumpy, but I don’t think that would help.” The joke helped Catie get over her embarrassment of getting caught daydreaming about Peter. Good thing he can’t read my mind.
“We could go ride Snow White again. I kinda think it means the dwarf Grumpy. He’s in the ride a couple of times.” Peter pointed toward the side entrance to Fantasyland. The walkway came out near the exit of the Castle’s Sleeping Beauty Walkthrough. Snow White’s Scary Adventure would be on the opposite side of the courtyard, just across from Peter Pan.
Catie didn’t agree. “We rode it three times already. The ride was, like, totally redone when Fantasyland was remodeled. There were so many changes, how could a clue inside still be there? It has to be something else.”
“Then, where else is Grumpy in the Park?” Peter folded his arms as he challenged her.
Catie tilted her head at him with a ‘you’re kidding, right?’ look on her face, and pointed over her shoulder. “You mean, besides that one?”
Grumpy was indeed in the Grotto. On the first level below Snow White, there was an arched stone bridge. On the far side to the right were Doc and a friendly squirrel. In middle was Sleepy. On the left side, nestled next to the rocky wall, was Grumpy looking, well, grumpy with his arms folded over his marble chest.
Peter walked to the edge of the walkway over the stream that flowed from the fountain to the Castle Moat. He studied the statues for a minute and broke out in a wide grin. “Notice something different about Grumpy?”
“Does he look happy?”
“He never looks happy. No, notice what’s behind him?”
Catie looked at Grumpy and then at the other figures. “There’s an opening behind him. It looks like the entrance to the dwarfs’ diamond mine.”
Peter suddenly became all excited. “I doubt that goes to a diamond mine, but it looks like it does head toward the Castle.” He lowered his voice when a young couple stopped next to the kids to take a few pictures. Almost jumping up and down, he could barely contain himself until the couple slowly wandered off toward Main Street. “Look over here, Catie!” as he grabbed the girl’s arm. Hauling her toward the Castle, they ran alongside the gray metal fence topped with leafy scrollwork that blocked them from the greenery. He stopped in front of four stone steps that led up to a door built into the side of the Castle. The steps were closed off by a simple metal chain draped cross the entrance. “Look down there. There’s a little drop from the cement to the dirt, but then there’s a series of flat rocks that lead over to the Grotto.” He had to stop talking again when a family came out of the Castle and went toward the Wishing Well. Whispering, he resumed his line of reasoning. “I know I can make it over to where Grumpy is. Maybe I can squeeze in behind him to see what’s inside that tunnel. I’ll bet that’s where the next clue is.”
Catie wasn’t sure. “Nobody is supposed to go in there, Peter. You know that. It has to mean something else. Besides, how are you going to get in there without being seen?” She waved an arm at the large group of people posing in front of the Grotto. “There are people here all the time. They even bring out the Evil Queen for autographs and pictures next to the Well. Then there’s even more people!”
Peter grimaced. Now that he was on a scent, he didn’t want to stop or be told no. “You’re right about all the people. I don’t know why this place is so popular. Why are you making that face at me?”
“Never mind. You wouldn’t get it.” Boys. Sheesh.
Girls. Sheesh. “Well, I still think I’m right. And I’m still going to go inside and check it out. Do you want to come with me?”
“No! There might be spiders.”
Peter shrugged as he looked at all the trees and bushes around the Grotto. “More than likely. I don’t mind. But, if you don’t want to go, you can just stay around here. You still have your walkie-talkie?”
“Yeah, it’s in my purse. How are you going to get in there and not be seen?”
Hands on his hips, Peter studied the area. “I don’t know yet. It’s going to be dark soon. Maybe that will help. Are there fireworks tonight?”
Catie pulled out the Park’s daily schedule she had picked up when they came in. “Yes, at 9:30. But, Peter, they close off the Castle during the fireworks. You won’t be able to get anywhere near here.”
“Let’s go have dinner at the Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue. I think I have a plan.” Peter patted the master key to Disneyland that was hidden in his pants pocket as they headed across Main Street and entered the Frontierland entrance.
Not aware that he had a key that opened every door in the Park, Catie wasn’t too worried. She just knew that Peter wouldn’t be able to get past all the ropes and cast members who blocked off the Castle to sneak into the Grotto.
Seated in the front of the Hub, the crowd around her watching the brilliant show overhead, Catie started to worry. Eyes glued to the Grotto barely visible at the side of the Castle, she strained to see Peter, but was too far away. Once, when the green lasers bit through the sky over her, she thought she saw a blur of black against the grey stone. The shadow moved too fast and then was gone. During a lull in the booming noise, she held the walkie-talkie to her ear and pressed the call button. “Peter? Can you hear me? Peter!”
The radio crackled. “Cat….hear….dark.”
“What? Say that again? Oh, shoot.”
The fireworks and lasers merged in an incredible display. “Oohs” and “Aahs” were heard all around her. The music soared over the loudspeakers and images danced across the face of the Castle to vanish for a moment and then continue on the nearby Matterhorn Mountain.
As soon as the next break came, she hit the button again. “Peter? Are you all right? I couldn’t hear you.”
“Fine…almost…”
“Almost what?” The girl shouted into her radio, much to the annoyance of the people sitting next to her. “Sorry,” she mumbled as they glared at her. The radio was put in her lap as she waited out the rest of the show. The minutes ticked by until the grand finale filled the sky with bursts of color and smoke.
As the lights came back on, the crowd around her surged to their feet, most of them headed toward the exit, happy at the end of another day. Catie, though, anxiously watched the cast members for that moment when they retracted all the ro
pes and barriers and opened the Castle once more. Immediately she headed for the Grotto, now, thankfully, empty of other guests. When she noticed the Grumpy figure was slightly turned, she quickly hit the button in a frantic attempt to call Peter once again.
But, all she heard was static coming from the other end.
Peter was gone.
Disneyland – Current Day
Surrounded by darkness, moving slowly forward on his hands and knees, Peter held the flashlight tightly in his mouth. At every step, his backpack scraped against the ceiling. The weak beam of light indicated he should have checked the batteries before leaving the house earlier that day. One hand would occasionally wander a couple of inches to the right or to the left to check the closeness of the dirt wall. During a momentarily lapse in concentration, he wondered how he would explain the dirty stains on his jeans to his mom.
The tunnel seemed to close in on him the further he got from the small entrance. Not usually claustrophobic, the boy’s anxiety level worked its way higher as he crawled around every twist and turn. The loud, booming sounds of the fireworks show were long muffled and silent. All sense of time had slowly ebbed away until he couldn’t have said if he had been in the tunnel for five minutes or five hours. Even his lifeline to Catie—the walkie-talkie—had gone silent.
As he thought about the location of the Grotto, he wondered exactly where he would come out. Originally he figured it would be inside the Castle. Now, with the many turns, he thought he might come out near the restrooms built into the Castle wall across from the Matterhorn and just before the Alice in Wonderland ride. There was a tall hill back there, covered in trees and bushes. That would be a let-down.
When his words echoed back to him, he realized he had spoken aloud, the words mumbled around the ineffective flashlight. With a nervous laugh, Peter added that he might as well have brought Catie if anyone was going to be scared.
HIDDEN MICKEY ADVENTURES 4 Page 17
