Robert signaled with his index finger for the other two spies to lean in closer so he could whisper. “When that little booger and his brother show up tonight they’ll be in for a big surprise, I tell ya. A very BIG surprise.” The half-wit spies enjoyed a good laugh around the table over Robert’s statement, who then continued, “Okay, gents, let’s go tell the Cap’n the good news.”
The three Thorns stood up from the table and walked to a nearby dream dot that was typically hidden from everyday guests. They set coordinates on their wrist band devices for Plank’s liar and vanished.
Chapter Five
Evening settled upon the Magic Kingdom with a soft orange glow. The Zastawits family had just finished up with desert at the Plaza Restaurant. All bellies were full, though evil was lurking near by.
Captain Reginald Plank, Segment One commander of the Thorns, was sitting at a table on the far end of the restaurant with his two most trusted spies. His forearms rested upon the table, as he stared with his one good eye—concealed by mirrored sunglasses, at the chosen outsider. All three men were cleverly disguised as common park guests thanks to the signature Thorn belt buckle masking device they all wore, though most of the time the buckles were concealed by untucked shirts. The only noticeable detail that truly separated Thorns from common guests were the wrist bands they wore. Unlike a colorful Magic band, their bands were made of brushed metal and featured a thick round face with blue LED coordinates—used to jump from one dream dot to another within WONDER, and around its outer ridge—more commonly known as the Disney World properties.
“You mates have the crew in place?” Plank asked his spies in a soft, gravely voice—his one good eye still focused on the outsider.
“You bet ya Cap’n,” Jolly, the spy with the Donald Duck teeshirt, replied.
“Yeah Cap’n, we gots three of our best mates all set and ready inside the shop, just wait’n for the little fella and his brother ta show up,” the other spy added.
“Very good,” Plank replied. “Once those two medaling kids get their stink’n little hands on the watch, you tell our boys to grab ‘em. Understood?”
“Yes Cap’n, understood. We’ll take care of them little brats for ya.
“And the watch too?, you blither’n idiots,” Plank snarled back, as he kept his eye on Charlie.
“Oh, yeah-yeah, yes sir. And the watch as well. We’ll be make’n double sure we gets that too, Cap’n. Don’t you be worrying about that,” Jolly replied.
“I’ll stop worrying when the watch is sitting in me hands mateys, you get what I’m saying to ya?” Plank said, his hands opened up in a ready-to-receive position on top of the table.
“We hears ya loud and good Cap’n,” Jolly answered back.
“Yeah, loud and good”, the other spy, Smith, added.
“Now that’s what I likes to hear mates. Cause if ya don’t come through for your cap’n, well, then I might have ta have ya walks the plank and keep me twin tiger sharks company. They’re always ready to eat, ya know.” The captain grumbled, then broke into a fit of sarcastic laughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Z had gone inside Uptown Jewelers to browse, while the boys still remained outside on Main Street near the corner entrance. Charlie had told his mother he wanted to take a few photos of Main Street before going into the jewelers, which bought him and his brother an extra bit of time outside—just long enough to pull out Merlin’s magic looking glass and search for what he’d come for. The secret message concealed within the letters of the Uptown Jewelers sign. He held the magic looking glass up towards the sign, then pushed the button on the handle. The glass began to spin—faster and faster, it’s frame glowed brilliant green as the spinning glass Charlie was looking through turned the letters on the sign into blurred streaks of white, aqua and golden light. Quickly, Charlie scanned the letters on the sign for hidden words. Just as the first word “Up” appeared, he felt a tap on the shoulder! Frantically, he turned around—almost dropping the magic looking glass, which immediately snapped to a halt and dimmed.
“Excuse me young man, can you tell me where I could get one of those light toys for my daughter?” a well rounded lady dressed in Disney apparel, complete with Minnie ears, asked.
Charlie momentarily found it hard to focus on her question, as he was distracted by the buttery popcorn dropping down from the corner of her mouth and onto her shirt. “Oh, this old thing?” he replied with a nervous chuckle.
“Yes,” the woman replied as she continued to cram handful after handful of popcorn into her mouth. “Where did you get that little spin thingy that lights up,” she said, pointing towards the magic looking glass with her buttery index finger.
“Yeah-ah, were’d you get that? I want one,” the lady’s eight year daughter screamed, as she peeked out from behind her mother’s leg. She was a spitting image of her mother, only smaller, with the same pushy personality.
Charlie found it hard to be rude to others, even if they deserved it. Though his brother did not.
Michael spat out a blunt reply, which upset the lady so badly, she could not even find words to respond. With a beet red face covered in popcorn butter, she grabbed her daughter’s hand and stomped off towards the castle—leaving a trail of popcorn, which spilled from the bucket attached to the side of her backpack.
“Thanks,” Charlie said, with a smirk on his face.
“Glad I could help. Now would you please hurry up and finish what you were doing,” Michael replied, as he motioned towards the jewelry store sign.
“Oh, yeah. Right.” Charlie looked around to make sure no other snoopy guests were passing by, then he reactivated the magic looking glass and quickly began to scan the sign. Just like before, the first word “Up” appeared in bright gold letters. Then the next word, and the next, until the message had been completed and the magic looking glass shut down. Remembering what Frank had told him the year before, Charlie pressed the button on the looking glass handle to play back the message he had just discovered. He quietly read it to his brother, who typed it into his phone. “OK, Michael, read it back to me.”
Michael read the message: “Up above the show floor you’ll find, a lady in white, nice and kind. A timepiece she’ll reveal, from a bright shiny box. Take it you shall, to a maker of clocks.”
“Good,” Charlie said. He stuck the magic looking glass back into his pocket.
“So we’re supposed to go inside the jewelry store, and head upstairs?” Michael asked.
“Yep.”
“But I didn’t think there was an upstairs?” Michael said.
“Oh, don’t worry about that right now, Michael. We need to go find Mom and Dad before they get suspicious.”
“This is your Captain speak’n, any sign of that watch yet?” Plank spat into his transmitter.
“Nothing yet Cap’n. The kids just entered the store.”
“Well, keep a good eye on ‘em mateys. Once they grab the watch, you grab them, got it?”
“Aye-aye Cap’n. We’re standing by in the store, ready to engage,” one of the crew members whispered into his transmitter. “Ope, wait a tick. They just walked in. Me eyes is on ‘em, Cap’n.”
“Good. Don’t let ‘em out your sight,” Plank replied.
“Aye-aye Cap’n. Wait. Hold on.”
“What? What is it?” Plank impatiently asked.
“Well Cap’n, a cast member just led those two little buggers past the watch counter, towards the back of the store, and right into the employee’s private quarters.”
“Why, why would they do that?” Plank spat out. “There’s nothin’ in the back of that bloody store.”
“What should we do, Cap’n?”
“You follow them, you baboon! Grab the other two men and go find those boys. THAT’S AN ORDER!!!”
“Yes. Yes, right away Cap’n. We’re on it.”
The crew member on the transmitter frantically signaled to the other two, as they rushed towards the back of the store. But when they reached the private doorwa
y, they were headed off by a large, very well fit, cast member who’s name tag read, Timothy.
“I’m sorry gentleman, cast members only beyond this point,” Timothy said with a smile.
“But we just saw two little fellas run in there. Are you tellin’ me they work in this store?” one of Plank’s crew members rudely asked.
“I didn’t see anything,” Timothy politely replied.
“Well, ya must be blind as a bat matey, cause we just did.”
“Why don’t you three run along and enjoy the park,” Timothy said, smiling and politely gesturing towards the store entryway.
“I’m afraid we’re not going anywhere’s without them two boys,” the lead crew member said with a snarl.
Timothy shook his head, giving the three crew misfits a look of disappointment. Then he signaled for four other cast members to join him. “Now, you fellas can leave quietly and enjoy the rest of your day, or I can call in security and we can deal with this matter another way. So what’s it going to be gentlemen?”
Outnumbered five to three, with security standing nearby, Plank’s crew members begrudgingly obliged. They turned and stormed out of the jewelers—where they were immediately greeted by more of Plank’s men.
The crew members were guided around the corner on the right, then down East Center Street—where Plank was furiously pacing in circles.
“So boys, where is it?” Captain Plank asked.
“Uh. Sorry Cap’n, but we ain’t got it”, Glubber, one of three crew members, nervously said.
“That’s right, we was ambushed by Disney’s stink’n cast members,” another crew member, added.
“Ohhhh, is that right?” Plank responded—his face turning red as his sunglasses steamed up. “Well, well. I assumed you at least had the watch since you didn’t have those two little buggers with ya. So, you’re tell’n me you came back empty handed?” the captain asked, as he leaned in closer towards his three failed crew members.
“Gulp, yea, yeah Cap’n, that-that’s what we be saying,” Glubber replied, as sweat ran down his forehead.
Plank turned away from all three momentarily, scratching his head, then slowly turned back to face his men. His sunglasses were now in his left hand—exposing the unsightly area where his left eye once existed, thanks to the sword fighting skills of a lost boy from Peter Pan’s Flight. “Now, I know you boys didn’t mean to disappoint your old Captain, did ya?”
All three shook their heads no, then one of them said. “No, no we didn’t, Cap’n. Honestly, we didn’t,” Jimmy replied.
Plank pushed in close—so close that the three men could count the hairs on his nose. “Oh, I believe ya Jimmy, I do. You two as well, Glubber and William,” the captain said, as he pointed at each of their faces—his finger nearly touching their skin. “And that’s why I’m give’n ya until midnight to GET ME THAT BLOODY WATCH!”
“Yes. Yes sir,” Jimmy stuttered out.
“I want you three to wait here, no matter how long it takes, and you follow those two boys until you gets a chance to grab ‘em. And if they don’t have the watch, you bring them back to me and I’ll find a way get it out of ‘em. Is that clear?” Plank said.
“Crystal clear, Cap’n,” Glubber replied.
Plank put his sunglasses back on, turned his back to the three crew members and began to walk away, as he calmly said, “And if you fail me again…you’ll be finding yourself behind a set of bars without a key.”
As Charlie and his brother were escorted by the cast member into the employee’s quarters of Uptown Jewelers, a white door with a highly detailed brass handle magically materialized in the wall just to their right. An ornately-etched brass sign on the door read, COME IN.
Following the sign’s queue, and a little encouragement from Timothy, Charlie opened the door, revealing a virtual set of silvery-white stairs. The boys followed the stairway up to a second floor that did not exist. As the boys reached the top of the stairway, they heard a soft voice call their names from the far side of the room.
There, across a room of white, stood a frail, little woman. She was at least ninety years young. Dressed in white, her appearance resembled someone from the late nineteenth century. Her silvery grey hair was neatly wrapped in a bun atop her head. Light silver-rimmed glasses rested upon her nose, while a decorative eyeglass chain hung from its sides. Behind the glasses her crystal blue eyes sparkled with sincerity, as her kind smile effortlessly welcomed the boys.
“Come in, boys. No need to be shy, I won’t bite,” she said in a soft tone. She was standing behind a brilliantly lit crystal showcase, filled with unimaginable antique jewelry.
The boys walked up to the showcase where two white stools awaited their company. “Please, have a seat”, the lady said, as she turned her fragile hands palm up, welcoming Charlie and Michael to sit. “So, Charlie…and Michael,” addressing each boy respectively, “you’ve come to collect something, unique? An Object of Magic, perhaps?” she asked, while gently polishing the showcase top with an old weathered dust rag.
“Hey, how did you know our names?” Michael blurted out in a rude manner. As was usually the case.
“Michael, you don’t have to say it like that,” Charlie said, attempting to tame his brother’s behavior. “I’m sorry. You see, sometimes my brother doesn’t know his place—as in when to speak, and when not to.” He gave his younger brother a scolding look.
The kind lady giggled softly then said, “Oh that’s quite alright young man, I’ve dealt with every type of personality through the years, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from past experience, it’s that people are entitled to their own personalities. That’s just the way we are. Different. Each and every one of us.”
Charlie looked into her blue eyes and smiled. “So, may I ask your name?”
“It’s Ruth, dear. And thank you for asking. Now, where was I? Oh yes. So, as I was asking earlier, you’ve come for the Object of Magic, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. We’re here to collect a watch,” Charlie said. “But I’m not quite sure what it looks like?”
The old lady giggled again. “Just a minute, sweetie”, she said, while turning and picking a watch box decorated in silver and gold floral patterns off the shelf behind her. She sat the box on the countertop, then peeked up over the rim of her glasses at the boys. “I always enjoy this part.” Gently she opened it up to take a look. A soft, warm glow radiated outward from the box and highlighted her face, as she marveled at what lay within. Slowly she turned the open box to face the boys. Nestled within its purple velvet lining was a watch like none the boys had ever seen before. It was a Mickey Mouse skeleton watch—which meant all the workable gears were visible. It was mostly made of colorfully painted wood, except for the face glass. The watch was badly damaged with scorch marks from the lightning strike, making it illegible. Mickey’s gloved hands and arms were splintered, partially in tact, and unable to function properly. Wooden gears and springs protruded out the sides. The thick band was also made of wood, with intricately carved details—and painted in a variety of playful colors as well. It too had suffered from the lighting strike and was in poor condition. The details on the band resembled some form of ornate symbology.
“I can see why Frank wanted us to pick up the watch,” Charlie said. “I mean, it’s definitely broken.”
“Yes,” the lady said. “The watch has indeed suffered a terrible experience. And that is why we need the assistance of you and your brother—to help us right the wrong which has been cast upon such a beautiful Object of Magic.”
“What are all those pictures on the wrist band?” Michael spat out. Again, with no respect for the kind old lady.
The sound of someone clearing their throat rumbled from behind them. “Those carvings, Michael, tell the story of the five Kingdom Crystals and how they came to be,” a man’s voice said with authority.
Charlie and Michael, surprised by the voice, turned to quickly discover the source. “Frank,” Charlie
said with a smile.
“Hello boys,” Frank replied, while resting his hands on the boy’s shoulders. “I see you’ve met Ruth, one of our most valued members. She is the one we refer to within the Patron circle as, The Keeper of the Watch. Why, if it weren’t for Ruth, FOTO most likely would have found, and stolen, the Watch of WONDER many decades ago.”
“Ohhhh, it was really nothing at all.”
“Well you know what they say young lady, ‘with age comes wisdom and beauty,’ and that certainly holds true with you, my dear,” Frank said, as he gently cupped the elderly ladies hand with his own atop the counter.
Her cheeks began to slightly blush as she looked upon Frank with her gentle blue eyes. “You are too kind, Frank…thank you.”
Frank closed his eyes and nodded to Ruth, to show his respect.
Michael, being only ten, and lacking appreciation for such things, rudely interrupted the moment. “So, what’s the big deal about this watch again?”
“Michael, shut it,” his brother snipped. “Sorry ma’am. If you could please tell us more, we would really appreciate it. I mean, our father collects Mickey watches, and I have NEVER seen one like this before.”
Ruth broke eye contact with Frank, stepped back, and focused on the boys. “Indeed boys, this Mickey watch is, without question, different. Unlike any watch you have ever, or will ever, see again. Forwards, backwards, sideways and magic,” she said while making corresponding hand motions with each word.
“What? I don’t get it?” Michael replied.”
Charlie gave his brother another dirty look, then returned his attention to Ruth. “Sorry about that, please go on.”
The kind woman continued. “This watch, the Watch of WONDER, is not really a timepiece at all, but rather, allows one to travel to conceptual realities that Disney has dreamt up, or will dream up—which are all connected in WONDER. More importantly, it will lead the chosen outsider, that being you Charlie, to the second Kingdom Crystal by utilizing these magical places.”
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