The The Mysterious Mysterious Treasure Map.Treasure Map.By: Michelle GarbaldiBy: Michelle Garbaldi

My name Is Michelle Garibaldi. I am from My name Is Michelle Garibaldi. I am from Valhalla, New York. Me and my twin sister, Valhalla, New York. Me and my twin sister, Kate solve mysteries. Our hardest mystery Kate solve mysteries. Our hardest mystery was about a treasure map during summer was about a treasure map during summer camp. But I want to start on how we got camp. But I want to start on how we got ourselves on a one-way ticket to summer ourselves on a one-way ticket to summer camp.camp.

I was In the library (In our house) when I just I was In the library (In our house) when I just got an e-mail about going to summer camp. got an e-mail about going to summer camp. Junk. Another about a waterfall In a summer Junk. Another about a waterfall In a summer camp. Interesting. Move to Interesting folder. camp. Interesting. Move to Interesting folder. OK so we are not going anywhere since we OK so we are not going anywhere since we can't go anywhere. We went to Vermont. We can't go anywhere. We went to Vermont. We lost our passports In Spain. We need to do lost our passports In Spain. We need to do something over summer! Maybe... I could something over summer! Maybe... I could convince Kate to go to summer camp. The convince Kate to go to summer camp. The one with the waterfalls. That would be cool. one with the waterfalls. That would be cool. So now I need to go ask Kate about summer So now I need to go ask Kate about summer camp. And you can guess what she said.camp. And you can guess what she said.

Here goes my life ending conversation:Here goes my life ending conversation:

““NO WAY!”NO WAY!”“But, you love waterfalls!” I pointed out.“But, you love waterfalls!” I pointed out.“Yes, but that doesn’t mean there Is one at the “Yes, but that doesn’t mean there Is one at the camp.”camp.”I raised my eyebrows, hoping she got the hint.I raised my eyebrows, hoping she got the hint.“OK but still! ““OK but still! ““Why don’t we just look through the brochure OK?”“Why don’t we just look through the brochure OK?”“FINE!” She said.“FINE!” She said.“See? Isn’t It beautiful?” I said.“See? Isn’t It beautiful?” I said.“Come on Michelle!”“Come on Michelle!”“Kate, what other choice do we have?”“Kate, what other choice do we have?”“We do have a choice. We can stay home, have a “We do have a choice. We can stay home, have a slumber party, sleep In, read, shopping, watch slumber party, sleep In, read, shopping, watch movies, anything! The world Is open!”movies, anything! The world Is open!”“You only mean the state of New York! Come on “You only mean the state of New York! Come on Kate! The camp Is up at the Catskills! It’s perfect Kate! The camp Is up at the Catskills! It’s perfect temperature up there.”temperature up there.”“If you mean I have to wear a sweater up there, “If you mean I have to wear a sweater up there, then you’re wrong,”then you’re wrong,”“You don’t have to wear a sweater all the time. “You don’t have to wear a sweater all the time. There’s a swimming competition. Wouldn’t It be fun There’s a swimming competition. Wouldn’t It be fun to win the gold medal? Or maybe a silver or to win the gold medal? Or maybe a silver or bronze?”bronze?”“That would be fun...” she muttered.“That would be fun...” she muttered.“Then Its official! We are going to the Catskills!”“Then Its official! We are going to the Catskills!”“How are we going to get there?”“How are we going to get there?”“There’s a camp bus. We can be assistant “There’s a camp bus. We can be assistant counselors.”counselors.”“Happy now?”“Happy now?”“Yes, I am.” I said.“Yes, I am.” I said.

At dinner, I was wondering how we should tell At dinner, I was wondering how we should tell mom and dad about enrolling as assistant mom and dad about enrolling as assistant counselors at a camp nearly 2 hours upstate.counselors at a camp nearly 2 hours upstate.“So, we were thinking about summer camp.” I “So, we were thinking about summer camp.” I started.started.“Which camp do you guys want to go to?” “Which camp do you guys want to go to?” said mom.said mom.“Well, I got an email about this really cool “Well, I got an email about this really cool camp by the Catskills. There Is a swimming camp by the Catskills. There Is a swimming competition and ...”competition and ...”“The Catskills! How beautiful. I remember the “The Catskills! How beautiful. I remember the time when I went there for a research project time when I went there for a research project In college for biology. I love that place. Its In college for biology. I love that place. Its wonderful.”wonderful.”“Yeah, we are going to this camp by the “Yeah, we are going to this camp by the Catskills. The waterfall nearby Is very Catskills. The waterfall nearby Is very beautiful.”beautiful.”Isn’t this going to be cool? It looks like so Isn’t this going to be cool? It looks like so much fun to go to a swimming competition much fun to go to a swimming competition near such a cool waterfall In the Catskills. I near such a cool waterfall In the Catskills. I might not bring my laptop. JUST DON’T GET might not bring my laptop. JUST DON’T GET DISAPPOINTED.DISAPPOINTED.

OK So I lied. There was nothing else to do. I OK So I lied. There was nothing else to do. I decided I would keep the laptop with me with a decided I would keep the laptop with me with a waterproof cover my dad got me. I am typing waterproof cover my dad got me. I am typing this on our ride up to the Catskills. I have BIG this on our ride up to the Catskills. I have BIG news. Sandra and Tiff Is coming with us! This Is news. Sandra and Tiff Is coming with us! This Is so great! At least I know we couldn’t have so great! At least I know we couldn’t have much of a sleepover without them. I pointed much of a sleepover without them. I pointed that out to Kate.that out to Kate.“Michelle, for once In your life, Be quiet! I am “Michelle, for once In your life, Be quiet! I am trying to calm down. This Is a nature camp, I trying to calm down. This Is a nature camp, I decided It would nurture my love for the decided It would nurture my love for the environment.”environment.”ENVIRONMENT THIS, ENVIRONMENT THAT. GET ENVIRONMENT THIS, ENVIRONMENT THAT. GET A LIFE KATE! YOU CAN’T SPEND YOUR WHOLE A LIFE KATE! YOU CAN’T SPEND YOUR WHOLE LIFE PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT. Was LIFE PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT. Was what I was thinking. I was sitting next to Tiff.what I was thinking. I was sitting next to Tiff.And she saw what I was typing.!!!!!!!And she saw what I was typing.!!!!!!!“Wow. Harsh.” She said.“Wow. Harsh.” She said.Wow? Harsh? That’s all she had to say about Wow? Harsh? That’s all she had to say about what I think of my sister?what I think of my sister?WHOA! Sorry I’ll go back to lowercase. We just WHOA! Sorry I’ll go back to lowercase. We just go to the camp. This Is so exciting! It has go to the camp. This Is so exciting! It has separate cabins all the way up to Cabin 5! We separate cabins all the way up to Cabin 5! We have to name them so let me give you a heads have to name them so let me give you a heads up on them:up on them:Cabin 1: Cabin ButterflyCabin 1: Cabin ButterflyCabin 2: Cabin Future Lies HereCabin 2: Cabin Future Lies HereCabin 3: Cabin Waterfallz Rulez.Cabin 3: Cabin Waterfallz Rulez.Cabin 4: (our cabin) Cabin Journals R Cool.Cabin 4: (our cabin) Cabin Journals R Cool.Cabin 5: Cabin Rock ‘n’ Roll.Cabin 5: Cabin Rock ‘n’ Roll.This camp Is so cool! I can’t wait to see all the This camp Is so cool! I can’t wait to see all the different nature hikes we get to take! Kate Is different nature hikes we get to take! Kate Is probably screaming with joy. After all she Is an probably screaming with joy. After all she Is an Environmental Freak! Kate and I got chosen for Environmental Freak! Kate and I got chosen for Cabin Journals R Cool AS REPRESENTATIVES Cabin Journals R Cool AS REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE SWIMMING COMPETITION! I can’t FOR THE SWIMMING COMPETITION! I can’t believe It! Kate Is In the Infirmary, she fainted. believe It! Kate Is In the Infirmary, she fainted. At least that’s what It looked like. I am going to At least that’s what It looked like. I am going to go see her.go see her.

IT TURNS OUT THAT KATE FAINTED! I CAN’T IT TURNS OUT THAT KATE FAINTED! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! KATE IS SO TOUGH, I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! KATE IS SO TOUGH, I CAN’T BELIEVE SHE FAINTED OVERBELIEVE SHE FAINTED OVERGETTING CHOSEN TO SWIM IN A GETTING CHOSEN TO SWIM IN A COMPETITION. When I saw her In the COMPETITION. When I saw her In the Infirmary I asked why she fainted.Infirmary I asked why she fainted.Kate said,Kate said,“What do you mean, I fainted? I didn't faint. “What do you mean, I fainted? I didn't faint. I tripped on a twig or something. I couldn’t I tripped on a twig or something. I couldn’t see without my glasses, since I forgot them see without my glasses, since I forgot them In the cabin.”In the cabin.”Then Tiff came and saw Kate on the Then Tiff came and saw Kate on the Infirmary bed. I winced. There was going to Infirmary bed. I winced. There was going to be an explosion soon and so I put my be an explosion soon and so I put my fingers In my ears. Apparently, I wasn’t fast fingers In my ears. Apparently, I wasn’t fast enough.enough.“WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED?” she yelled.“WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED?” she yelled.“She tripped over something. She can’t tell “She tripped over something. She can’t tell what It was since she wasn’t wearing her what It was since she wasn’t wearing her glasses.” I said looking around for a wipe to glasses.” I said looking around for a wipe to clean my fingers from ear wax.clean my fingers from ear wax.“This Is not good. This Is not good at all!”“This Is not good. This Is not good at all!”“Kate, you are going to have to spend the “Kate, you are going to have to spend the night In the Infirmary.” said Jen. She said night In the Infirmary.” said Jen. She said with a grimace. Or was It a smile?with a grimace. Or was It a smile?“I feel so sorry for you. The first day of “I feel so sorry for you. The first day of camp and you already get an Injury from camp and you already get an Injury from tripping.” I said.tripping.” I said.“ I told you coming here was a bad Idea.” “ I told you coming here was a bad Idea.” She whispered before she fell asleep.She whispered before she fell asleep.When I got to the cabin, I saw a map on my When I got to the cabin, I saw a map on my bunk bed.bunk bed.“I saw It too. I wonder where It came “I saw It too. I wonder where It came from?” said Tiff.from?” said Tiff.

““Whoa! I wish I was there to see It.", said a Whoa! I wish I was there to see It.", said a disappointed Kate when I told her disappointed Kate when I told her everything.everything.“No worries. I already have It under control. I “No worries. I already have It under control. I scanned the map onto my laptop.” I said.scanned the map onto my laptop.” I said.“Finally, a good use for your technology “Finally, a good use for your technology skills.” she muttered. Environment freak.skills.” she muttered. Environment freak.“I saw that.” said Sandra. she was sleeping “I saw that.” said Sandra. she was sleeping on the bottom bunk. I was on the top. WHAT on the bottom bunk. I was on the top. WHAT IS IT WITH PEOPLE AND LOOKING ON MY IS IT WITH PEOPLE AND LOOKING ON MY COMPUTER JOURNAL?????? HONESTLY!COMPUTER JOURNAL?????? HONESTLY!“I see you are upset. What Is the matter with “I see you are upset. What Is the matter with you grasshopper?” she was teasing me you grasshopper?” she was teasing me because I was doing yoga last night. Since because I was doing yoga last night. Since Sandra took Kung Fu, she knows all the Sandra took Kung Fu, she knows all the different phrases a sensei would say.different phrases a sensei would say.This camp Is turning out to be very This camp Is turning out to be very Interesting. When we had break, Tiff, Sandra, Interesting. When we had break, Tiff, Sandra, and I went to find he “Treasure”.and I went to find he “Treasure”.we found that the trail led to the forest we found that the trail led to the forest behind the woods. Just when we were about behind the woods. Just when we were about to go In break was over. OH COME ON to go In break was over. OH COME ON DIRECTOR RUBY!DIRECTOR RUBY!

Tonight we were planning on finding the Tonight we were planning on finding the treasure but we figured out something else. treasure but we figured out something else. Let me tell you about our midnight Let me tell you about our midnight adventure.adventure.Kate was In the Infirmary when she had some Kate was In the Infirmary when she had some Information for us.Information for us.“Nobody Is going on the camp grounds “Nobody Is going on the camp grounds tonight. You can find the treasure tonight!”tonight. You can find the treasure tonight!”“OK?” asked Kate“OK?” asked Kate“Fine”“Fine”“Good!”“Good!”“Excellent!”“Excellent!”SO THAT NIGHT WE WENT OUT INTO THE SO THAT NIGHT WE WENT OUT INTO THE WOODS WITH OUR PAJAMAS, FLASHLIGHTS WOODS WITH OUR PAJAMAS, FLASHLIGHTS AND THE MAP.AND THE MAP.WE FOUND THE TRAILS THAT LED TO THE WE FOUND THE TRAILS THAT LED TO THE TREASURE.TREASURE.I was getting really hyper. But I had a really I was getting really hyper. But I had a really weird feeling that either:weird feeling that either:We were being watched orWe were being watched orWe were being pranked.We were being pranked.USUALLY, my Instincts are right. Hopefully I USUALLY, my Instincts are right. Hopefully I am wrong this time. Unfortunately, I am am wrong this time. Unfortunately, I am right.right.We dug up the treasure and found out inside We dug up the treasure and found out inside there was a plant in it but I thought it would there was a plant in it but I thought it would be a dangerous potted plant.. I remembered be a dangerous potted plant.. I remembered the rhyme:the rhyme:LEAVES OF THREE, LET THEM BE.LEAVES OF THREE, LET THEM BE.

Inside was a whole lot of poison ivy! Jen Inside was a whole lot of poison ivy! Jen pranked us! Do you know how I know? pranked us! Do you know how I know? Inside was a note that said:Inside was a note that said:The leaves are from a magical forest. Rub The leaves are from a magical forest. Rub them all over you. When you do that, you them all over you. When you do that, you will have the instincts of an animal. Like the will have the instincts of an animal. Like the speed of a cheetah or eyesight of an eagle.speed of a cheetah or eyesight of an eagle.I saw a note from her to Kate saying:I saw a note from her to Kate saying:Get well soon!Get well soon!-Jen-JenThere was a bouquet of flowers with it. Kate There was a bouquet of flowers with it. Kate had murmured," finally, a good gift that had murmured," finally, a good gift that respects nature. Then in the forest I heard a respects nature. Then in the forest I heard a branch break and it was nearby. I whirled branch break and it was nearby. I whirled around. Then I saw a girl in bunny slippers around. Then I saw a girl in bunny slippers running away. I recognized the slippers that running away. I recognized the slippers that belonged to Jen. All the pieces of the puzzle belonged to Jen. All the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. Jen was the one began to fall into place. Jen was the one who tripped Kate. There was only one who tripped Kate. There was only one Garbaldi left. That was me. I was the top Garbaldi left. That was me. I was the top representative to swim. She just had to get representative to swim. She just had to get rid of me. Then she would win. But rid of me. Then she would win. But honestly? All this trouble to win a swimming honestly? All this trouble to win a swimming contest? OH YEAH! I WON GOLD! This guy contest? OH YEAH! I WON GOLD! This guy named Geoffrey won silver and Kate won named Geoffrey won silver and Kate won bronze. Anotherbronze. Another[ CASE CLOSED!][ CASE CLOSED!]