CHAPTER 5
Finding the Opportunity
The rest of the morning goes by in a blur. I don’t even have time to get bored once with all the Secret Keeper thoughts running through my head. Charlie and I can’t figure out if we’re lucky to have our first customers or if we’re in real trouble. Either way, we know the first thing we have to do when the recess bell rings is figure out how to make a Secret Keeper.
I watch the clock in the classroom, counting down the seconds. Five … four … three … two … BRRRING. Freedom!
Charlie and I don’t waste any time. We grab our snacks and head straight to the kindergarten playground to find Mister. It’s Charlie’s idea, since he thinks Mister is really good at solving problems. I’m not convinced, but I agree just to keep Charlie happy — I need him as a business partner and a friend.
It’s easy to spot Mister in the crowd because he’s the only kindergartner reading a chapter book instead of swinging on the monkey bars. We fill him in on the problem. I mean, opportunity. My mum says when you think something is a problem, it has no choice but to be one. So instead you should think of it as an opportunity.
Once Mister knows exactly what happened, he puts down his book and asks, “What does portable mean?”
“It means you can take it with you,” answers Charlie. I take out my clipboard and start making a list.
“Okay, great,” says Mister. “So we need to invent something that can store secrets, that you can take with you and that can be invented today.”
“We have tonight, too,” I add. Opportunities, right?
“I have some sort-of-bad news,” says Charlie, picking at the grass by his feet. “It’s Monday …”
“… and I have to help Mr. Wright with his groceries at four-fifteen,” I think out loud, worried we won’t have enough time for inventing.
“And I can’t stay long after that because I have swimming lessons,” says Charlie. “I really have to pass this level or I will still be swimming with kindergartners. No offense, Mister.”
“That’s okay,” says Mister, repositioning his glasses. “I know what you mean.”
“Maybe,” Charlie says, “given our limited time, we can repurpose something old instead of build something new.”
“What does repurpose mean?” asks Mister. I don’t know either, so I’m glad Mister isn’t afraid to ask.
“Repurpose means to use something that already exists, but in a different way,” explains Charlie.
“Well, then, we need to get repurposing ASAP,” I tell them. “Or else I’m doomed!” To make sure they know how upset I am, I grab a handful of grass and throw it in the air as dramatically as I possibly can.
Charlie sneezes away the grass I threw, and a booger-covered four-leaf clover lands on my clipboard. We all laugh.
“Do you think a snotty clover is still good luck?” asks Charlie, wiping it off.
“Of course it is!” I tell him. “My mom says if you keep it somewhere safe, it will always bring you luck.”
“You’re the one who picked it,” he says, handing it to me, “and sort of the one who needs it most.”
The bell rings, and the kindergartners start to line up. I can’t believe we haven’t figured this out yet! I turn the clover around in my hand.
“I can keep that for you until we get home, Wednesday,” says Mister, opening his book to the middle and holding it out for me. “You’re supposed to flatten it safely in a book.”
“THAT’S IT!” I yell so loud that a playground monitor notices we aren’t in line yet and starts making his way over. With no time to spare, I tell Mister to meet me and Charlie in the library at lunch. Then I inhale my yogurt tube, and we run to our line as fast as we can. I think I found the opportunity!