**
Robert Explores the Library
Curiosity can cause unwanted trouble.
–Harry Finkle
Robert was outside the library door, a split second from turning the knob and going in, when he heard Jack and Lizzy talking about a hidden room. They hadn’t realized that he’d returned from helping Miss Caroline.
Then Robert heard them say they were not going to tell him anything about it! Robert hung his head. He let go of the knob when he heard the shop bell chime and footsteps coming closer to the library door. He quietly entered the hourglass room and closed the door. He put his ear to the door and listened until Jack and Lizzy left the library.
His brother and sister keeping an exciting new secret from him hurt Robert’s feelings. They weren’t supposed to keep secrets from each other anymore.
Robert decided that if Jack and Lizzy didn’t want to share their knowledge about the hidden room, he would learn about it himself. They wouldn’t need to tell him anything because he would already know it all.
Robert crept inside the library. It looked the way it always did. Robert wondered where the hidden room was. Had he misunderstood what they had said?
Robert noticed a chair and the small table had been moved to the far side of the room. He walked over to the table and noticed various books.
Books are boring, Robert thought as he slid each one of them aside to read the titles. The large book on the bottom of the pile caught his attention, however. It was old, and the leather spine was tattered. The title read Book of Memories. He wondered if Lizzy had read it yet. Robert picked it up and placed it near the library door to take with him when he left.
Robert looked around, hoping for some clue to the location of the hidden room, but didn’t notice anything. As he walked around, though, he suddenly tripped and stumbled to the floor, landing on his knees and elbows. He turned to see what had made him lose his footing. The rug had an uneven area slightly lifted from the floor. There must be something under the rug, Robert thought.
He went to the edge of the rug and lifted the corner, but didn’t see anything other than dirt beneath it. He placed the corner of the rug back down on the floor, then crossed his arms and thought for a moment. Robert dropped to his knees and began rolling the rug.
This isn’t easy, Robert thought. The rug was nearly the size of the entire room. After rolling the rug towards the middle of the room, Robert nearly gave up—but then he noticed the cut lines in the wooden floor.
That’s it! he thought. Robert continued to roll the rug until the door in the floor was entirely revealed. His arms were sore and he was out of breath.
Robert listened for footsteps coming to the library, but he didn’t hear anything. He quickly opened the hatch. A burst of cool air blew his hair back, nearly taking his breath away.
Robert opened the door, dropped to his knees, and placed his hands at the edge of the opening. He gazed down the hole in astonishment. All those books!
Then he saw something odd—a curious light shining inside the tunnel. He couldn’t make out what it was, but it helped illuminate the spiral staircase.
Robert’s eyes widened with excitement. The stairs were exactly what he needed to explore further.
Robert walked down the steps one by one. Why would Lizzy and Jack care if I know about this place? he wondered. It‘s not as if I like books anyway.
When Robert reached the bottom of the staircase he stepped closer to the shining light. A book titled Lightning was aglow. It was warm to the touch. How amazing! he thought.
From the corner of his eye something caught his attention. He turned his head to look, but nothing was there. Maybe it was a reflection from the light, he thought.
Still curious about the glowing book, Robert removed it from the shelf with one hand. He heard a click sound. Robert peered into the now-empty space where the book had been.
In the back of the hole, Robert saw a lever. It looked identical to the magical lever he found under the counter the day he and his family arrived in Finkleton. They soon learned that lever controlled all the rain in Finkleton.
“Could you be magic too?” Robert whispered. Without hesitation, Robert reached for the lever and pulled it.
In an instant, loud cracks of lightning could be heard from above, and Robert felt the ground shake beneath him. The lightning was relentless. The striking sounds were furious. Robert’s hands began to shake. I need to check the hourglasses, he thought. Something must be wrong!
Frightened, Robert placed the glowing book back in the spot from which he’d removed it, planning to race up the stairs to the hourglasses. Once again he heard a click sound.
Then the lightning stopped. Everything was quiet.
Robert looked at the book and touched it with a shaky finger. “Did you cause the lightning?” he whispered. Robert didn’t expect to hear an answer, but he listened just the same.
Robert rapidly climbed the steps to the library and closed the secret door. He began to hear people screaming. Hurriedly he unrolled the rug, putting it back into place. He grabbed the book he had set aside beforehand and rushed out of the library.
Robert scurried into the shop. Jack and Lizzy weren’t there. The shop was empty. Was he alone?
“Mother? Father?” he called. No response came.
Robert noticed people hurrying past the large shop window. He could hear people screaming, and others yelling. He looked through the enormous window to see what was causing the commotion. Then he saw it.
Miss Caroline’s home was engulfed in a blazing fire!
It must have been the lightning! Robert thought. And the lightning started when I pulled the secret lever behind the glowing book. This is all my fault!
“Oh, no!” Robert shouted. “What have I done?”
Robert continued to watch the blaze through the window. The Finkleton Fire Brigade arrived to douse the fire. At least, it tried to. He heard muffled cries as people watched them work furiously. The flames on the thatched roof reached for the sky, and black smoke poured out of every window.
Just then Mr. Lowsley and his two business companions, Peter and Paul, stepped in front of the shop. He heard Mr. Lowsley say, “The lightning created the perfect opportunity. I may very well be able to purchase a home in Finkleton after all. Let’s go to the pub and celebrate!”
Tears of guilt streamed down Robert’s cheeks. Because of me, Mr. Lowsley will now try to buy Miss Caroline’s home, he thought. He wiped his nose on the back of his sleeve, then bolted through the shop and up the stairs.
When Robert finally reached his bedroom, he collapsed on the bed. How can I possibly face Miss Caroline after what I’ve done? he thought. She’s such a nice lady, and makes the most wonderful pies in all of Finkleton.
Robert buried his face in his pillow and cried himself to sleep.