The next day, Wizard Whoop Loop called us and handed a digital map to each of us. Then he explained about our adventure trip.

“Children, listen, you all are starting from Grand Hall in Grand Square, the zone at the heart of Calypso. Listen to my instructions.” “Remember” he said. “You can take all your bubble makers but use only one. You can use it only three times making an exception for emergencies.” He explained whatever we needed to know and also gave us a copy of the trip destinations.

ADVENTURE TRIP DESTINATIONS

Ø  Go to love kingdom, explore its aspects:

§   Have fun with the fun trees, they talk

§   Visit the wise old quiggly

§   Sail in the river of love, forget your worries

Ø  Next, go to mushroom corner

§   Visit the people of toadstool village

§   Go and see the water squirt

Ø  Last, but not the least, go to Cone Mountains.

§   Visit victory point from bubble

§   Find a portal to reach cone mountains first

§   Never fall into the grand canyon

§  For returning, either use the bubble or take a portal from trio-transit

“Clear?” the wizard asked us  “Yes” we said in reply.

We all were so excited and ready to leave.

“Are you ready?” the wizard asked. “You guys and gals are leaving in another fifteen minutes.”

“Why did you say you guys and gals?”  I asked sounding astonished. “Aren’t you coming too?”

“No” the wizard said simply. “It is your adventure trip for your entertainment, why should I come?”

“Oh ya, It is our trip” I said, thinking about what the wizard had said.

“In another fifteen minutes?” Dhruv said. “Wow!”

“Yes”, said the wizard. “Another important thing- never forget your bubble maker or digital map, it will help you in navigation if you accidentally stray away from your group and get lost. It is all for your own safety.”

“Ok”, I said, feeling a lump in my pocket, which was my bubble maker. “Surely I won’t” I said confidently as I was sure I wouldn’t forget it when it was there in my pocket.

All my friends, including me went to our room, led by the wizard to pack our necessities for the trip as we still weren’t familiar with the directions inside the Grand Hall. I packed a long rope, some Bubballoo bubble gums (I had got from Macawi) and some snacks to last for the trip. I also packed my binoculars, my digital map and a torch. I stuffed all these necessities into my duffel bag and strapped it onto my shoulders. I checked to see if I had left any important item needed for the adventure trip. Then I scanned the room and spotted all bags neatly packed.So I called all my friends and shouted “We are ready Wizard!”

“Then he shouted back “I’m not involved! Go whenever you please! You are the leader, I appoint you the leader of the group Siso Macoti” he said. “Lead your friends, travel together in one bubble for safety”

“Yes sir” I said a little formally, making the wizard laugh.

“No formality” he said. “Be your usual self”

“Ok” I said, laughing and smiling and ready to create a bubble.

I took out my bubble-maker and blew through the tube.

A beautiful, transparent bubble, formed around all 5 of us

“Wow!” I said. “It’s huge”

Then everyone said “elevate”, followed by me as I had learnt it and heard it myself from the wizard.

“Elevate” I repeated and the bubble rose into the air.

All of us waved a bye to the wizard from the bubble as it left Grand Square.

“All of you got your digital maps?” I asked, since I was supposed to be the leader.

“Yes!” they said, taking it out and showing it to me.

“Anyone has the instruction paper the wizard wrote for us about the adventure trip? We had only one copy.” I said.

“Yeah, I have it.” Kiko said with a smile.

Madeline had become very friendly with Kiko these days as Kiko could communicate in French very well. To tell you the truth, I was quite jealous, as she was always with her. How could she avoid me? I thought. . I was her best friend. Without thinking, I found myself staring at Kiko with an angry face.

“Why do you always talk to Madeline?” I blurted out. “Aren’t you my best friend? Don’t you like me?” I asked.

Kiko looked astonished and the twins stared at me as I had never been like this before. Then I lowered my volume.

“Please Kiko; you don’t understand how I feel. You used to spend so much time with me. But now…….”

“Oh Siso” she interrupted. “You should also understand how poor Madeline is feeling, without any French companion. I was just trying to make her feel better. I am really sorry if I made you feel bad and have hurt your feelings. I’ll try to be my old self again. You still are my best buddy Siso. Cheer up!!”

“Ok” I said, happy again. “Maybe even I should try being friendly with her.”

“That’s true” said Kiko. “On the other hand, if I had to be like you, even I could be jealous of your close friendship with the Indian twins. What do you say?

“You are right” I said meekly, trying to hide my embarrassment. “I’m sorry!”

“It’s ok, now let’s be friends” she said.

“Friends?” I asked, holding out my hand for a hand-shake.

“Friends” she said shaking my hands, grinning madly and giving me her usual bear hug.

Then I checked my digital map to see where we were as it also showed us (the bubble) as a red dot traveling on the screen. I could see that we were heading towards Love Kingdom. I hadn’t heard the wizard say anything to land. But anyway I tried.

“Land” I said and the bubble burst as it reached the ground. We were standing at the banks of the River of Love, facing the cottage of the Wise Old Quiggly!!