Free A Big Box of Memories by Judy Delton Page A

training wheels on his bike, even though he was seven.
    “That’s a long time away,” said Mrs. Peters. “And right now we want to thinkabout being alive this year, at the turn of the century. We want to think about what the Pee Wee Scouts, especially Troop 23, can do to celebrate and mark the occasion. Does anyone have any ideas?”

CHAPTER 2
The Pee Wees in a Tube
    “I think we should have a great big party,” said Roger White, “with a lot of good food and noisemakers and stuff. A party that lasts all night!”
    Some of the other Pee Wees cheered and clapped and chanted “Party! Party! Party!”
    Mrs. Peters frowned. “A party is a good idea,” she said. “But we can have a party anytime. I was thinking of doingsomething more important. Longer lasting. So that Pee Wee Scouts in the year 2100 will know just what we were like back here in 2000.”

    “We could take a group picture,” said Patty. “That would be the best way.”
    “That’s a good thought!” said Mrs. Peters.
    “A picture would get all ripped and torn and wet in a hundred years,” said Kenny. “It wouldn’t last.”
    “Unless,” said their leader mysteriously, “we put it in a very, very safe place.”
    “Do you mean hide it, Mrs. Peters?” asked Mary Beth.
    “If we hide it, they might never find it,” said Kevin Moe. “And anyway, how do we know they would find it in a hundred years instead of ten years, or two hundred years?”
    “We wouldn’t exactly have to hide it,” said their leader. “We could put it in a very safe place and let people know where it is and when to look at it.”
    Rachel had a big grin on her face. “I know what you mean,” she said. “You’re talking about a time capsule! We put lots of stuff inside a big tube and put the tube in cement somewhere and write on it ‘Open in 2100.’ ”
    “That’s right, Rachel,” said Mrs. Peters. “A time capsule is a perfect Pee Wee Scout project. The city is building a new city hall this year, and it will have a cornerstone. On the outside the cornerstone will have the date, and on the inside there will be room for historical records. That will be just the place to put a Pee Wee Scout time capsule for future generations to see.”
    Now the Pee Wees were getting excited.
    “We’ll go down in history,” said Kevin.
    “People will know how we lived, even after we’re dead!” said Jody George, who was in a wheelchair. Molly liked Jody. He was smart and kind and a lot of fun. He let the Pee Wees ride in his chair once in a while. Molly liked Kevin too. He was very ambitious. He might even become president someday. He had told her so.
    “I’m glad you’re all excited about doing this,” said Mrs. Peters. “Let’s talk about what the children of 2100 would like to know about us. What could each of us leave behind for them to see how we lived?”
    The Pee Wees couldn’t stop talking. They were full of ideas.
    “I’m going to leave my bike!” said Sonny.
    “With the training wheels on it?” roared Roger.
    “You can’t leave something that large,” said Jody. “The stuff has to fit into the time capsule, doesn’t it, Mrs. Peters?”
    Their leader nodded. “Jody is right,” she said.
    Jody is always right, thought Molly.
    “The time capsule is about this big,” said Mrs. Peters, showing them with her hands. “About two feet long, two feet high, and two feet deep. And we aren’t the only ones putting something into it. The city officials and the schools will make contributions too.
    “The Pee Wees will have a little metal box with our names on it,” Mrs. Peters went on. “It will say ‘Troop 23,’ and each of us will put one item inside. We’ll haveto think very hard about what to choose, because each of us can put only one small thing. It should say something special about each of us. I’ll start our collection with the Pee Wee pledge and song. And maybe, if there is room, one of each badge that we have earned.”
    The Pee Wees were