THE WARDEN'S PRIVATE OFFICE

Again, Stanley was the last one to finish digging. It was late afternoon when he dragged himself back to the compound. This time he would have accepted a ride on the truck if it was offered.

When he got to the tent, he found Mr. Pendanski and the other boys sitting in a circle on the ground.

"Welcome, Stanley," said Mr. Pendanski.

"Hey, Caveman. You get your hole dug?" asked Magnet.

He managed to nod.

"You spit in it?" asked Squid.

He nodded again. "You're right," he said to X-Ray. "The second hole's the hardest."

X-Ray shook his head. "The third hole's the hardest," he said.

"Come join our circle," said Mr. Pendanski.

"We've been discussing what we want to do with our lives," said Mr. Pendanski. "We need to prepare for the day we leave here."

"I like animals," said Magnet. Stanley suggested: "Animal trainer. Like for the circus, or movies." Magnet smiled: "I think it would be fun to train monkeys."

Stanley tried to figure out what he'd say. He used to think he wanted to work for the F.B.I., but this didn't seem the appropriate place to mention that.

"Well, let me tell you something, Caveman," said Mr. Pendanski. "You are here on account of one person... You know who that person is?"

"My no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather."

The other boys howled with laughter. Even Zero smiled. It was the first time Stanley had ever seen Zero smile. He usually had such an angry expression on his face.

"No," said Mr. Pendanski. "That person is you, Stanley... Even you, Zero. You're not completely worthless. What do you like to do?"

Zero's mouth was shut tight. "I like to dig holes."

Next Day: The Pressure Rises

The Warden greeted the boys at breakfast the next morning and went with them to the holes. "Glad you're here, X-Ray," she said. "We need your sharp eyes."

Stanley spent more time pushing the wheelbarrow than digging, because he was such a slow digger. He could still see the tube in his mind. He thought that it might have been the lid to a fancy gold pen. K B could have been the initials of a famous author.

By lunchtime the Warden was beginning to lose her patience. "If you can't get them to work any faster," she told Mr. Sir, "then you're going to have to climb down there and dig with them."

After that, everyone worked faster, especially when Mr. Sir was watching them. Stanley practically ran when he pushed his wheelbarrow.

The Letter & Zero's Secret

Later, Mr. Pendanski entered the Wreck Room and handed Stanley a letter. It was from his mother.

"What's so funny?" Zero asked after the others went to dinner.

Stanley explained about his dad cooking old sneakers and the nursery rhyme about the little old lady who lived in a shoe. Zero stared blankly.

"You've heard the nursery rhyme about the little old lady who lived in a shoe?" Stanley asked."No," said Zero.

"Didn't you ever watch Sesame Street?" Stanley asked. Zero stared blankly. Stanley headed on to dinner.