Hidden Mickey Adventures 1 Read online

  He returned the look. “Kinda. Different results, I’m sure.” He gave her a wink. “So, I thought we could try one or two of the games tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow’s a school day, Dad.” The sourness of the fact came through in Peter’s voice.

  Lance pretended to looked surprised. “It is? I thought tomorrow was Wednesday.”

  Andrew gave a giggle. “Dad, Wednesday is a school day.”

  Smacking his forehead with his hand, Lance closed his eyes. “Oh, you’re right. How could I forget?” He suddenly grinned at the dubious faces in front of him. “I thought tomorrow was Dad Said We Didn’t Have To Go To School Day.”

  “Lance!” Kimberly tried to break in, but was overshadowed by a loud chorus of “Yeah!”

  “You all pick out which game or whatever you want to do.” The hoard had already rushed out of the kitchen and headed upstairs. After his ineffectual yell at the boys, he turned to the narrowed green eyes of his wife. Holding up a hand, he started to defend his action. “It’s only one day, Kimberly. I thought we could use a fun break in the routine.”

  He was surprised when she didn’t start to argue with him. “What I was going to say before I was so rudely interrupted,” she started with a wicked glint in her eyes, “was…Where’s my copy?”

  Lance gave her his trademark dazzling smile and produced a fourth copy of the quest book with a flourish that would have impressed any magician.

  “Okay, Andrew, watch the Dumbo elephants as they go by and find the one that’s numbered twelve. What color is his hat?”

  “Where are the numbers? I don’t see any numbers!” Excited, the boy jumped back and forth at the black iron gate surrounding the popular ride. He stared at the smiling gray elephants as they whizzed by overhead, encouraged by the Ringleader, Timothy the Mouse.

  “See the long red arm that holds the elephants? Look way up on the arm for the number.”

  “I see it! I see it!” Andrew, even more excited, pointed with his book. “Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve! That’s the one.”

  Off to the side, Peter banged his game book between the posts of the fence, bored. “Mom, can Michael and I go work on the Choose Wisely multiple choice game? The quest says we have to ride Star Tours and Andrew won’t go on that. Please.” He remembered to throw that in for good measure and turned on his own brand of charming smile.

  Kimberly could tell her two oldest boys were anxious to be working on their own games. “Sure, honey. Just meet us at the Golden Horseshoe for lunch at one o’clock.”

  “Aw, do we have to?” Michael whined. “Me ‘n Peter can just get something at the Pizza Port.”

  Lance looked up from the souvenir map that he and Andrew were examining to determine where they needed to go next. “Michael Percy Brentwood.”

  Michael knew not to argue further. “One o’clock,” he mumbled. “See you then.”

  With a grin on his face, Lance watched them run off in the direction of Tomorrowland. “Works every time. Just have to say their middle name and they instantly stop. Amazing.”

  Kimberly nodded in agreement. “I know. Surprises me every time. It used to work on me when my dad did it, too.” Still smiling, she turned her attention back to her youngest son. “So, where are we going next, Andrew?”

  “New Orleans Square.”

  She took her youngest son’s hand and linked arms with Lance. “Let’s go, then. You lead the way, sweetie.”

  “Okay,” both Andrew and Lance replied at the same time. Looking at each other, they both said, “Jinx!” and laughed as they entered the wooden stockade that marked the back path into Frontierland. This quiet, shaded path behind the Big Thunder ride took them around the tall red and yellow streaked peaks of the mountain range. This carefully detailed landscaping made them feel as if they had somehow been instantly transported to the beautiful red rock canyon country of Utah. The piercing screams that came from the riders of the train, however, were a sharp contrast to the glassy serenity of the lake on the other side of the walkway nestled in the inviting coolness of the forest-like setting.

  It was nice to get out of the warm sunshine of the brilliant spring day. The interior of the Golden Horseshoe was always cool and inviting. Coming in ten minutes late and ignoring the look their father gave them, the boys followed their family up the wide curving staircase to the second floor. Peter was surprised when Lance led them to the box seat on the right side of stage.

  “Dad, this is roped off!” Worried, Peter lowered his voice so no one else would hear and possibly call attention to what Lance was doing. “No one is supposed to sit here.”

  Lance settled them around the scarred, round, wooden table in the dimly-lit box. “It’s okay, Peter. Don’t worry. I got special permission.”

  That answer might have settled the boy’s worry, but Kimberly gave a silent laugh. She knew it simply meant Lance gave himself permission. As Lance and Peter headed downstairs to get lunch, Kimberly looked out over the quickly-filling ground floor. Andrew scooted next to her to watch the crowd. Michael, though, had his nose buried in the game book, a pencil ready at hand to fill in some answers. Glancing back, she could see he was working on the mixed-up words called Jumbles.

  Their lunch of chicken nuggets, fries, sodas, and a wickedly delicious chocolate cake was quickly devoured. Energized by the sugar, the family moved toward the edge of the box to watch the Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show. Michael again stayed in the back of the booth, happy to work on the puzzle.

  As he referred to the souvenir map he had taken when they first came into the Park, his left foot tapped out a nervous rhythm as he gently kicked the curved back wall of the booth. Not even thinking about what his shoe might be doing to mark the wall, he filled in another answer. His foot kicked out again and he heard an odd noise over the sound of the fiddle music coming up from the stage. It sounded like wood sliding over wood. He looked over his shoulder, but his family didn’t seem to notice anything. Slightly shrugging his shoulders, his foot kicked out again as his head bent back to his book. The noise happened again. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a movement, but it was gone before he could turn his head to see what it was.

  Looking back at his puzzle, he was busy crossing out letters in the jumble ‘contain a farce’ when he heard the weird noise again. His head jerked around just in time to see an open hole in the back wall, his shoe still in contact with the paneling. Startled, his foot jumped and hit the wall at the same time. A small panel quickly slid shut, closing off the small opening. So that’s how I did it.

  Michael turned to get everyone’s attention, but thought twice about it. He wasn’t sure if he would get in trouble for maybe damaging the wall or something. Instead, he put his hand on Peter’s shoulder and gently shook him.

  “Eat your own fries,” Peter muttered over his shoulder, not even looking back to see what he wanted.

  “Petey!” Michael’s whisper sounded urgent. “You have to see this. Don’t tell Dad!”

  It was the ‘don’t tell Dad’ part that got Peter’s interest. Quietly scooting his chair back a little, he tried to not call any attention to himself. “What?” He could see excitement all over his brother’s face.

  “I think I found something! Or broke something.” The eagerness in his eyes dimmed a little.

  “What is it?” Peter was looking at the open Hidden Mickey Adventures game book on the table. He didn’t see why Michael would be so excited about some answer he might have figured out.

  “Look at this.” Michael pointed at the back wall. “I was kicking the wall,” he whispered so his mom wouldn’t hear him, “and this happened.”

  Peter watched, intrigued as Michael hit some hidden button and a small panel opened up and then slid shut again when the boy’s shoe tapped it a second time.

  “What do you think is in there?” Michael was pleased with himself at this discovery.

  His brother could only shrug. “I have no idea. It could just be a service panel, but why would there be one s
o high up?”

  “We need to explore this.”

  “Shh!” Their mom heard some commotion going on behind her and whispered over her shoulder. “Watch the show, boys.”

  “Yes, Mom.” Michael gave Peter one last, frantic look to keep this between themselves as he scooted his chair closer to the front of the box.

  Understanding him, Peter nodded in agreement and moved his backpack over the location of the door that had slid shut again.

  As soon as the entertaining music and joke-filled show ended, the family gathered up their belongings and filed out of the booth. Once Lance placed the tasseled gold rope back in place over the red drapes that block the booth, they headed outside into the bright afternoon light. The Mark Twain had just left the dock and they could hear the recorded banjo music as the white ship slowly sailed past them, her three decks filled with people.

  Eager to separate themselves from their family, Peter and Michael declared they needed to go on the fast-paced Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster. Knowing they had just eaten a big lunch, coupled with young Andrew’s fear of the ride, the boys were pretty sure they would get to go alone.

  They were correct. Andrew immediately shrank back against his mother at Peter’s suggestion. The seven-year old had ridden the Matterhorn Bobsleds a few times, but wasn’t ready for the faster-paced runaway mine train ride just yet. And the loud screams he could clearly hear from the ride didn’t help any, either.

  Not wanting to embarrass their youngest who was torn by his own fears, yet still wanted to keep up with his older brothers, Lance told the two older boys to go on ahead and work on their quests. Andrew, he explained, was close to finishing his first game in Tomorrowland and he wanted to complete it before they had to go home.

  “Okay, buddy.” Lance put his hand on Andrew’s shoulder as the other two boys happily ran off toward the long line of the thrill ride. “Let’s go to Tomorrowland. I think there are some cars you need to identify.”

  Visibly relieved, Andrew happily clutched his new game book as he led them out of the fort façade that made up Frontierland’s Main Street entrance. Someday he would be ready to ride Big Thunder and then he would show his brothers he was just as brave as they were. Just not today.

  From the edge of the FastPass dispensers for Big Thunder, two pairs of green eyes watched as Lance, Kimberly and Andrew disappeared from view. Knowing Disneyland as well as they did, they knew exactly how long it would take their family to get safely out of Frontierland.

  “Okay.” As usual, Peter assumed the role as leader. “Let’s go back to the Horseshoe. If anyone asks what we’re doing up there, we can just say I’m getting my backpack.”

  No one noticed the two boys as they quickly headed up the stairs. Letting the red curtain drop back into place, they crouched in the back of the booth and quietly waited for a moment. As dark as it was in the box seat and as low as they were on the floor, it was probable no one would spot them. They had already seen that the cast members who worked in the saloon were busy cleaning the tables and setting up for the next show.

  Talking in hushed voices, Peter asked Michael to show him exactly what he had done to open the hidden door. Always prepared, like his dad, he had dug a small flashlight out of his backpack and held it ready.

  Concentrating, Michael felt all over the wall, trying to find the secret button he had hit with his shoe.

  “Are you sure that’s the place?”

  Startled by the sudden voice, Michael jerked a little causing his hand to accidently hit the right spot. Their mouths fell open as the door obediently slid open.

  Peter pulled Michael back a safe distance from the wall. “Don’t touch it again. We don’t want it to close.”

  “I wasn’t going to touch it again! Don’t push me around like that.”

  Clamping his mouth shut, Peter bit back the retort on the tip of his tongue. He knew Michael was simply excited and scared about getting caught. “Sorry,” he muttered. “Here. Take my flashlight. See if you can spot anything.”

  Michael accepted the peace offering and smiled as he aimed the light into the darkness. “I don’t see anything but wood and dust. It doesn’t look like there’s anything in here.”

  Peter could hear the disappointment in his brother’s voice. “Do you want me to look?”

  Nodding, Michael reluctantly scooted back and handed Peter the light. As Peter’s head and hand disappeared into the hole, Michael glanced over his shoulder. He froze when he saw a couple of cast members straight across from them as they cleaned out the other upper box.

  Peter, unaware of any of this, gave a muffled, “I think I see something,” just as Michael whispered for him to turn off the light. “What?”

  “Don’t move.” Michael froze, his back pressed up against the wall and his eyes glued on the two women who were talking together while they worked. He waited breathlessly until they finished wiping off the table and left the booth. “They’re gone.” He tapped Peter’s shoulder.

  Oblivious to what had just happened, Peter pulled his head out of the hole. “Who’s gone?”

  “The two ladies who were cleaning the box across from us…over there.” Breathing hard, Michael pointed at the other side of the saloon. “I thought they were going to see us.”

  Now alert, crouched down as low as he could get, Peter edged to the side of the box and peered through the white spindles. The two women Michael had pointed out were slowly working their way through the tables and chairs on the second floor. “I think we need a diversion. I found something nailed to one of the beams, but I need some time to get it. Do you think you could do something to make everyone look at you?”

  Michael, who never wanted to be the center of attention, cringed at the question. “Do I have to? Why can’t I get whatever you found and you make the noise?”

  “I don’t think you can reach it. My arms are longer.” Peter understood his brother’s hesitation and came up with a suggestion. “Here’s my thought. Just like we do at home when Mom’s not around, you slide down the banister of the stairs. Hoot and holler like we usually do.”

  At the skeptical, worried look on Michael’s face, Peter shrugged at him. “Hey, it’s the only thing I can think of. The worst thing they can do is throw us out of here and tell us not to do it again.”

  “You sure that’s all?”

  “Uh, yeah.” Peter’s reply was quick, and he sincerely hoped he was right. He knew that he and Michael were pretty well known throughout the whole Disneyland resort since both his mom and dad worked there. It was possible one of the cast members could somehow page his dad to come and get them. Then he and Michael would have to explain what they were doing back inside the Horseshoe. “Yeah, it should work just fine.” He tried to sound confident—more for himself than Michael. “Give me a minute to pull that gray thing loose and then let her rip. Go ahead now, and make it loud.”

  Michael’s face wasn’t the vision of confidence as he headed for the top of the stairs. It wasn’t the banister that frightened him. It was a wide brass one that gently curved down to the bottom floor. The banister at home was much longer and steeper. It was the possibility of getting caught and getting in trouble and being embarrassed that worried Michael. He gave a resigned sigh as he watched his Mickey Mouse watch tick through the seconds.

  Back in the private booth, Peter grinned when he heard a loud, “Yahoo!” as Michael took off down the banister, whooping it up as he went. With a firm yank, Peter finally freed the flat canister that had been tacked to an upper beam. Stuffing it in his backpack, he finally found the button to close the secret panel and hurried out of the booth. Running down the stairs, he could see that his red-faced brother was surrounded by angry, concerned cast members.

  “Michael, you could have really hurt yourself!” A pretty server named Dawn had her hands on her hips as she confronted him. “You should know better!” She looked over as Peter loudly thumped down the last couple of steps as he tried to draw some the focus and attention
away from his brother. His plan had only partial success. “And Peter.” Her eyes were filled with amusement even though she maintained a severe frown on her face. “I would have expected that trick out of you, not Michael. Where’s your dad?”

  The boys looked at each other. He waved vaguely toward Tomorrowland. “Uh, he’s with Mom and Andrew playing a game. We were just on our way over there. I left my backpack here after the show.” For proof, he held it up for everyone to see. “We’re sorry.” Peter gave her a wide smile. “Michael won’t do it again. Will you, Mikey?” he asked, punching his brother on the shoulder.

  Frowning at the sudden assault on his arm, he glared at his brother. At the insistent look on Peter’s face, Michael’s mouth formed a silent, “Oh.” Taking Peter’s hint, he broke into a wide grin and gazed up at Dawn. “Uh, no, I won’t,” he promised as sincerely as he could fake.

  Dawn looked at the two handsome faces smiling up at her. It wasn’t hard to see who their dad was—and that he had trained them well. She had difficulty keeping the severe look on her face. “All right, I’ll let you off this one time. But, no more foolishness like that. Am I understood?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” they both mumbled trying very hard to look sorry.

  Dawn slowly shook her head back and forth as the boys hurried out of the saloon. “Just like their dad,” she muttered to the other cast members who stood with her as they watched the goings-on.

  More than one head nodded in agreement as they all got back to work.

  “We did it!” Michael was breathless as they ran into Magnolia Park next to the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square. They wanted to put some distance between themselves and the Golden Horseshoe—plus go in the opposite direction of where they thought the rest of their family might be.

  “That was so cool, Michael. I can’t believe you really slid down the banister!”

  Michael had so much adrenaline coursing through him that he couldn’t stand still. Jumping from one foot to the other, he looked like he wanted to break out and run somewhere. “I know! I was going pretty fast by the time I got to the bottom. What did you find? What did we get?”