Treasure Trackers

Wow, Aunt Cynthia really has a thing for Halloween.

That's more like all of Carterville.

But as the saying goes,

"New Year's in Times Square, Christmas in Maine

and Halloween in Carterville."

Who says that?

I just made it up.

What do you think?

I gotta give it to them.

The spooky spirit is real.

What's the matter, dude?

You love Halloween.

Dad, I'm not 11.

Oh, graduating from treats to tricks now, are we?

I'm in middle school now.

I know you think you can just pull me from Encinitas

and drop me in Carterville,

but it's actually kind of a big year.

Look at it this way.

A new town means new places to explore

and new rocks to turn over.

You know when you're my age, you're not gonna remember

a single thing from sixth grade.

That you, brother?

It sure is!

Who's that little critter?

Smokes!

That Leah?

That's me.

The little critter.

I wasn't expecting y'all for another two days.

Let's go say hi to your Aunt Cynthia.

Come on.

Look at you!

Oh, my goodness.

Beau!

Hey, Beau!

Get out here, Beau!

Darn it, Beau!

Come on, now. I just--

I told you not to touch my jerry rig.

Give me a second.

The signal was perfect before you touched it!

Forget that antenna, Beau.

Get out here and say hello to my family.

Get over here.

Okay! Okay! All right! Gosh.

Weavers!

Gotta love Weavers.

Go ahead.

Check out the room upstairs, little critter.

I've got my own responsibilities.

Keep your voice down.

I got mouths to feed.

Beau here eats for six as it is!

Now, come on! You know, that--

I will be back soon

and then we're heading straight back to California.

Look, I just need some time to get us back on our feet,

all right?

Just do me this favor, sis.

Please.

And have her start all over again?

You think this is easy for me, raising a girl without a mother?

You're ditching me?

Leah.

Leah, come on. I'm not ditching you.

Leah! Leah!

I was gonna tell you sooner, but I just kept putting it off.

Whatever.

Go.

Leave. I don't care.

I got a job on a fishing boat.

It's gonna be good for us.

You ought to see this boat.

It's a 100-footer.

It's got dredge nets,

and we're gonna be scooping up clams,

and oysters, and crab, and honey, the money.

I mean, we are going to be set.

Ever since Mom died, it's like I'm your friend!

I am your friend.

I don't want to be your friend.

I want to be your daughter.

And someday, you may look back

and see that that's exactly why I'm doing this.

I got you something.

I'll give you a hint.

Um, we saw that guy at Moonlight Beach.

You said you wanted one,

and I told you it was too expensive.

Keep your present.

Leah?

Honey?

I'm leaving.

I'd love to say goodbye.

Bye!

Okay.

Goodbye.

Love you.

He'll be back before you know it.

Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey.

Pancakes.

Special touch.

Here you go.

And here you go.

Oh.

No, thanks.

I'm not hungry.

Not hungry?

You can't grow if you don't eat.

Hey!

I'm not done with you, Weaver.

Do you need a ride to school?

Point me in the right direction

and I'll do the rest.

That's easy.

There's only one street.

Let's go.

Marshy!

Hey!

Marshy!

What?

I thought you'd learn by middle school,

you can't always hide in a book.

How about this?

I'll take my life lessons from my readings

of the great philosophers.

If I ever want to learn the art of skinning possum,

I'll ask the guy who's repeated sixth grade twice.

Sit down, Rhett.

Class.

Quiet, please.

Rhett, please take your seat.

You must be Leah.

Please welcome a new student, Leah Weaver.

Everyone say hello.

Hello.

Go on and tell the class

a little something about yourself.

Uh, right.

Well, I used to live in Encinitas till yesterday.

My dad dropped me off without warning me,

so now I'm stuck with my aunt and uncle.

Ooh! Ooh!

I like to skate, surf.

Ooh!

Yes?

Have you ever seen a Pacific gray whale?

No, I don't think so.

Yo!

Cool shorts, dude.

Simmer down.

Simmer down now.

Go ahead and grab an open desk, Leah.

Now let's pick up where we left off

on yesterday's lesson.

If you did your reading,

you know we're getting to the good stuff

on ancient Egypt.

Hey, Leah!

Don't worry about Rhett.

He'll get held back again,

and we won't have to deal with him next year.

Hey, surfer girl.

Want some tips on how to fit in?

First off, don't speak to this loser.

Don't touch me!

Fight!

- Fight! Fight! Fight! - Fight! Fight!

Please?

- Fight! Fight! Fight! - Fight! Fight! Fight!

Whoa!

Smooth, dude.

I have a program called, "After School Self-Reflection."

I think you'd be a great fit.

Do I have to?

Well, I double as the librarian.

You'll help me tidy, organize books.

Sounds like detention.

After School Self-Reflection.

And you might even meet some nice kids.

Right.

I know Carterville can be cliquey.

Plus, starting sixth grade in the middle of a semester.

Golly, I'd rather go toe to toe with a Gallywampus.

A what?

Oh!

Is there anywhere in Carterville

that doesn't have a spider hanging from the ceiling?

Oh.

I get it.

We're not supposed to talk.

We can talk.

Oh.

Got you.

So, you don't feel like talking?

So, what'd you do to land here?

She dumped pumpkin guts in Rhett Perry's locker.

Picked his lock,