Page 28 - The Muse 2021

Statue of Liberty is made out of copper which was brown until it oxidized. I ran out of central park to the subway and started making my way through the city blocks hoping I would be there first. Once I had gotten to the edge of downtown, I went flying out of the subway station and to the docks to look for a ferry. Once I finally found one it was incredibly crowded and wasn't leaving for another hour.
“Psst, over here. That ferry looks very crowded. I’m delivering mail to Brooklyn, but the bridge is closed for repairs today so I got lent a boat so I could still deliver the mail.” Max said.
I explained the situation I was in to him.
“Oh, that's quite a predicament. It's such a shame to see good bookstores going out of business to bigger corporations.”
“You see why I need to get there?”
“Yes. I'll get you there. It's a little out of the way and the boat isn't too fast because it's meant for getting across the river, but it should be better than waiting for that ferry.”
The other competitors looked like they knew what they were doing. There was a tall brown -haired man with green eyes who was competing as well. I was assumed he was going to be my main competition. I saw him standing in line looking frustrated with the line he said to the ticket lady
“Please just give me a ticket; it's so very important.”
She responded, “Get in line buddy you're no different than everybody else.”
“Please, ma’am I’m begging you.”
“No!” She responded firmly.
George and I were on the boat going towards Liberty Island.
“Thank you so much I can't express how grateful I am.”
He responded “It’s no problem. The way I see it, I’m helping out a friend with his bookstore. It's a good situation
and when it's done, I can still deliver the mail.” “You really are great.”
We arrived at The Statue of Liberty and I didn't see any other competitors. “Thank you, Max. This means a lot.”
“You're very welcome. Hope everything goes well bye.”
“Bye.”
I went to the entrance to the statue and there was a desk with a man standing behind it. It was the Statue of liberty tour desk. I asked if I could go into the Statue.
“No,” the man replied.
“Why?”
“Closed. For some competition to win some money for clues.”
“I'm a part of that competition and the next clue is at the top of the statue.”
“Oh, come on in, the stairs to the top are right this way.”
As I was walking up the stairs, I noticed something peculiar. The competitor I saw earlier was a few floors above
me on the staircase. How could he be here already? I saw him stuck at the ferry dock waiting for a boat. He couldn't have swum over here the currents are too strong and the water is cold. He would have either drowned or froze before he got to the island. Now I was walking faster to catch up to him. I finally caught up to him and we started walking together.
“If you don't mind me asking, how did you get here? I saw you asking the lady selling tickets to the ferry refuse to give you one and told you to get back in the line.”
“I managed to just get on a touring boat right before it left. Nobody saw me it was crowded so I just made my way through the boat and when it stopped in front of the statue it was very close to some concrete stairs right behind the statue, so it was a longshot, but I made the jump and started to make my way up the stairs. How did you get here?”
“I was able to catch a ride on a friend's boat.”
We finally made it to the top and there was a little pamphlet saying for competitors only, you know who you are. The man read it aloud “Where knowledge is all around and animals surround you, look for where the bears are
interested in a log. What are you looking for the next clue perhaps? Leave pamphlets for next competitors.” I was having trouble figuring out the clue and so was the man.
“So, what's your name,” I asked.
“Cole,” he answered.
Time was passing and we were just sitting in the crown trying to figure out the clue. More competitors were coming. I assumed they were all on the ferry. I still couldn't figure out the clue when it hit me. I hadn't checked my watch once since the competition had started. When it had started it was 9:30 and now it was 11:45. How had I spent so much time just sitting around thinking.
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