Jason and Susie walked very quickly to the old ampitheater, panting for breath. "Tell me again why we are hurrying so fast?" Susie gasped as she asked the question. They had run at least four blocks already and she was extremely out of breath.

"My grandpa said to meet him here at exactly 3:00 to go through the old maze. And we have to go through the maze- it's for that weird assignment Mrs. Hicks gave us."

Susie rolled her eyes. There had been a lot of confused students when strange Mrs. Hicks gave out her last big project description. They had each been assigned to go through the town's maze. No other instructions were given. Just 'Go through the maze by the end of the semester." Below the very unhelpful instructions was a list of contact people who could assist everyone in getting started.

The maze had been designed ages ago- before the dinosaurs died out, probably- in a feeble attempt to attract tourists. And it worked- for about thirty years. Of course, all that ended about fifty years ago. It was no surprise that Jason's grandpa was one of the people on the contact list. Everyone on the list was old enough to be the students' grandparents. Some were even old enough to be their great-grandparents.

When they finally reached the base of the ampitheater, which was also the main entrance to the maze, there was no one there waiting for them. "Nuts!"Jason cried out. "We've missed him! It's 3:15."

"We aren't THAT late," Susie muttered. Jason nodded his head in agreement. But his grandpa prided himself on punctuality. If he said he was going in the maze at 3:00, he was going in at 3:00 sharp whether he had his tourists in tow or not. "So we have to make another appointment with your grandpa?" Again, Jason nodded, grimacing.

That's when he spotted the paper stuck to the memos sign at the edge of the ampitheater. It said 'Jason' on the front of it, and he recognized his grandfather's handwriting.

"Wait, maybe not!" he said, hopefully. He yanked the paper down and unfolded it. But his hope quickly drained and confusion replaced it.

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He read aloud, "Jason, I am heading into the maze. Here is the key to get in."

"I don't see a key," Susie interrupted.

"That's because there isn't one." Jason motioned for her to look at the paper, then continued reading. "I couldn't wait so I went in without you too bad you were late."

"So.... what's the key?" He looked at Susan for help. She shrugged.

"Wait, here's a lock on the gate of the maze," she said. "It has a combination lock."

"So, that weird sentence is a clue to the combination? We were supposed to be here at 3:00. Is it 300?"

"No, it's letters. Let's see... Six letters."

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Help Jason and Susie figure out the first clue. Use what you learned in this lesson to open the lock. When you figure it out, click the First Lock button below. Still need help? Email Mrs. Hicks.

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A little hint: You are looking for the type of run-on sentence Grandpa used in his message.

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First Lock