Hello again Story Club members. I'm Ivy, your ghostly host with the most, and keeper of the strangest,

spookiest tales on earth. Today is another Ivy's chilling tale. This tale story club members is extra spooktastic because it was written by one of you.

Thank you so much to my beloved listener, eight-year-old Jacob, for creating today's terrifying

tale for us.

It's one Jacob and I call, Spectacles of despair. The first rays of summer's sun

were dancing on the rooftops of Pine Grove, the ultimate suburban enclave. Kids were out in their

shorts enjoying the weather with bikes, soccer balls, and jump ropes. Their laughter filled the streets,

and it was hard to imagine anything bad happening anywhere

with so much sunny, funny joy.

Among the kids shaking off their spring chill

was 12-year-old Max Harper,

who was notorious for turning ordinary summer days into unforgettable adventures.

And today, the woods bordering pine grove, filled with hidden trails and ancient trees were calling

his name. Max, wearing his favorite adventure cap and armed with a flashlight and old school

paper map, embarked on a treasure hunt.

Legends of a hidden trove and an old tree shared around campfires and sleepovers sparked his imagination.

He couldn't resist the allure of unearthing secrets and possibly becoming a Pineve legend himself. Maybe he would earn the name,

the pirate of pine grove. Ha! Max chuckled at the thought of it. So off he went. The woods

were alive with the sound of chirping crickets and rustling leaves. Max navigated through the trails,

his map leading him to the very

heart of the forest. The journey was filled with excitement, as he imagined discovering gold

coins or ancient artifacts or perhaps even a hidden letter from an actual pirate. After a series

...