Read the story A Treasured Memory: Mira and Vanessa were counting down the days until the long weekend. Every summer, their whole family, aunts, uncles, and cousins, would get together at their grandparents' farmhouse in the country. Family friends would come, too, and their grandparents would throw a big party.

Mira and Vanessa's grandmother always planned a surprise every long weekend. One year, they had a slippery water slide in the backyard, and another year, it was a water balloon fight! Mira's favorite was the year they had a bouncy castle. When they got to the farmhouse, Mira and Vanessa could hardly contain their excitement.

Their grandmother could see that they were bouncing off the walls already and said, "It looks like you kids need to burn off some of that energy! Why don't we get you started on this year's surprise activity? I have your first clue for the scavenger hunt!" Their grandmother pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and gave it to Vanessa.

"What's a scavenger hunt?" Vanessa asked.

"It's like a treasure hunt! We'll have to go around collecting clues, and at each clue, we will find another clue until we reach the treasure!" exclaimed Mira.

"What is our first clue, then? We better get going," Vanessa declared.

"If you're feeling sleepy from your long drive, come for a swinging nap to make you feel alive," read Mira.

"A swinging nap, eh? Hmm. It must be the hammock down by the creek!" Mira shouted, and with that, she, Vanessa, and their cousins zipped down the hill to the creek. Sure enough, there was a note attached to the hammock. This time, Vanessa read the clue.

"'Underneath is where the minnows like to hide, over top is where the tractor likes to ride.' Where on Earth would minnows and tractors be in the same place?" asked Vanessa.

"The bridge over the creek!" Cousin Zachary explained. "Jacob and I catch minnows under the bridge, and Grandpa has to drive the tractor over the bridge from the barn to get to the house." Sure enough, tucked in the beams of the bridge, there was another note:

"A croquet game you must play and send a ball far away."

Cousin Jacob piped up, "I saw the croquet course set up at the top of the hill. I think we have to play it to find the next clue!"

They rushed up the hill to play the game. Right at the end of the course, they had no choice but to knock their ball down a hill and into the cedar trees.

"This must be where we have to 'send a ball far away'," said Jacob, and with that, he swung his mallet to launch his ball down the hill. It rolled down through the pine needles until it bumped into a tree and came to a stop.

"Hey, look! There is a note on the tree my ball hit! Grandma sure is clever!"

The cousins raced around the property all afternoon, collecting clues left and right.

"This final clue will bring you pleasure, as with it comes your rewarded treasure. Collect a stick, thin and long, then head to where there are campfire songs!"

All the cousins shouted the answer to the clue out loud, "The bonfire pit!" Then they rushed to collect sticks and made their way to the fire pit.

The whole family was gathered around an enormous fire that their grandfather had built. It smelled of smoke, and of Grandma's famous homemade baked beans that were bubbling over the fire.

"I see you brought your sticks. Are you ready to receive your treasure?" said their grandmother as she turned around. She picked up an enormous pan with a great big lid on it to reveal a huge pile of hot dogs!

"I bet you worked up quite an appetite. Grab a hot dog and stick it on your stick to roast it in the fire. It's about time you little scavengers enjoyed your rewards!"

The cousins were all starving. Roasted hot dogs never tasted so good, and they treasured the memory forever.

What is similar about the mood of the characters at the beginning of the story compared to the end of the story?

They are really disappointed to be going to their grandparent's house at the beginning of the story, and they are just as disappointed with the prize they get at the end of the story.

They are really excited to go to find out what the surprise will be at their grandparents' house this year at the beginning of the story. They are really excited to have completed the scavenger hunt and to have received their prize at the end of the story.

They are really excited to have completed the scavenger hunt and to have received their prize at the beginning of the story.

They are really excited to find out what the surprise will be at their grandparents house this year at the end of the story.

They are really excited to leave their grandparent's house at the beginning of the story, and they are really excited to get back to their grandparent's house at the end of the story.