Can you believe that Fixies are Such itty-bitty creatures?
Even when they’re magnified It’s hard to see their features.
They’re tiny, infinitesimal, So small it makes you doubt.
But if you meet a Fixie, please, Don’t let their secret out!
The Music Box
“And when the Pied Piper...
...began to play his magical...
...flute, the rats came out of their holes and...
...followed him. And they never would be seen in Hamlin ever again!”
And then what? Huh?
I can’t read any more, my legs got tired.
Simka, Nolik! Something's rustling in there!
In where?
In Dad’s office, it's on his desk,
it's inside the wooden container!
So maybe there is a mouse inside it?
Tom Thomas, sit right here while Nolik and I go and check.
And if there's a mouse in there for real, then how are we gonna get it out?
Those rodents are really so big!
And why was I reading that book to you, huh?
Just grab a flute, give it a toot and the mice will scoot!
And where the flutes gonna come from?
We’ll make them!
Too-too-too-too- too-too!
You got it?
Sure I did!
Wait a second!
Let’s get a little closer.
- Too-too-too! - Too-too-too!
See? It's just like I told you.
No more mice in there!
So let’s toot a little more so they won't go back in.
Alright!
So you're the ones messing around out here?
Oh, Grandpus, it's you here!
All day I can’t work on what I need to do!
Right from the start someone's opening up the top, and then you two tooting!
It was Simka who came up with the tooting!
Just because you're afraid of mice!
Wow! What kind of machine is this?
Well, what do you think?
A coffee-grinder?
No.
A hole puncher!
Is it a foot scratcher?
- What?! - What?!
Well, a machine for scratching your feet!
You're joking all the time, you!
It's a music box and it's just wonderful!
Music boxes were invented more than 200 years ago.
Inside there is usually a cylinder with short pins sticking up from it.
In front of the cylinder there is a comb with metal teeth of different lengths.
If you pluck one of the teeth, it will make a pleasant sound.
A short tooth makes a higher sound,
and a long one – lower.
When the cylinder spins around,
the pins pluck the different teeth and music plays.
Awesome! So what's broken in here?
The spring slipped off.
It has to be pushed back into the right place.
Will you help?
There we go, that's better!
How come the music's not playing?
First you have to wind up the spring with the key.
Tideesh!
I know who can wind up the spring!
Well, TomThomas, can you guess what kind of machine this is?
- A paper cutter? - Nah-huh!
How about a hole puncher?
You're such a joker!
Now don't go and tell me is a foot-scratcher!
Then I don't know.
Then wind it up with the key and you’ll find out!
Do you want to know how the higher and lower sounds come out?
Put a regular ruler over the edge of a table,
hold down one end of the ruler and pluck on the other.
The shorter you make the end hanging off the table,
the higher the sound will be.
The teeth inside of a music box work the same way.
And bells work the same way too:
the smaller the bell, the higher it rings.
The sound of a violin or a guitar depends on how thick the strings are.
Fat stings make a lower sound and thin strings - a higher one.
How tight the string is also makes a difference.
Take a piece of string or a rubber band.
Tie one end to a doorknob and pull on the other end.
With your free hand pluck the string.
The tighter the string gets stretched out, the higher the sound.
If you want, you can even play a tune!
I think I got it now. It’s an old player for music!
That's close, but not it.
A music box is what they call it!
I just said that.
So, what was in there?
Just a broken spring.
That's not the thing I'm dying to know.
Who was moving around there?
All I say is, we, Tom Thomas…
Won't let this secret out!
Fixies have a special sign I happened to discover.
They hold three fingers in the air And flash it to each other.
They send their greetings to you, They sing them and they shout.
But if you meet a Fixie, please, Don’t let their secret out!
Modeling Clay
All done!
Simka!
Take a look!
I've got my own pack-o-mat!
Now look at that, a pack-o-mat made out of modeling clay?
But this one's my own! And it looks just like a real one!
OK, you're right. It really does, Nolik.
Simka, Nolik! What's up?!
Hi there, Fire!
Wanna play some tag with me?
I really wish I could play tag, but unlike you, I've got tons of work.
Yeah, like what?
Well, a bathroom hook fell down,
Tom Thomas broke the lamp on his desk,
the aquarium has a tube that's leaking.
So go and play! I have to get a pack-o-mat.
Oh-oh-oh!
"I wish I could play tag."
Hold on!
- Nolik, you’ve got a pack-o-mat! - Uh-huh.
Although I've got to say it looks a little strange.
That's cause it's…
Let’s fix everything before Simka!
With your pack-o-mat and my fixiboard!
This will be great!
So where is that hook that fell down?
Alright.
Nolik, get out some sticky stuff.
From where?
Obviously! From out of your pack-o-mat.
But it isn't real!
I made it out of modeling clay today.
Out of clay?
Well it totally looks real.
Long ago, back in the Stone Age,
people learned how to use clay to make their dishes and sculptures.
But the modeling clay that we use nowadays was only invented about a hundred years ago.
Actually, modeling clay is just plain old clay with some ingredients added so it won’t dry out.
And dyes are mixed in to make all of the different colors.
There is just no end to all of the fun things you can make out of modeling clay!
I got an idea! Go on, turn around!
What are you doing?
Grabbing glue out of your pack-o-mat.
Alright, get up here!
Will it stick?
Yeah, of course it will!
Let’s go and fix the lamp!
We can’t fix this without a real pack-o-mat.
Yours will work just fine!
Tideesh!
So, what else did Simka have to fix?
The aquarium.
Hop on!
Well, where's that leaky tube?
Here! It's leaking at the joint.
Yeah, this tube is gonna need a lot of modeling clay.
Give me the rest of your pack-o-mat.
Sure!
And here's a souvenir.
There. All done!
What's all done?
We already fixed everything!
And what did you fix it with?
Modeling clay.
Modeling clay isn't gonna hold anything.
Well I say it will.
Wanna bet?
Alright!
Ahhh! It's exploding!
What in the world is happening here?!
Flooding water!
You just do as I tell you!
Without panicking!
Did you know it's possible to make modeling clay in your own home?
Just write down this recipe.
You’ll need a cup of flower,
a half a cup of salt
and half a cup of water.
Now mix the salt with the flour and add the water little by little.
Mix it together really well.
What are you saying?
That it looks just like dough?
Well that's exactly what it is!
It's just not for eating – it’s way too salty.
But you certainly can sculpt things out of it.
If you want your modeling clay to be colorful,
you can add food coloring or watercolors to it.
That’s it!
Your modeling clay is ready to be sculpted.
When you're finished, don’t forget to let your figures dry in the sun.
That way they'll get nice and hard and last you a very long time.
Phew!
We almost didn't make it.
And did you fix the lamp with that modeling clay?
Uh-huh!
And the hook too.
That was not a good idea.
But it was really quick!
Hey!
That's true!
That's why I want to give a medal to you.
You're heroes!
- For real? - Of course you are!
And here it is!
Your medal!
But it’s made out of modeling clay.
Your reward fits your heroic deed!