Nine

Bobby and Sally said farewell to their newfound friends and headed down the path that would lead them out of the Talking Forest. The trees sang them gentle songs and wished them well. “Thank you for freeing us from the evil magician’s spell,” they cried out.

“You are very welcome,” replied Bobby, doing his best to sound chipper, while all the time his heart was aching from the thought that he might never again see the Talking Trees. They had helped him more than once, and he hated to leave them behind.

“Don’t feel sad,” Sally said to him as she noticed his frown. “We may yet be able to come back and see them someday. Until then, we’ll have their song in our hearts.”

As they neared the end of the path that took them to the Door in the Rock, Bobby looked back. Sally was right, of course; she almost always was. His older sister had a way of making the darkest day seem a little brighter. Bobby waved at the trees, said a quiet “Goodbye,” and turned away.

Just as it had when they first discovered it, the Door sensed their approach. A soft, comforting golden glow peeked out through the cracks around it, and the lock snicked open. Sally reached for the enormous carved knob, turned it effortlessly and pulled the door open. Soundlessly it swung wide, and the children walked into the golden light. The Door closed silently behind them, and they found themselves where they had started just four short days ago. Bobby looked at the wall behind them, but the Door was gone. All he could see was the cowboy and Indian wallpaper his mother had put up so many years ago.

He took his sister’s hand as a single tear formed in his eye. She looked down at him, wiped moisture from her own eye and told him, “I know; I’m going to miss them too.” She led her brother down the hallway to the stairs, and then down into the kitchen where their mother sat reading her magazine. The morning sun was peeking in over the yellow curtains covering the window.

“Well, it’s about time you two got out of bed. It’s almost 10 o’clock! Have some breakfast, now.”

The two children shared a puzzled look. Not a day had passed in their home, despite everything they had just experienced. Bobby looked up at Sally, who smiled and shook her head almost imperceptibly. “No,” she said silently, “let’s not say anything. No one would believe us anyway.” Bobby understood completely, and they both ran over to the counter where Mother served them the best breakfast they had ever eaten in their lives.

Outside the window the wind blew gently through the trees, and they sang a gentle song which only the children could hear.