Through the Mirror and Into Snow (12 page)

T
HEY
R
EACHED
A
N
A
REA
of the forest that looked familiar to them, but they couldn’t really be sure. It was all beginning to look the same after walking around in it for so long. Suddenly Otter ran off barking and they hurried after her. They came to a small opening and saw her sitting there staring at the possum. For once, instead of staring at it from the back while it was running away, it sat up on its rear feet and gave them her full attention.

A bright light shone over the possum and suddenly in its place was a kindly looking old woman. She had on a simple but shiny blue dress and a floppy pointed hat. She was just a little chubby like a kindly grandmother should be. You know; the ones that always have fresh cookies for you.

“Hello, men,” she said to the dwarves. She addressed Valerie and Samantha with a wide smile. “Hello, girls.”

“Are you a fairy godmother?” asked Samantha.

“I’m not just
a
fairy godmother; I’m
your
fairy godmother…both of yours. My name is Odette.”

“We have a fairy godmother?” Valerie shouted. “Way cool!”

“But why were you a possum?” asked Samantha.

“You can see how Snow needed you both very much. I had to turn into something real in your time so you two would chase after me and follow me here. I’m not allowed to come right out and ask. I suppose I could have been another one of your barn cats, but I don’t think you would have noticed me too much or tried to follow if I was merely another cat. Sir Lexington and I have had wonderful conversations about the two of you. He thinks the world of you both.”

“You talk to Lex?” Valerie replied with wide eyes.

“Of course, dear. I go to your place often. I love to listen to your mother tell her stories.”

“You were the lady at the fruit stand and the one who gave the dress to Danielle too, weren’t you?” asked Samantha.

“Yes. Indeed I was.”

“I was waiting for you to get that.” Valerie smiled to Samantha. That got her a punch in the arm. “Ow!”

“Now I owe you one free doorknob.” Sam playfully stuck out her tongue.

“Why did you have us follow after you in the forest? Didn’t you know the queen was going to be there to use the comb on Snow?”

“I could see there was going to be trouble, but I couldn’t perceive all the details. I knew she was coming and had to lead you away from the cottage. I guess she was determined to find you one way or another. I can’t see and prevent everything, you know.” She took a few steps closer to them. “There’s only so much meddling I’m allowed to do. I knew the story of the comb and what was to come, but I can’t change history. It’s already written; it just needed a little shove from you two. Do you like how Wilhelm and Jacob have re-told your tales?”

“Who?”

“Wilhelm and his brother Jacob. Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, my dears; the Grimm brothers.”

They both smiled wide, not able to believe it. They were truly living the fairy tales before they were told.

“He was
that
Wilhelm?” Valerie said in astonishment. She was well acquainted with the Grimm Fairy Tales.

“Indeed. You see, girls, some stories are just that; stories. Some stories are legends and get passed on from generation to generation. Of course, the details do get changed here and there as the story gets told and retold again, but the main parts remain the same, especially if it is one that is of true love and a kind heart. Remember these days always, young ladies. You helped these things come to pass. You may not be mentioned on paper but you have touched the hearts of those here now. Let these lessons be a part of you always.”

With that she vanished. The area behind where she had been standing no longer looked like a part of the forest. It turned into a scene from the tack room. It was surrounded in a lovely metal frame. The little men had returned them to the mirror.

The girls went over to the dwarves to say their goodbyes. They made them promise to give Snow a hug from them when they got back to the little cottage.

Otter took charge and was the first to bound through the mirror. After the slightest of hesitations, the girls followed through, halfheartedly. They had never before known such mixed feelings. Of course they were happy to be going home, but also very sad to be leaving their new friends and the magical land that seemed like a second home in the short time they were there.

They walked up to the house expecting to see a police car or their parents waiting up with worry. They had been gone for several days; there would be a lot of explaining to do and they didn’t know where to possibly begin. They snuck back into the house and could only hope they weren’t discovered. As far as they could tell, nothing had changed. They got Otter settled in, said their hellos to Dottie, and climbed over the gate. They tip-toed over to the computer and Valerie checked the date.

“Samantha! It’s the same night! It’s like we weren’t gone at all! Time must be different there.” They gave each other a big hug of relief, went upstairs. After changing into their own pajamas, Val put the clothes and shoes into a small plastic bag and buried it at the back of her closet. “My mom will never go digging in here.”

“Afraid of what she’ll find since the sandwich she dubbed ‘the greatest science experiment of all times’?”

Val laughed. “Yeah, something like that. Will your mom get mad that you lost your shoes?”

“Nah, I’ll just tell her they got too muddy to clean with all the rain, and that I stepped in horse poop. She will be glad they didn’t come home.”

They yawned wide and climbed in bed without another peep. Me? I flopped down in the garden after taking an antacid for my stomach. Man, these two are going to be a lot of work!

Val’s dad came home early the next morning before the girls were even awake. As usual, he had been anxious to get home and slipped away as soon as he could from his business trip. He kissed his wife good morning and they sat down to share what happened over their time away from each other.

“How was your week with the girls?”

“Great. I hardly knew they were here they were so good. You know how they are when they get together. I finally got the last chapters of my book done just before Sam got here and had printed it out. The girls were sneaking reading it. I found it upstairs this morning when I couldn’t find it on the desk. They were sleeping so soundly, I hated to wake them. I couldn’t risk climbing over them to get it. I can’t be too mad; they knew they were the main characters. I shouldn’t have teased them so much.” Valerie’s mom enjoyed telling stories so much that she had started her own fairy tale as a gift to her princess. “Come to think of it, I dusted off that messy desk yesterday and didn’t miss it. They must have read the whole thing in two days. I’m actually excited to see what they think.”

“Are you going to let me read it, or are you going to keep torturing me, too?”

“Well, I guess if Val read it, you’ll have to read it as well. Otherwise she won’t stop talking about it and it’ll drive you insane.” They laughed at the thought of how that did seem to be one of Valerie’s favorite pastimes.

“Hon, would you mind hanging that old mirror for me today? I’d really hate to see it get broken, especially now that I have seen the R.O.U.S. out there. I can see Otter chasing whatever it was and running into it.”

“I’ll get right on it this morning, really I will.” He kissed her again and followed up with, “As you wish.”

L
OUD
H
AMMERING
A
WAKENED
T
HE
G
IRLS
. They stretched and yawned then bolted up. They were in Val’s bed. Sam touched down at the mattress, almost willing it to be made with straw. Val was doing the same. They missed their friends already. They glanced over at the manuscript scattered across the bedroom floor then looked at each other. They were each afraid to say anything for fear they had both been dreaming.

Samantha finally broke the silence. “That didn’t seem like we were just reading a book or having a great dream, Val. It was way too real.”

“I know. I feel the same way.” Their shoulders slumped. They got out of bed without the usual hop in their step to get the new day going. Apparently neither genius thought to go look in the closet for the clothes. I wonder how long it will take Val to find them again.

They walked down the stairs half asleep, half in a daze about what happened. They were surprised to see the mirror hanging in the living room when they came down for breakfast. They both smiled at each other.
It had to be real.

Separately throughout the day, they went to it several times, hopeful that once again the mirror would reveal the forest instead of their reflection. When it didn’t, they wondered if their over-active imaginations got carried away while reading the story.

On the last night before Samantha was to be taken home, they went over to the mirror together. They gasped and grabbed each other’s hands when they saw a man walking away from a tree. They went over and called out for him, but he could not hear them. He had nailed up a parchment on the tree. They read it together, out loud.

“Lord Wilhelm and Lady Dorothea are proud parents! All are invited to attend the festivities this Saturday at the castle.”

They smiled and hugged each other. “I knew it wasn’t just a dream!” Samantha squealed with glee.

Together they touched the mirror, but nothing happened. It gradually faded back to their reflections while they watched with heavy hearts. Perhaps they would not get their chance to go back and live another adventure this time, but they certainly would never stop trying. Holding on to the happy dream of another adventure, they cheered up and bolted for the stairs.

“I get the white chess pieces and pink monopoly money,” Samantha said, making her way up ahead of Valerie.

“Okay, but I get the purple hat!”

They were so happy for the couple they left in their fairy tale land. Wilhelm and Dorothea would be the best parents ever! They knew one day Snow would again meet up with her stepmother, but everything would turn out all right. They were sure everyone would live
Happily Ever After.

Just in case you are wondering…

Donald Duck’s middle name is Fauntleroy.

THE END

Ann T. Bugg is the Queen of her castle where she lives in southern Minnesota with her Knight in shining armor (who has come to her rescue more than once) and her own little Princess Valerie. The pets in her enchanted kingdom come in all shapes and sizes, as do all the critters that make their way out of the enchanted forest. Horseback riding and long walks with her dogs are on her list of hobbies, but writing will always be her first love. She’s still waiting for that possum’s return.

More Books by Ann T. Bugg

The Before Happily Ever After Series:

Through the Mirror and Into Snow, Book #1

Into the Forest and Down the Tower, Book #2

Off To Camp and Discovering Art, Book #3

Down the River and Awakening the Rose, Book #4

More to come!

Ann T Bugg is the pen name for June Kramin

For her women’s fiction, visit
www.junekramin.com