Chapter Three
“Mommy, they’re here, they’re here” Journee yelled as she watched her best friend Serenity and her mom Ms. Kim walk up the sidewalk. “Okay sweetie, I’m coming” Journee’s mom said as she walked into the living room holding Journee’s little sister Destinee in her arms. “Hi Ms. Amanda” Serenity said as she stepped inside. “Hey Serenity, hey Kim” Amanda said placing Destinee in her play pen. “Hey Amanda” Kim said as she took a seat to talk to her friend. Not wanting to waste time, Journee and Serenity took off up the stairs ready to play with all of Journee’s new toys. “So what should we play with first?” Journee asked pointing to her toy box. “Well we didn’t get a chance to play with your new puzzles at your birthday party” Serenity said picking up a stack of puzzle boxes. “Hey we can do a puppy puzzle” Journee said pulling the box from the top of the stack. “Okay, hey they are so cute” Serenity laughed. “It’s going to be so pretty when we are done” Journee said as she started placing the pieces on the floor.
Journee didn’t get to spend that much time with Serenity since Serenity’s family moved to the other side of town. So the two would have sleepovers often. Journee wished she could tell serenity about her dreams or even show her, but that could never happen so Journee just helped with the puzzle until they both heard their names being called from downstairs. “Coming,” they yelled together as they raced down the stairs.
“Slow down guys” Journee’s mom said holding her arms out to stop their speed once they crossed their finish line at the kitchen door. “Your dinner is on the table but first let’s get those hands washed.” “Yes Ma’am” Journee said as she eyed the hot slice of pizza on her plate. After all the playing and pizza, the girls were more than ready to go to bed. Especially Journee, so she could drift off to sleep and see her new friends. Journee’s dad tucked the girls in and wished them sweet dreams. Before her dad could make it back down the stairs both of the girls were asleep and Journee was making her way down the dirt path ready to play with her friends.
Hearing Charlie’s bark, Journee stopped to take a good look around before spotting Aniya, Daesin, and Charlie playing off in an open field beside their treehouses. “Hey guys” Journee said as she made her way over to them. “Hey Journee” they both said together just as Charlie jumped on Journee licking her all over. “Down boy down” Journee laughed. Once Charlie calmed down and decided to run off to play by himself Journee turned to her friends and said “So what have you both been up too?”
“Nothing much, we had to calm down the magical trees earlier because the blendables kept being mean to them, but that’s about it” Daesin said. “Yeah those magical trees sure can get upset.” Aniya said as she rubbed her arm where one of the branches of the magical tree scratched her. “Well I’m glad you’re okay and you guys calmed everyone down.” Journee said just as Jacob walked up to them. “Good day everyone.” Jacob said as he approached them. “Hey Jacob!” Daesin said before going on. “What’s up?” he asked because he knew Jacob didn’t come out unless it was needed. “Well it seems the half giants and the centaurs are having problems over the apple trees, so I’m going to need you guys to go and check it out.” Jacob said. Without wasting another minute Jacob wished them safe travels then turned and walked back to his treehouse.
“Well we better get going” Aniya said as she took the lead role towards the magical forest. Once they reached the forest, Journee could tell that the trees were still upset, but this didn’t stop them from being extra polite to their three friends and their passage was quickly granted. Halfway to the apple trees the three ran into Max the fox who was looking down into a big hole.
“Hey Max” Daesin called out just as they heard a loud call for help which forced them to walk to the hole only to find the youngest fox Peter stuck. “What happened to him?” Aniya asked the nervous looking Max. “I kind of thought it would be funny before it happened, so do you guys think you could give me a hand getting him out before my dad finds out?” Max asked with fear in his voice. “I have rope, but I’m not strong enough to lift him myself” Max pleaded with worry in his eyes. “Sure thing max, we will have Peter out of there in no time” Aniya said as she took the rope and tied a loop into each end of it. “Come on guys, we’re going to pull him up.” Aniya stepped inside one of the looped ends then dropped the rest down to Peter. “Okay guys everybody grab the rope and get ready to pull on three” she said getting her footing right. “Okay ready, 1, 2, 3” Max yelled as he started pulling with all his might watching his brother slowly rise out of the hole.
“Thanks so much guys” Peter said grateful, but still mad at his brother for setting the trap. “You’re welcome Peter, well we must be on our way” Daesin said as they jumped back on their path headed to the apple trees. The rest of their walk was uneventful, so it didn’t take them long to hear the deep voice of the half giants and the calm, but demanding voice of the father centaur Noah. “Hey guys, what’s the problem Noah?” Aniya asked hoping it was only something small. “Well it’s like this, ever since the other giants kicked all the half giants off the top of the mountain, they’ve been eating all the apples.” Noah said in a calm voice as he pointed to all the apples laying all over the ground with some only missing a bite out of them.
Looking around all Journee’s eyes could see was bright red apples, so she didn’t understand why they could not share since the apples grew from the edge of endless mountains all the way to the centaur’s part of the forest. So with a confused look Journee asked, “Why can’t you guys just split the apple trees and use the ones by your homes?” Not really liking the thought of the loud giants even eating their apples, but knowing sharing is always the best thing to do Noah turned to the 7 ½ foot Lewis before telling him they could both share if they stayed in their part of the forest and he would do the same. He also added that if they would eat the whole apple then they wouldn’t need to eat as many to get full. Shaking his head to show he understood Lewis grabbed an entire apple and threw it in his mouth making everyone laugh.
With everything calmed down, everyone took some time to pick a few apples. Now the forest was once again filled with laughter and Journee loved every second as she ate yummy apple after yummy apple. Just as plans for apple pie were being talked about, Journee felt her body changing and knew she was about to wake up. With just enough time to say good bye Journee soon sat up in her own bed craving apples and fun with her friends.
With a full day to play with her best friend, Journee let those thoughts slip her mind as she saw Serenity sit up in the bed across from hers.