Through the Mirror and Into Snow

After a long journey, Val stopped. “This part looks familiar. Doesn’t it, Sam?”

  “I don’t know, Val. It’s all beginning to look the same after walking around for so long.”

  Suddenly, Otter ran off, barking, and they hurried after her. They came to a small clearing; she was sitting there, staring at the possum. For once, instead of staring at it from the back while it was running away, she could look at it face-to-face. It sat up on its rear feet and gave them its 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.