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  it. Grandpa withdrew his hand. Never liked me much.

  Some of these toys look expensive, Kendra said,

  standing beside an ornate Victorian dollhouse.

  Toys are meant to be played with, Grandpa said. Do

  your best to keep them in decent shape, and that will be

  good enough.

  Seth moved from the hen cage to a small piano in the

  corner of the room. He banged on the keys, and the notes

  that clanged sounded different from what Kendra would

  have expected. It was a little harpsichord.

  Consider this room your space, Grandpa said.

  Within reason, I’ll not bother you to pick things up in

  here, so long as you treat the rest of the house with

  respect.

  Okay, Kendra said.

  I also have some unfortunate news. We are in the

  height of tick season. You kids ever hear of Lyme disease?

  Seth shook his head.

  I think so, Kendra said.

  It was originally discovered in the town of Lyme,

  Connecticut, not too far from here. You catch it from tick

  bites. The woods are full of ticks this year.

  What does it do? Seth asked.

  Grandpa paused for a solemn moment. Starts out as a

  rash. Before long it can lead to arthritis, paralysis, and heart

  failure. Besides, disease or no, you don’t want ticks burrowing

  into your skin to drink your blood. You try to pull them

  off and the head detaches. Hard to get out.

  That’s disgusting! Kendra exclaimed.

  Grandpa nodded grimly. They’re so small you can

  hardly see them, at least until they fill up on blood. Then

  they swell to the size of a grape. Anyhow, point is, you kids

  are not allowed to enter the woods under any circumstances.

  Stay on the lawn. Break that rule and your outdoor

  privileges will be revoked. We understand one another?

  Kendra and Seth nodded.

  You also need to keep out of the barn. Too many ladders

  and rusty old pieces of farm equipment. Same rules

  apply to the barn as apply to the woods. Set foot in there,

  and you will spend the rest of your stay in this room.

  Okay, Seth said, crossing the room to where a little

  easel stood on a paint-spattered tarp. A blank canvas rested

  on the easel. Additional blank canvases leaned against the

  wall nearby, beside shelves stocked with jars of paint. Can

  I paint?

  I’m telling you twice, you have the run of this room,

  Grandpa said. Just try not to destroy it. I have many

  chores to attend to, so I may not be around much. There

  should be plenty of toys and hobbies here to keep you

  busy.

  What about a TV? Seth asked.

  No TV or radio, Grandpa replied. Rules of the

  house. If you need anything, Lena will never be far. He

  indicated a purple cord hanging against the wall near one

  of the beds. Tug the cord if you need her. In fact, Lena will

  be up with your supper in a few minutes.

  Won’t we eat together? Kendra asked.

  Some days. Right now I need to visit the east hayfield.

  May not be back until late.

  How much land do you own? asked Seth.

  Grandpa smiled. More than my share. Let’s leave it at

  that. I’ll see you kids in the morning. He turned to leave

  and then paused, reaching into his coat pocket. Turning

  back, he handed Kendra a tiny key ring holding three

  miniature keys of varying sizes. Each of these keys fits

  something in this room. See if you can figure out what each

  unlocks.

  Grandpa Sorenson walked out of the room, closing the

  door behind him. Kendra listened as he descended the

  stairs. She stood at the door, waiting, and then gently tried

  the handle. It turned slowly. She eased the door open,

  peered down the empty stairway, and then closed it. At

  least he had not locked them in.

  Seth had opened a toy chest and was examining the

  contents. The toys were old-fashioned but in excellent

  condition. Soldiers, dolls, puzzles, stuffed animals, wooden

  blocks.

  Kendra wandered over to a telescope by a window. She

  peered into the eyepiece, positioned the telescope to look

  through a windowpane, and began twisting the focus

  knobs. She could improve the focus but couldn’t get it

  quite right.

  She stopped fiddling with the knobs and examined the

  window. The panes were made of bubbly glass, like those in

  the front of the house. The images were being distorted

  before they reached the telescope.

  Unfastening a latch, Kendra pushed the window open.

  She had a good view of the forest east of the house,

  illuminated by the golden hues of the setting sun. Moving

  the telescope closer to the window, she spent some time

  mastering the knobs, bringing the leaves on the trees below

  into crisp focus.

  Let me see, Seth said. He was standing beside her.

  Pick up those toys first. A mess of toys lay piled near

  the open chest.

  Grandpa said we can do what we want in here.

  Without making it a disaster. You’re already wrecking

  the place.

  I’m playing. This is a playroom.

  Remember how Mom and Dad said we need to pick

  up after ourselves?

  Remember how Mom and Dad aren’t here?

  I’ll tell.

  How? Stick a note in a bottle? You won’t even remember

  by the time they get back.

  Kendra noticed a calendar on the wall. I’ll write it on

  the calendar.

  Good. And I’ll look through the telescope while you

  do that.

  This is the one thing in the room I was doing. Why

  don’t you find something else?

  I didn’t notice the telescope. Why don’t you share?

  Don’t Mom and Dad also tell us to share?

  Fine, Kendra said. It’s all yours. But I’m closing the

  window. Bugs are coming in.

  Whatever.

  She shut the window.

  Seth looked into the eyepiece and started twisting the

  focus knobs. Kendra took a closer look at the calendar. It

  was from 1953. Each month was accompanied by an illustration

  of a fairyland palace.

  She turned the calendar to June. Today was June 11.

  The days of the week did not match up, but she could still

  count down to when her parents would return. They would

  be back June 28.

  This stupid thing won’t even focus, Seth complained.

  Kendra smiled.

  Collecting Clues

  The next morning, Kendra sat at breakfast across from

  her grandfather. A wooden clock on the wall above

  him read 8:43. Reflected sunlight flashed in the corner of

  her eye. Seth was using his butter knife to bounce sun rays.

  She was not seated close enough to the window to

  retaliate.

  Nobody likes the sun in their eyes, Seth, Grandpa

  said.

  Seth stopped. Where’s Dale? he asked.

  Dale and I got up a few hours ago. He’s out working.

  I’m just here to keep you company on your first morning.

  Lena set a bowl in front of Seth and another in front of

&
nbsp; Kendra.

  What’s this? Seth asked.

  Cream of wheat, Lena replied.

  Sticks to your ribs, Grandpa added.

  Seth probed the cream of wheat with his spoon.

  What’s in it? Blood?

  Berries from the garden and homemade raspberry preserves,

  Lena said, placing a platter on the table containing

  toast, butter, a pitcher of milk, a bowl of sugar, and a

  bowl of jam.

  Kendra sampled the cream of wheat. It was delicious.

  The berries and raspberry preserves sweetened it to

  perfection.

  This is good! Seth said. Just think, Dad is eating

  snails.

  You kids remember the rules about the woods,

  Grandpa said.

  And to stay out of the barn, Kendra said.

  Good girl. There’s a swimming pool out back that we

  got ready for you-all the chemicals are balanced and

  whatnot. There are gardens to explore. You can always play

  in your room. Just respect the rules and we’ll get along

  fine.

  When is Grandma coming back? Kendra asked.

  Grandpa glanced down at his hands. That depends on

  your Aunt Edna. Could be next week. Could be a couple

  months.

  Good thing Grandma got over her illness, Kendra

  said.

  Illness?

  The one that kept her from going to the funeral.

  Right. Yeah, she was still a little under the weather

  when she left for Missouri.

  Grandpa was acting a little peculiar. Kendra wondered

  if he was uncomfortable around children.

  I’m sad we missed her, Kendra said.

  She’s sorry too. Well, I better be off. Grandpa had not

  eaten anything. He pushed his chair back, stood up, and

  stepped away from the table, rubbing his palms against his

  jeans. If you swim, don’t forget to wear sunblock. I’ll see

  you kids later.

  At lunch? Seth asked.

  Probably not until supper. Lena will help you with

  anything you need.

  He left the room.

  Dressed in her swimsuit, a towel over one shoulder,

  Kendra stepped through the door onto the back porch. She

  carried a handheld mirror she had found in the nightstand

  by her bed. The handle was mother-of-pearl studded with

  rhinestones. The day was a bit humid, but the temperature

  was pleasant.

  She walked to the railing of the porch and gazed over

  the gorgeously manicured backyard. Paths of white stones

  meandered among flower beds, hedgerows, vegetable gardens,

  fruit trees, and flowering plants. Tangled grapevines

  curled along suspended lattices. All the flowers seemed to

  be in full bloom. Kendra had never seen such brilliant

  blossoms.

  Seth was already swimming. The pool had a black bottom,

  and it was fringed with rocks to make it seem like a

  pond. Kendra hurried down the steps and started down a

  path toward the pool.

  The garden teemed with life. Hummingbirds darted

  among the foliage, wings nearly invisible as they hovered.

  Huge bumblebees with fuzzy abdomens buzzed from one

  blossom to another. A stunning variety of butterflies fluttered

  about on tissue-paper wings.

  Kendra passed a small, waterless fountain featuring a

  statue of a frog. She paused as a large butterfly alighted on

  the rim of an empty birdbath. It had huge wings-blue,

  black, and violet. She had never seen a butterfly with such

  vivid coloring. Of course, she had never visited a world-class

  garden. The house was not quite a mansion, but the

  grounds were fit for a king. No wonder Grandpa Sorenson

  had so many chores.

  The path finally deposited Kendra at the pool.

  Variegated flagstones paved the poolside area. There were a

  few recliners and a circular table with a big umbrella.

  Seth leaped from a stone outcropping into the swimming

  pool, legs curled up, and hit the water with a big

  splash. Kendra set her towel and mirror on the table and

  grabbed a bottle of sunblock. She smeared the white cream

  over her face, arms, and legs until it disappeared into her

  skin.

  While Seth was swimming underwater, Kendra picked

  up the mirror. She angled the face so it reflected sunlight

  onto the water. When Seth surfaced, she made sure the

  bright splotch of sunlight covered his face.

  Hey! he shouted, swimming away from her. She kept

  the glare from the mirror on the back of his head. Gripping

  the side of the pool, Seth turned to look at her again,

  throwing up a hand and squinting to ward off the light. He

  had to look away.

  Kendra laughed.

  Cut it out, Seth called.

  You don’t like that?

  Quit it. I won’t do it anymore. Grandpa already yelled

  at me.

  Kendra set the mirror on the table. That mirror is a lot

  brighter than a butter knife, she said. I bet it already did

  permanent damage to your retinas.

  I hope so, then I’ll sue you for a billion dollars.

  Good luck. I have about a hundred in the bank. It

  might be enough for you to buy some eye patches.

  He swam toward her angrily, and Kendra walked forward

  to the edge of the pool. As he started climbing out,

  she shoved him back in. She was almost a full head taller

  than Seth and could usually handle him in a fight,

  although if they ended up wrestling he was pretty squirmy.

  Seth changed tactics and started splashing her, making

  quick scooping motions across the surface of the pool. The

  water felt cold, and Kendra recoiled at first, then leapt over

  Seth into the water. After the initial shock, she swiftly

  grew accustomed to the temperature, stroking over to the

  shallow end away from her brother.

  He chased her, and they ended up in a splash fight.

  Locking his hands, Seth swung his arms in wide arcs, skimming

  the top of the water. Kendra pushed at the water with

  both hands, a churning motion that generated smaller but

  more focused splashes. Soon they grew tired. It was hard to

  win a water fight when both participants were already

  soaked.

  Let’s have a race, Kendra suggested as the splashing

  subsided.

  They raced back and forth across the pool. First they

  raced freestyle, then backstroke, breaststroke, and sidestroke.

  After that they created handicaps, like racing with

  no arms or hopping across the width of the shallow end on

  one foot. Kendra usually won, but Seth was faster at backstroke

  and some of the handicapped races.

  When Kendra grew bored, she got out of the pool.

  Walking toward the table to retrieve her towel, she stroked

  her long hair, enjoying the rubbery texture as the wetness

  made the strands cling together.

  Seth climbed on top of a big rock near the deep end.

  Watch this can opener! He jumped with one leg straight

  and the other bent.

  Good job, Kendra said to placate him when he

  surfaced. Shifting her gaze to the table, Kendra froze.

  Hummingbirds, bumblebees, and butterfli
es swirled in the

  air above the handheld mirror. Several other butterflies and

  a couple of large dragonflies actually rested on the face of

  the mirror itself.

  Seth, come look at this! Kendra hissed in a loud

  whisper.

  What?

  Just come here.

  Seth boosted himself out of the pool and padded over

  to Kendra, arms folded. He stared at the cloud of life

  whirling above the mirror. What’s their deal?

  I don’t know, she replied. Do insects like mirrors?

  These ones do.

  Look at the red and white butterfly. It’s enormous.

  Same with that dragonfly, Seth pointed out.

  I wish I had a camera. I dare you to go get the mirror.

  Seth shrugged. Sure.

  He trotted over to the table, grabbed the mirror by the

  handle, dashed to the pool, and dove in. Some of the insects

  scattered instantly. The majority drifted in the direction

  Seth had gone but dispersed before reaching the pool.

  Seth surfaced. Any bees after me?

  Get the mirror out of the water. You’ll ruin it!

  Settle down, it’s fine, he said, stroking over to the

  side.

  Give it to me. She took the mirror from him and

  wiped it dry with her towel. It looked undamaged. Let’s try

  an experiment.

  Kendra placed the mirror face up on a lounge chair and

  backed away. Think they’ll come back?

  We’ll see.

  Kendra and Seth sat down at the table, not far from the

  lounge chair. After less than a minute, a hummingbird

  glided over to the mirror and hovered above it. Soon it was

  joined by a few butterflies. A bumblebee alighted on the

  face. Before long another swarm of small winged creatures

  crowded the mirror.

  Go turn the mirror face down, Kendra said. I want

  to see whether they like the reflection or the mirror itself.

  Seth crept toward the mirror. The little animals took

  no apparent notice of his approach. He reached forward

  slowly, flipped the mirror over, and then retreated to the

  table.

  The butterflies and bees that had landed on the mirror

  took flight when it was overturned, but only a few of the

  winged creatures flew away. Most of the swarm lingered. A

  pair of butterflies and a dragonfly landed on the lounge

  chair at the edge of the mirror. Taking flight, they flipped

  the mirror over, nearly sliding it off the chair in the process.

  With the reflective surface showing again, the swarm

  pressed close. Several of the creatures landed on the face.

  Did you see that? Kendra asked.