9 The Festival

9 THE FESTIVAL Bonfires were burning in the brown pasture. Red flames leapt into the air. More travelers had arrived. Hikers wore backpacks and carried walking sticks. Everyone was watching villagers beat drums and dance around the fires. Many dancers wore bright red and purple clothing. "The festival has begun!" said Tenzin. "What is the festival?" said Jack. "The Festival of Colors!" said Tenzin.

As they drew closer, Jack saw that the people at the festival all had brightly colored faces. "Look at them!" Annie cried. Everyone's face was painted with many colors: Rose red! Lime green! Sky blue! Lemon yellow! "Tenzin! Jack! Annie!" Mina, Fuli, and Ama were shouting and running toward them. Their faces were painted like everyone else's. Ama showered blue powder over Jack, Annie, and Tenzin. Mina flung red and purple powders! Fuli tossed yellow and orange! Soon all their faces and clothes were covered with bright colors! Everyone was laughing. They

seemed happy, especially Tenzin. "Your faces are rainbows!" he said to Jack and Annie. "Yours too!" Annie said. "We're so glad to see you!" said Mina. "Ama was worried!" "Where were you, Tenzin?" Ama asked him. "We went by your house and you weren't there. We couldn't find Jack and Annie, either!" "I took them on a hike," said Tenzin. "You do not have to worry about me anymore, Ama. I am ready to live my life again." Ama grinned. Her eyes were shining. "That is the best news I have ever heard," she said. "Tenzin, join us!" said Fuli. She grabbed one of his hands. Mina grabbed the other. They pulled him toward the crowd. "Come, Jack and Annie!" Fuli called over her shoulder. As Jack and Annie headed into the pasture, Ama walked with them. "What has happened to Tenzin?" she said. "What did you do to help him?" "We didn't do anything," said Jack. "We just followed him up a high hill," said Annie. "He's a great guide," said Jack. "Sometimes it was hard to keep up."

"That's all you did?" said Ama. Jack and Annie glanced at each other. Jack shook his head. He didn't want to share their story of the Gray Ghost. That story belonged to Tenzin. Annie seemed to understand. "Yes, that was pretty much it," she said to Ama. "We just followed him," said Jack. He shrugged, as if the change in Tenzin was a mystery to him, too. Ama laughed. "Well, whatever you did, he seems very joyful. Now maybe he will return to his old life." "I'm sure he will!" said Jack. In that moment, he felt joyful, too. He was grateful that he and Annie had come to the Nepalese village. "Have your parents arrived for the festival yet?" asked Ama. "Do you see them?" Jack and Annie pretended to look for their mom and dad in the field full of dancers and people with painted faces. Jack wished his parents were at the Festival of Colors. He imagined they'd be laughing and enjoying every minute. His parents loved holidays and celebrations—Christmas, Easter, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving. Annie seemed to feel the same thing. She turned to Ama. "Actually, they said we should

meet them at noon by the stream. We were planning to all hike together today. They don't know about the festival." Ama laughed. "When you find them, they will be surprised to see your painted faces. I hope you will bring them here. But if not, have a wonderful hike. The sun should come out soon." "Thanks for taking care of us!" said Jack. "Everyone, say good-bye to Jack and Annie," Ama called to the girls and Tenzin. "They have to go meet their parents!" "Oh, no!" said Fuli. She and Mina ran over to Jack and Annie and hugged them. Tenzin gave them a wide grin. Then he put his hands together and bowed his head. Jack and Annie bowed to him, too. Then they bowed to Ama and her daughters. "Thank you for everything," Jack said.

"We miss you already!" said Annie. She blew kisses to all of them, and Mina and Fuli blew kisses back. Then Annie and Jack took off down the dirt path and left the pasture. They passed by the mountain stream and headed back into the hemlock grove. Jack quickly found the rope ladder and started up. Annie followed, and they climbed into the magic tree house.