10 Who Are You, Really?

Chapter 10 Who Are You, Really? Jack opened his eyes. Late afternoon sunlight shined into the tree house. “ Our third gift, ” said Annie. She put the lotus blossom beside the pocket watch from the Titanic and the eagle’s feather from the Lakota Indians. “ One more gift, ” she said to Teddy, “ and you’ll be free from your spell. ” The little dog licked her hand.

“ Hey, tell me this, ” said Jack. “ How did you know Teddy wanted us to hide behind that rock?” Annie shrugged. “ I just knew, ” she said. “ I think I saw it in his eyes. ” “ You did?” Jack looked into Teddy’s eyes. The little dog tilted his head and stared back at Jack. Teddy’s eyes twinkled, as if they held many secrets. “ Who are you, really?” whispered Jack. Teddy just smiled a doggy smile and wagged his tail. “ Come for us again soon, ” Annie said. “ Okay?” Teddy sneezed, as if to say, Of course! Jack grabbed his pack. Then he and Annie climbed down the rope ladder.

When they stood on the ground, they looked up. A little black nose was poking out the tree house window. “ Bye! ” they called. Arf! Arf! Jack and Annie took off between the trees. Birds sang in the twilight. Squirrels scampered playfully through the leaves. The Frog Creek woods were very tame after the forest in India. Soon they came to their street. As they walked to their house, the last bit of daylight was slipping away. Before they went inside, Jack and Annie sat on their steps. “ I have two questions, ” said Jack. “ If the hermit couldn’t see, how did he know about the tree house? And how did he know that we had traveled all night with the elephants?”

“ Easy, ” said Annie. “ The one great voice of the forest told him. ” “ Hmm, ” said Jack. He closed his eyes for a moment and listened. He heard a car going down the street. He heard a woodpecker pecking. He heard crickets chirping. He heard a screen door opening. He heard a mom saying, “ Time for dinner, kids. ” All the sounds were like one great voice—the one great voice of home.