"Well done," Teddy said softly.
"Indeed," said Kathleen, smiling at Jack and Annie.
Morgan smiled at them, too. "Thank you for yourfour secrets," she said.
"You're welcome," said Annie. "But we're notexactly sure what the fourth secret is.""I told Annie I don't think it can be a babypenguin," said Jack. "Because in our time people aren'tallowed to have baby penguins.""That is true," said Morgan. "But people can111always take care of someone--or some creature-whoneeds them.""Sothat'sthe secret?" said Annie.
Morgan nodded. "Taking loving care of another canmake one very happy," she said. "Like the other threesecrets, it helps us look outside ourselves. Then wecan better see all the gifts the world has to offer.""Yeah, taking care of Penny really took myattention off myself," Jack said. "I forgot about amillion things I was worried about.""I know you will miss her," said Morgan. "But Iimagine you will see her again someday.""So are we going on another mission soon?" askedAnnie.
"Return home and rest first, and we will send foryou again," said Morgan.
"Can you try to make it really soon?" said Annie.
"We don't like long rests."Morgan laughed. "We will see," she said.
"Oh, before we leave, I want to take a picture112of you three guys," said Annie. "It's for my familyproject at school. You seem like a family to me. Lookthis way, please."Annie aimed her camera at Morgan, Teddy, andKathleen. "Smile!" she said.
"What are you doing?" asked Teddy. "What are youholding?""It's a camera," said Annie. "Just smile. Saycheese.""Cheese? Why 'cheese'?" said Teddy.
Click! Flash!
"Got it." Annie put her camera back into her pocket.
"What was that? What did you do?" asked Teddy.
"It's hard to explain," said Jack. "It's like magic.
From our time.""Good-bye now," said Morgan, smiling. "Have asafe journey home toyourfamily.""Thanks," said Jack.
"See all you guys again soon-realsoon, we hope!" said Annie.
113"We hope so, too!" said Teddy.
"Good-bye," said Kathleen.
Jack and Annie left the garden cottage and hurriedback to the tree house.
They climbed up the rope ladder. Jack grabbed thePennsylvania book and opened it to a picture of theFrog Creek woods.
"Wait, I see Merlin and Penny! Look!" Anniepointed toward Merlin in the distance. He was stillwalking through the apple orchard with Penny at hisside.
"They look like a little family now, too," said Jack.
"Yeah, they do. I should take their picture," saidAnnie. She aimed her camera at Merlin and Pennyand took a picture. Then she sighed. "Okay, homenow.""Bye, Penny," Jack said softly. Then he pointed inthe book to the wordsFrog Creek.
"I wish we could go there!" he said.
The wind started to blow.
The tree house started to spin.
114It spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still.
** *"We're home," Annie said. "That was a great trip."She and Jack were back in the Frog Creek woods.
"Yeah. I hope we see Penny on our next mission,"said Jack.
"If we see Merlin, we'll probably see Penny," saidAnnie. "I think those two are a team now. At least wehave a picture of them--and a picture of Teddy,Kathleen, and Morgan."Annie held up her camera and clicked through thephoto display. "Oh, no!" she said. "I don't believe it!""What?" said Jack.
"All my pictures are gone!" said Annie. "NoAntarctica! No Merlin or Morgan! No penguins!""Really?" said Jack. "Maybe you can't keep thepictures you take on a magical trip.""I think you're right," said Annie. "I only have115one picture. I took it right before we left home." Sheheld up her camera to show Jack. It was a picture ofhim. He had a grin on his face.
"That's when I saw the streak of light over thewoods," said Jack, "and I knew the tree house wasback.""Well, at least I capturedthatmoment," said Annie, sighing.
"Yep." Jack put the Antarctica book on the floor ofthe tree house and pulled on his pack. Then heclimbed down the rope ladder. Annie followed. Asthey started tramping over the fallen leaves, thewoods were growing dark. Jack felt a little cold andhungry.
"So the fourth secret istake care of someone who needs you,"said Annie. "I guess that could mean lots of things.
Like take care of a sad person, a baby, a puppy, or anew kid in school..."Jack nodded. "Yep," he said. "And maybe it worksthe other way, too.""What do you mean?" said Annie.
116"I think sometimes you can make other peoplehappy by lettingthemtake care ofyou,"Jack said.
"Oh, right," said Annie. "It seems to make Mom andDad happy to take care of us.""Like when they tell us to wear scarves and gloves,"said Jack.
"And make us dinner," said Annie.
"And tell us to be home before dark," said Jack.
"We better hurry," said Annie.
"Yep, let's go make Mom and Dad happy--" saidJack, laughing.
"By letting them take care of us!" said Annie.
The wind shook the tree limbs, and leaves flutteredto the ground. Geese honked overhead as Jack andAnnie hurried home through the chilly Novembertwilight. |