Rebecca was an Explorer. She was small, but brave. She liked to look behind doors and under stairs. She also liked to be careful. “Slow steps,” she would whisper.
Today Rebecca was inside Spellcasters Hall. The hall was big and echo-y. Tap, tap, tap went her shoes.
A Sailor sat near the wide stairs. He wore a blue coat and a little cap. He was friendly and funny. He hummed like waves. “Hello, Explorer Rebecca,” he said. “I sail on floor-rivers. Want to help me?”
Rebecca nodded. “Help!”
Sailor pointed to a wall. A shiny door was there. But the door had no handle.
“Oh,” said Rebecca. “Where is the handle?”
Sailor looked worried. “It is lost. Without it, we cannot open the snack room.”
Rebecca’s tummy went grr.
From high up, a Spellcaster floated down. His robe swished like curtains. He held a twisty wand. He did not smile. “No handle for you,” he said. “I hid it. Mine, mine.”
Rebecca held Sailor’s hand. “We can find it,” she said.
They walked past tall shelves. They walked past mirrors that showed silly hats. One mirror put a hat on Sailor. It was very big.
Sailor giggled. “I look like a muffin!”
Rebecca laughed. “Muffin Sailor!”
Then they heard a tiny clink. Clink… clink…
Rebecca stopped. “Listen.”
They followed the sound to a hallway with paintings. One painting showed a boat on a moon. Another showed a cat with a crown. The frames were gold.
Clink… clink… came from behind a blue curtain.
Rebecca lifted the curtain. Behind it was a small table. On the table sat a glass jar. Inside was the missing handle, shining like a star.
“But it’s trapped,” Sailor said. “The jar has a magic lock.”
Rebecca thought. She was an Explorer, so she used her explorer tools: eyes, ears, and patience.
She looked at the jar. She saw a tiny picture on the lid: a circle, then a triangle, then a square.
Rebecca pointed. “Shapes!”
On the wall were three buttons: circle, triangle, square.
Sailor whispered, “Press them?”
Rebecca nodded. “Circle… triangle… square.”
Boop. Boop. Boop.
The jar popped open with a soft puff, like a little cloud. The handle slid out into Rebecca’s hands. It felt cool and smooth.
The Spellcaster swooped in, frowning. “Give it back!” he said.
Rebecca did not run fast. She ran smart. She stepped behind a tall vase. Sailor stepped behind a chair. They peeked.
Sailor called, “Hey Spellcaster! Your robe is backwards!”
The Spellcaster gasped and looked down.
That tiny moment was enough. Rebecca dashed to the shiny door.
She pushed the handle into place. Click!
The door opened.
Warm smells came out. Sweet and soft.
The Spellcaster blinked. His face got tired. “I just wanted the snacks,” he mumbled.
Rebecca looked at him. She felt kind. “You can have one,” she said.
Sailor nodded. “One snack. Then we share.”
The Spellcaster’s shoulders dropped. “Share,” he repeated, like the word was new.
Inside the snack room was a treasure shelf. There were bright crackers, tiny fruit rolls, and one special box with a ribbon.
Sailor opened the box. Inside was a little compass made of candy-red glass. The needle spun, then pointed to Rebecca.
“For the Explorer!” Sailor cheered.
Rebecca held it up. It sparkled. “My treasure,” she said.
The Spellcaster took one cookie and said softly, “Thank you.”
Rebecca and Sailor sat on the floor-river tiles and munched. Tap, tap became munch, munch.
And in Spellcasters Hall, the echo sounded happy again.