Cathy locked the door behind them as they ambled into the kitchen.

  “How about a bike ride?” suggested Jezebel.

  “What a good idea. It’s so flat around here,” approved Cathy.

  “Good,” smiled Jezebel.

  “I’ve got to get changed first though,” said Cathy.

  They went upstairs to get ready.

  After about twenty minutes, Jezebel came downstairs dressed in comfortable shorts and a long black long?sleeved T?shirt that read Witches and Wizards. Aunt Cathy was still in the bathroom getting changed.

  “What do you think about going for a bike ride?” said Jezebel to Tibbar, who sat quietly on the kitchen floor.

  “Should be fun. Do you know what else is fun?” asked Tibbar.

  “No, what else is fun?”

  “Mrs Jefferies is watching us through the kitchen window again.”

  Jezebel looked quickly back and saw Mrs Jefferies’ nose pressed against the glass, staring in.

  “Maybe I’ll just dance on the table for her,” giggled Tibbar.

  “Or you could drink some tea while holding your saucer?” laughed Jezebel.

  “Or I could float up into the air and come back down again,” said Tibbar.

  Jezebel couldn’t stop laughing.

  “Or you could disappear,” suggested Jezebel.

  “That’s a good idea. I’ll disappear,” said Tibbar.

  “No! Please drink some tea!” pleaded Jezebel.

  “Very well.”

  Tibbar hopped up onto the table, picked up the pot, and poured some tea.

  “One sugar please?” said Tibbar.

  Jezebel quickly placed a sugar into his cup.

  “Milk?” she asked, catching a peek of Mrs Jefferies watching with her mouth wide open.

  “Just a spot please,” nodded Tibbar.

  Mrs Jefferies let out a muffled noise of surprise.

  “What’s so funny?” called out Aunt Cathy from the guestroom at the top of the stairs.

  Mrs Jefferies stumbled back from the window. She walked away muttering about her doctor. The new pills he’d given her were meant to stop hallucinations, but she was now convinced they were making things worse. She also decided she would never look through their kitchen window again.

  Aunt Cathy came downstairs wearing an unzipped white cardigan over a green floral T?shirt, white shorts, and pumps.

  “Ready?” asked Aunt Cathy, coming into the room with a smile. “What have you been laughing at?”

  Cathy was shocked at the sight of Tibbar and Jezebel drinking tea together.

  “Mrs Jefferies just watched us having our tea party. She was peeping in through the kitchen window,” explained Jezebel, rubbing her nose.

  “Oh, Mrs Jefferies,” said Cathy, shaking her head. “She’s been looking through that window forever.”

  “Don’t worry, Cathy, no harm’s been done. If anything, she’ll now be going to a doctor who’s better suited to her needs.”

  Aunt Cathy burst out laughing. “You can be naughty and giving at the same time, can’t you, Tibbar?”

  Aunt Cathy followed Jezebel out of the house to the garage. Jezebel unlocked the garage door and they wheeled out two bikes. One was Jezebel’s blue bike with a basket on the front of the handlebars, and the other was Pamela’s red mountain bike. Jezebel had wanted to remove the basket, but with Tibbar now sitting safely inside it, that wasn’t likely to happen anytime soon.

  The bikes were in good condition and the tyres full of air as they set off. They bumped over the pebbles with some difficulty before heading out through the open gate. They turned right, with Jezebel out in front, pedaling towards the woodland ahead. The cooler weather was coming on quickly, thought Aunt Cathy, as the sun caressed her pale skin. She stopped pedaling and breathed deeply. The sun warmed her face.

  “Isn’t this a glorious day, Jezebel?” beamed Aunt Cathy.

  “Yes. It’s still the best week of my life,” smiled Jezebel, very happily.

  Where the woods began, they turned right. An old road ran as far as the eye could see to the west. They continued along it with the trees on their left and cleared old farming land on the right, which was partially York land. They looked into the woods as they rode down the hill and heard bird calls of different pitches echoing sweetly from within.

  After a minute the dirt road began to decline even more, and they could now steer without pedaling. The bikes went faster and faster until, with some relief, the road levelled off again. They pedaled up to a path that led into the woods. Here they came to a stop.

  “Let’s go in here,” said Tibbar.

  “How are you going, Jezebel? Do you need to rest yet?” asked Aunt Cathy, standing over her bike.

  “Hardly, I’m fine,” replied Jezebel. “Let’s go in here.”

  “Looks kind of cool,” decided Aunt Cathy, feeling the chilled air wafting out from under the large trees. Tibbar’s ears twitched at the different sounds.

  Jezebel pushed off and pedaled into the woods. Cathy followed slowly behind.

  It was much darker in the woods. The autumn sun barely broke through the treetops and only managed a scattering of dappled light. Several small wrens chirped frantically as they flew along the edge of the path beside Jezebel. A tawny owl hooted from a distant branch.

  All of a sudden Tibbar jumped out of the basket and bounced alongside Jezebel, stopping every so often before catching up again.

  They followed the winding path until it split into two. Jezebel waited, but Tibbar hopped straight past and took the left path. Jezebel and Cathy followed.

  When they finally caught up to where Tibbar was waiting, he spoke.

  “Leave your bikes here. Come.”

  They left their bikes and walked on the firm leafy ground. Tibbar jumped excitedly into the air from the high bracken.

  They came to a small clearing where three very large old trees stood. There was no bracken here. It was mossy underfoot, and toadstools grew in several shapes and colours, clustered together or standing alone. Long?tailed blue butterflies bobbled about in the sunlight that rested between the trees.

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  Jezebel thought she could now hear beautiful music.

  Tibbar hopped slowly into the middle of the clearing and then didn’t move.

  Jezebel sat down, a little breathless from their ride.

  “I am asking someone to come and meet you, Cathy,” said Tibbar.

  Aunt Cathy looked back at Jezebel with wonder. She walked to the edge of the mossy circle and sat gently beside her.

  Cathy looked at one particular toadstool and saw herself lift it from the earth. As she did so, she felt herself becoming light?headed. Darkness grew. The trees began to rustle as, close by, a gatekeeper prepared the joining of two worlds.

  The gatekeeper was invisible. But his large thick piece of wood—about five feet high, coated with a mass of black feathers like hair on top—began to shake, sounding like a flat tyre on a fast?moving car. Several branches from the three English oak trees began to sway.

  Tibbar began to produce a noise from his mouth. It built into a strange little howling note. It then became a gentle note he sang. It seemed to last a very long time to Jezebel and Aunt Cathy. Tibbar’s voice and the trees seemed to settle.

  Unexpectedly, before them stood Stone, holding the feathery staff. He smiled and vanished.

  Then Bootum appeared, dressed in her brightest yellow. She smiled lovingly at Aunt Cathy.

  “I am also with you, Cathy,” said Bootum, and faded slowly away.

  Astar appeared.

  “It’s Astar!” smiled Jezebel. “She’s my guide.”

  “Tibbar wanted to introduce me to you, Cathy. I am Jezebel’s guide,” she said warmly.

  “Hello,” greeted Aunt Cathy gently.

  “Time does not exist in Fariddion. I come from a time when the lands were together.”

  Astar continued to look at Cathy.

  “Your face is sweating,” observed Astar.

  Aunt Cathy felt her face. She was perspiring.

  “There is no sweating in Fariddion,” giggled Astar.

  “Tibbar, Elvin and Karen were very helpful to you, Cathy,” said Astar, standing motionless as Cathy blushed at the thought of the money she had won.

  Astar began to move. A tawny owl flew in circles around her as she danced.

  Jezebel and Aunt Cathy could both hear the soft music of the angels now.

  “We would like you to visit our party, Cathy,” said Astar. “It is important that you see what Jezebel has seen.”

  She turned like a graceful ballerina. Butterflies seemed to dance within her movements too.

  Tibbar also began to move with Astar. Jezebel walked over and followed her.

  “Yes, I’d like to attend,” said Cathy, standing and joining them.

  Astar danced to the edge of the clearing and glided back towards the centre, leaping into the air. As she came down, she slowed significantly. Sparkles streamed in her wake. She began to fade from view—and so too did Jezebel, Tibbar, and Cathy.

  Suddenly the sound of the trees vibrating ceased and Tibbar’s singing was heard no more. The woods fell silent. Several squirrels came down from the trees and played on the moss.

  Jezebel took Aunt Cathy’s hand and led her inside through the giant cloud door behind Astar, who was carrying Tibbar. Cathy was mesmerised whichever way she turned. Giant standing stones stretched out in a long line heading over and down a hill. Cathy had studied ancient dresses and recognised that some of the clothing people wore came from the 16th century, then the 12th, then the 9th.

  Jezebel encouraged Cathy to go behind one of the giant standing stones. Cathy followed and found herself looking out over a vast, gently sloping hillside. All sorts of people were gathered there. It was the party.

  People walked past Cathy and looked at her with interest. Several fairies fluttered by together and squeaked happily in her direction. She wasn’t sure if they were real or not.

  Cathy ducked down as she became aware of a large full yellow moon sitting dangerously low in the sky overhead. Its craters seemed almost close enough to touch. Jezebel could even see the wind as it gently passed by, multicoloured and scented like sweets. Shooting stars raced across the sky. Loud horns echoed around the small valley. The crowd cheered.

  Jezebel turned quickly and took in the sight of thousands of people celebrating on another hill, only a five?minute walk away. Their distant laughter was all delight. Halfway down the hill, Jezebel saw a large stage holding many musicians playing extremely complicated and exhilarating compositions. Beyond this, a commanding snow?capped mountain range was bathed in a soft pink light on one side.

  Jezebel thought she recognised one of the pianists from the cover of a CD her dad played a lot. Beethoven, she remembered. He seemed to notice her and smiled briefly before returning to the music.

  A group of acrobats glided past, flipping and juggling without touching the ground. An old blue steam locomotive chugged along at the bottom of the hill with many carriages. Large images appeared on the sides of the carriages showing the occupants having fun inside. One carriage showed a king from the Middle Ages making exuberant faces with his queen, communicating their happiness to everyone. The crowd cheered. The locomotive’s whistle blew.

  Astar handed Jezebel a chocolate egg wrapped in purple paper.

  “Happy Easter,” smiled Astar.

  Jezebel unwrapped the egg and bit into it. Purple sparkles escaped.

  Turning to her right, Jezebel saw Aunt Cathy, awe?struck by the dancers producing such a complicated spectacle before her wide eyes. Somewhere, Cathy could hear the song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds being played.

  Astar handed Aunt Cathy a chocolate egg wrapped in yellow paper.

  “Happy Easter, Cathy,” she smiled.

  Cathy accepted the egg but showed no intention of unwrapping it.

  Jezebel noticed a group of animals further up the hill. They looked important—Elephant, Bear, Rhino, and one that looked like a giant sloth. An incredibly large beast.

  Jezebel and Aunt Cathy followed Tibbar and Astar down the hill towards a group of people sitting around a fire. They sat with them, though Cathy kept her distance. She could tell the people were talking without speaking, but it was too complicated to follow. A group of dogs and cats ran past, chasing each other.

  Jezebel recognised Stone and Bootum among the dozen or so seated people. They seemed happy and content and waved at Cathy. Stone and Bootum hurried over to greet her.

  “Cathy!” smiled Bootum. “Come and join us!”

  Aunt Cathy didn’t answer. She was captivated by the elements of Fire, Water, Wind and Earth, which sat in ever?fluctuating forms around each other far off to her left. Trumpets blew again to mark some important moment within the party.

  Cathy noticed there was no arguing, no rude gestures, and definitely no fighting. It was a happy place. She felt that she and Jezebel fit in quite well here, even though they both looked a little simple compared to the rest in attendance.

  “Is there anything special you would like to do?” asked Stone.

  “Ah… I don’t really know,” said Cathy. “I’m a bit—no, a lot—overwhelmed. It’s um… like getting drunk the first time. Like that.”

  “Yes, as you wish,” smiled Bootum. She took Cathy’s hand. “Come and sit with us, Cathy.”

  Jezebel watched Cathy being led away to another group.

  “So now Cathy knows of Fariddion,” said Astar.

  “Yes. She’s happy here,” said Jezebel. “But I think she’s—”

  “Not ready?” answered Astar.

  “Yes,” replied Jezebel.

  “We have prepared our plan to deal with Harden, Jezebel,” said Astar calmly.

  “What will I do?” asked Jezebel, a little unsure.

  “We have interfered in the living earth’s media. You are now being spoken of around the living earth as a leader in children’s issues. We wrote a school essay and sent it to the United Nations. As of your request, you have been invited to address them at the summit in the city of Kawasaki, Japan.”

  “Really? Oh my…” worried Jezebel.

  “Do not worry,” said Astar. “I will attend to all communication with the world leaders. You only have to allow me to talk through you. Will that be alright with you, Jezebel?”

  “Will it save Fariddion?” asked Jezebel.

  “Yes,” said Astar. “And the living earth.”

  “Then that’s fine,” smiled Jezebel. “I’ll do it!”

  Tibbar jumped up. The party went silent for a moment as everyone was informed of Jezebel’s decision. Horns, bells and whistles rang throughout the party in celebration, as fireworks exploded into the sky.

  “Thank you so much, Jezebel. Fariddion will be eternally grateful. We will be sending you back now, for Cathy is reaching the point of becoming irrational.”

  Cathy ran back towards Jezebel looking frightened.

  “Jezebel—I can’t tell if I’m dreaming!!” shouted Cathy.

  As Cathy reached them, the scenery around them began to change. Audible voices from the gathering ebbed and flowed in volume and depth. Jezebel realised they were returning to the woods. The people faded away, leaving the sunlit moss.

  Tibbar was there too.

  “Did you enjoy the party, Cathy?” asked Tibbar.

  “I don’t know. I… don’t know. Was it real?” asked Cathy.

  “To us it is home and real,” replied Tibbar.

  “It was wonderful,” said Jezebel, looking with concern at her confused aunt.

  “I am going back to Fariddion and will visit you again soon,” said Tibbar. “Sleep on it, Cathy.”

  “Are we back on the day we left?” asked Aunt Cathy anxiously, looking closely into Jezebel’s face.

  “Yes. Same time,” said Jezebel.

  Cathy said nothing more as they watched Tibbar slowly disappear.

  “That was… I’m so confused. Bloody hell, Jezebel. Did you see Karen and Elvin singing on stage? They were amazing together,” said Aunt Cathy, sitting and staring at the toadstools on the sunlit moss. “Of course, going back in time to your school is right up there with it. Did you see—did you see?”

  “No, I didn’t see them,” said Jezebel, walking back towards her bike. “Mum and Dad will be home soon.”

  Aunt Cathy followed behind. She wondered what Jezebel would get up to with Tibbar when she was no longer around. For Cathy knew nothing of Jezebel’s mission to save Fariddion and the living earth.

  “Just promise me you won’t go missing and make your parents worried for your safety,” said Cathy.

  “I won’t make them worried. I don’t think Tibbar would let me get trapped in Fariddion. You made it back, didn’t you?”

  “Promise?” said Aunt Cathy seriously.

  “I promise,” said Jezebel, feeling responsible for Cathy’s safe return to the guestroom. Cathy seemed intoxicated.

  “We best be getting back,” said Cathy, looking behind her. Two vibrant yellow butterflies hovered just off the moss in a dance?like state, their wings beating softly against each other.

  “Everyone will be home soon,” said Cathy, beginning to calm down.

  “Exactly right,” encouraged Jezebel.

  As they reached their bikes, Astar appeared again with a gentle look on her face within the mossy circle. Beside her stood Stone.

  “It didn’t really work for Cathy quite as well. Though we knew this,” smiled Stone. “We must be careful to protect Jezebel. If Harden hears our plans, her life will be in danger.”

  “I like Jezebel very much,” said Astar. “We will keep her safe.”

  “Yes, of course… Mr Jackson has passed into our play,” announced Stone, and they vanished.