Every word she read aloud this time, singing the bear song and making that dream real. From hyperreal to merely real.
“We’re going to the Strange House,” chanted Kylie. “It’s a very big house.”
“What a beautiful day,’ Sadie joined in. “We’re not scared. Uh oh …”
The girls paused to think of the right words.
Sadie was first. “Walls. High brick walls.”
Kylie nodded.
“We can’t go over them. We can’t go under them. Oh! No!” The girls made horror hands and horror shoulders at each other. “We’ve got to go through!”
They stopped. In front of them was a big wooden gate.
“Number 13,” Sadie said very softly. “It’s the most hidingest gate ever, I think. If there’s anyone waiting, we can’t see them.”
“We could buzz.” Kylie sounded dubious. She wasn’t really a big brave bear-hunter. Besides, M
