26

Grace continued to run through the forest, dropping a jellybean every so often to guide her mom and dad just in case they found her note.

She whipped her head around at every rustled leaf and snapped twig, fearing the worst behind every noise.

At this point, Grace decided that she would gladly give away every toy that she had ever had if she could just find her mommy. Even the new Princess Hair Studio that Aunt Joy had just given her. It had a Cinderella head that you could put real makeup on, and a real curling iron so you could really do her hair. The curling iron didn't get hot, so you couldn't burn yourself, but it was really real, just like Mom's curling iron. She hadn't opened it yet, and she wanted to play with it so bad, but she would tell Joy to take it back if this would just be all over.

As Grace dropped another jellybean on the ground, she turned around and saw the small house off to her left, just a few feet down the stone path. It looked to Grace like a cottage that a princess would live in before she met Prince Charming and went to live at the palace.

The windows had flowers on the sills, and the door was painted bright red. Grace made her way to the front door, hoping an adult was inside who could help her. She raised her little hand to knock on the door when she heard humming coming from inside. That made her feel better. Wolves never hummed.

The knock at the door made Miranda almost jump right out of her skin. It startled the boy as well. He sat up in his cage and looked bleary-eyed toward the door.

"You had better stay silent! Not a peep!" She scowled, pointing a bony, withered finger at the boy while she covered his cage.

He cowered into the corner of the cage and shook his head in terrified agreement.

Miranda walked to the door and opened it to find a stunning little girl of no more than six or seven years old standing there with dirt on her pants and a bewildered look on her pudgy little face. She could barely control her excitement and wiped the corner of her mouth.

"May I help you, little girl?" she said, her voice as sweet as strawberry cake.

"I'm lost and I can't find my mommy or daddy and somebody took me and chained my foot up but I got free and I ran as far as I could to find help and I found your house and can you please help me find my mommy?" the girl said without pausing to take a breath. Tears began running down her little cheeks.

"Oh no, my little dear, don't cry now. I'll help you find your mommy. Just step inside and have a seat. We'll get you cleaned up and then get you back into your mommy's arms. I promise." Miranda smiled widely, trying not to look overly anxious.

"Thank you. My name is Grace, and it is a pleasure to meet you," Grace said, just the way her mom had taught her.

Miranda laughed with glee, and Grace cowered.

"My name is Miranda, and it is my pleasure to meet you, Grace," she said, trying to calm the little morsel. "Come inside, my sweet, and I'll surely help you."

Miranda led the wide-eyed little girl into the parlor and sat her down on the red brocade sofa. While she poured the tot a cup of tea, Miranda noticed her attention wandering toward the large cage covered in the white cloth.

"Do you have a bird?" Grace asked, brightening a bit.

"Uh…" Miranda said before quickly forming a plan in her head. "Well dear, I do have a parrot. Here is a little bit of tea to calm you down. Drink it up and then we can look for your mother."

Grace took the cup and sipped a small bit. After making a sour little face, she looked again at the covered cage.

"I like parrots."

"Well, I guess that we should take a look at my parrot!" Miranda said, standing up.

"What's his name?"

"Uh, Harold," Miranda said, caught off guard.

Grace rose from the couch and allowed Miranda to guide her gently toward the cage with the promise of seeing something amazing.