“Where are we going?” Lina asked.
“It’s nearly time to say our farewells, dears,” Mrs. Baker said kindly. She looked very sad.
“We’re on our way home,” Lina told Peter; her voice was bittersweet.
Peter turned to Poke, who tried to look cheery even though Peter could tell he was a bit disappointed. They had become good friends in such a short time.
“We knew this time was coming, but it still gets ya, you know?” Poke confessed to Peter.
“I know,” Peter said empathetically. He felt the same way.
Peter saw the same trees he had seen the day before, the pointing trees. There was something different about these trees, though. He was sure it was the same path he followed to get to Maple Town. These trees were pointing away from Maple Town, in the direction they were headed.
“This looks like the path I took to get to Maple Town,” Lina stated.
“I’m pretty sure it’s the same one I took, too,” Peter said.
“Strange,” Lina replied.
Shortly after they had gotten over the hill, they noticed three figures in the distance.
“I wonder who they are,” Lina said softly.
“Probably some Candonites to see us off,” Peter suggested.
Just then, they noticed Mrs. Baker clasp her hand over her mouth and the mayor drop his head and shake it slowly. Peter looked at Lina and she shrugged.
As they approached, Peter recognized one of the figures. It was Joe’s father. Peter looked around for Joe. Thank goodness he wasn’t there. He did not recognize the others. As they grew closer, Peter could see their faces were glum.
“Those are Angela’s parents; Angela is the girl who brought me to the judge’s house,” Lina informed Peter.
Peter studied Angela’s parents and determined that they were both Candonites of the cookie race. They looked similar except the wife had rainbow-colored chips.
“Angela is as dreadful as can be,” Lina whispered to Peter.
“That is Joe’s father; Joe is the boy who brought me to the mayor’s.” Peter lowered his voice, “and Joe has got to be worse than Angela.”
“I doubt that.”
“I wonder why they look so sad,” Peter inquired to everyone. No one answered.
The float was right beside them now.
“Look there,” Peter said as he spotted something familiar. “It’s the package!”
The package was lying on the ground, slightly opened, marked with the same red “Special Delivery.”
“I guess that’s how we get home,” Lina said.
“You got it,” Mayor Baker confirmed.
“Oh, I’m not ready to go home yet,” Lina whined.
“Me neither,” Peter confessed.
As the float came to a stop, Mayor Baker pressed a ruby button on the steering wheel, and the steps of the float lowered. Everyone exited the float. They approached the three Candonites huddled together, and Mayor Baker told the others to please gather around. They did as they were told. Peter gave a quick look at the package sitting off to the side. They could see the faces of the three closely now, and they looked terribly worried. This made Peter and Lina very nervous. Peter and Lina exchanged glances and could see the other’s concern. Joe’s dad and Angela’s dad each held up a gray pebble in the palm of their hands. The pebbles were lying on small charcoal mesh bags.
Mayor Baker cleared his throat. “Peter and Lina, I have something important to tell you. Listen very carefully.” The tone of his voice was alarmingly serious. The children edged closer to be sure to not miss a word. Mayor Baker continued, “This is where your visit with us may end or where your new journey may begin. You have only to touch the special delivery package you came here in and speak these words: ‘Free to go home.’ Repeat it back to me, please; I want to be sure you know exactly what must be said.”
Peter and Lina obeyed. “Free to go home.”
The mayor went on, “There is something else I regret to inform you of…” There was an earsplitting screech, and Angela’s mother fell toward the ground, partially held up by her husband. She had fainted, and her husband and Joe’s father were tending to her as she came to.
“She’ll be fine. Please go on, mayor.” Angela’s father’s voice was weak.
“It’s Joe and Angela. They have vanished. And you, Peter and Lina, are the only ones who can save them. You see, we do not have the capability. Their behavior toward you was intolerable. You are the only ones who have the choice to save them.”
The children’s feelings were mixed. Why should they care? Oh, that is terrible! Between the two of them, they honestly did not know how to respond.
“What do you mean we have to save them?” Peter asked, concerned.
Mayor Baker pointed over their heads. “They are there.”
Everyone’s eyes followed in the direction the mayor was pointing.
“Where? There’s nothing that way but a bunch of grass and more of those pointing trees,” Lina observed.
Out of nowhere, the ground beneath them began to rumble and the trees shook violently, their pointing branches swaying up and down. Everyone was frightened.
“I don’t know anything more. We must be going,” Mayor Baker urged, composing himself.
“We must say our good-byes, dears,” Mrs. Baker said, rushed.
Mayor and Mrs. Baker reached for Lina and Peter to give each of them a warm, quick embrace. Peter could see a tear in Mrs. Baker’s eye and it made him sad. The good-byes were happening so fast that Peter couldn’t think of what to say. Not to mention the fact that the Candonites were counting on him to be a superhero. The closest he ever came to being a hero was…well, never.
“Be safe, children, and as I told you before, Peter, I have faith in you,” Mrs. Baker said.
“It was grand to have met you both…such an honor,” Mayor Baker added sincerely.
Mayor Baker began hurriedly escorting the parents toward the float. Angela’s mom had regained her strength and pleaded with Peter and Lina for a moment. “Please, please, help my child!” Her husband stopped her before she could say anymore and solemnly led her away.
Poke lingered with Lina and Peter as the others boarded the float. He spoke from the heart. “Sorry I can’t help you out with your situation. I don’t really know anything. I want you to know that I really had a great time hanging out, and at risk of sounding corny, I’m gonna miss having you around.”
Peter also risked sounding corny. “I’m gonna miss hanging out, too.”
“Oh just hug already!” Lina shoved Peter forward.
They gave each other a speedy guy hug, and then Poke was off to join the others, all of whom looked rather glum. Peter and Lina watched as the float descended toward Maple Town.
Peter was genuinely going to miss them. Despite the fact he had met them only the day before, he felt as though he had known them much longer. Once the float was out of sight, Peter’s thoughts shifted back to the task before them.
Lina’s voice sounded almost deafening in the gloomy silence. “What are you waiting for, Peter? Let’s get going.”
Peter agreed with Lina. What was he waiting for?
Peter turned around to walk in the direction which the mayor had pointed to earlier. He really couldn’t stand Joe, and from what Lina had said about Angela, she was no saint, but they were, after all, someone’s children, and Joe was Bella’s godson. And Mr. Baker had said Lina and Peter were their only hope.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going?” Lina called out.
Peter was surprised her voice was distant. He figured she was right behind him. He swung around to see what was up.
“Aren’t you coming?” Peter inquired.
“Coming where? There isn’t anything that way for a far stretch. The only place I am going is home!” Lina said, moving toward the special package.
Peter hurried after her. “Wait, what about Joe and Angela?”
Lina spat back, “What about them?”
“We can’t just leave them there.”
“Leave them where? And yes we can.”
Peter tried to talk some sense into her. “You heard Mayor Baker. We are their only chance!”
“Angela is a wicked little girl, and from what I gather from you about Joe, he is no Mr. Nice Guy either. Besides, what could possibly be so bad? There isn’t anything unpleasant except for them in this whole magnificent place,” Lina spoke, irritated.
“But…”
“But nothing,” Lina said. “I want to go home. I bet my family is worried sick about me. My mom probably called the police, my dad is probably searching the neighborhood inch by inch, and my brother has probably moved his things into my room and is jumping for joy on my bed as we speak!” She put her hands on the red letters of the package. The letters began to faintly glow.
Her voice was so demanding. Peter moved to put his hands on the package, too. When he touched it, the letters brightened.
“Okay then, we only need to say the magic words together. Ready?” She stared, searching for an answer.
“Ready,” Peter said reluctantly.
“Say it with me now,” Lina commanded.
Together they spoke aloud, “Free to go…”
“Noooooo!” Peter cried with stunning force as he yanked his arms away from the package. He blinked long and hard, expecting Lina to be gone when his eyes opened. But she wasn’t, her face staring back at his with both hands on her hips.
She spoke softly. “I couldn’t do it. I stopped speaking after saying, ‘Free.’ I wanted to say the whole thing, but my mouth wouldn’t do it. I guess I have to admit, I am a little scared. Saving others is a big responsibility, and it’s not like we got a lot of information on the situation.” Her face turned serious. “If you tell anyone I said I was scared, I’ll knock you for a loop!” She made a fist with her right hand.
Peter had never known Lina to be afraid of anything. She wasn’t afraid of spiders, older menacing boys, not even scary movies. Under the circumstances, though, he understood. He nodded at her to let her know that it would be their secret.
“I’m sure glad you stuck around,” Peter admitted.
“Hey, I wouldn’t want you to get all the credit for saving those lugheads.” She smiled.
“Besides,” Peter stated, looking at the shiny medallion, “these are pictures of the two of us.”
“You’re right. Lead us on our quest, captain.”
“I’m not leading us anywhere.” Peter took Lina’s hand; it was clammy, and he squeezed it tight. “We do it together…we do it as a team.”
“Fine, but holding my hand does not change our relationship in any way. I’ll pound you into mud if you try anything else!” she warned. Peter knew she was serious. He wasn’t planning on it. He was plainly frightened of what might lie ahead; they both were.