“Why are you hanging out in the forest?” Jonah asks them.

“Our father and stepmother brought us out here,” Gretel says. “They told us we should light a fire. But we’re pretty sure they’re just going to leave us in the forest like they did last time.”

“They left you in the forest?” Jonah asks incredulously.

It’s true. They did. I know this part of the original story, since I’ve read it a million times, and our nana told it to me and Jonah when we were younger. But Jonah probably doesn’t remember it. I’ll have to fill him in when we have some privacy.

Gretel sighs. “Last time they brought us out here, we left little pebbles along the way. When the moon shone, we followed them all the way home. But this time, we didn’t have any pebbles, so my brother dropped bread crumbs as we walked. Just in case.”

“I did,” Hansel says proudly, in a way that reminds me of Jonah.

“Our dad told us to stay here while he and our stepmom cut some wood,” Gretel continues, “only that was a few hours ago. We were going to rest a little and wait until nighttime, but …” Her voice trembles. “I don’t think they’re coming back.”

Hansel kicks a rock with his shoe. “I don’t think so, either.”

Since I know the whole story, I know they’re not coming back.

“You should go look for the bread crumbs now,” Jonah says.

I give my brother a look. If Hansel and Gretel find their way back home now, it’s totally going to mess up the story. And what if Jonah was right? What if Maryrose doesn’t want us to mess up the stories? Maybe only when we leave the stories as is will Maryrose think we’re ready for our real mission. Whatever that may be.

“Good idea!” Gretel cheers.

“This way,” Hansel says. “I remember that tree with the half-broken limb.” He points, and we follow.

“I remember that tree, too,” Jonah says. “But I didn’t see any bread crumbs.”

Gretel bites her lip. “I’m sure we’ll see the trail just past that big rock.”

“Nope,” Jonah says. “I had my eyes on that path so I wouldn’t trip. I already skinned my knee at recess today, and I don’t want to do that again. There was blood everywhere!”

“What’s recess?” Hansel asks.

“Can we please talk about this later?” Gretel says, hands on her hips. “We have to find the trail of bread crumbs and get home!”

Wow, she IS just like me. Just as bossy anyway.

Hansel and Gretel rush ahead to find the trail of bread crumbs.

“They might not find them,” I whisper to Jonah. “Because of the birds.”

“WHAT BIRDS?” Jonah whisper-yells.

“Shhh. Okay, I’ll tell you the whole story.”

I make sure that Hansel and Gretel are out of earshot. I can see them up ahead, looking at the ground. Prince is trotting along behind me and Jonah, clearly still wary of the newcomers. “Once upon a time,” I start, “there were two kids named Hansel and Gretel.”