Prince lets out one more tiny ruff, then drops down with a scowl. He’s keeping his eye on Hansel and Gretel, though. Good dog.

“Come on, Jonah,” I whisper. “Let’s go hide upstairs in our rooms. We’ll confront our impostors when they come up. If anyone is going to wear orange tomorrow, it’s going to be me.”

“And if anyone is wearing that ugly, itchy sweater, it’s going to be me,” Jonah whispers back.

I raise an eyebrow.

Jonah wrinkles his nose. “Fine, he can keep the sweater.”

I go into my room, expecting to see that Gretel has turned it into HER room. But nothing is different. All my stuff is exactly where I left it.

I run to my jewelry box. Yesterday, Hansel and Gretel were on there, snacking on the witch’s candy house. Now, though, they’re eating dinner … at my kitchen table!

No. No way. This is not their happy ending.

They are not stealing my life. I’m putting a stop to it pronto.

But I can’t just jump on them. I sneak over to Jonah’s room and tell him to hide in his closet until they come upstairs.

I change into dry clothes and then I squeeze into my closet, beside my extra shoes.

Hmm. It’s dark in here.

This closet could use a window. And maybe some snacks. A mini-fridge would be good. Perhaps a water fountain?

Finally, finally, finally, the door to my room opens.

“Hello, beautiful room,” I hear Gretel say. “Hello, soft bed. Hello, thick pillow. And hello, fluffy rug.” I hear a sigh. “Abby is so lucky.”

I pop out of the closet.

“You!” she shrieks.

“Oh, yeah,” I say, my hands on my hips. “It’s me. And I’m not very happy with you.”

A moment later, Jonah marches Hansel into my room. Hansel’s cheeks are bright pink.

“Care to apologize for stealing our lives?” I ask.

“We couldn’t help it,” Gretel says. “The portal was swirling right in front of us.”

Hansel digs his big toe into the carpet. “And you guys just kept bragging and bragging about how good you had it. With your school and your vegetables and your golden balls.”

“But that wasn’t fair!” I say. “The witch caught us!”

Gretel frowns. “She came back?”

“Yes!” I say. “And she took us prisoner in her house!”

“Well, so what?” Hansel says. “Otherwise she would have taken us prisoner!”

Fair point. “Maybe,” I say. “But that doesn’t excuse you for running away and stealing our lives.”

“Sorry,” Gretel says, her face crumpling. “I didn’t know the witch was home.”

“Me neither,” Hansel says. “Sorry. But you got away, right? You’re here.”

“Yes,” I say. “We got away. Barely. But we did.”

“Then once again you’re luckier than we are. You’re back with your perfect family. And we still have nowhere to go,” Gretel says with a sad frown.

“That’s not true,” Jonah says. “We saw your dad. He misses you and wants you to come home.”