My eyes search the field. Instead of my brother, I see rows and rows of colorful veggies. Spinach! Cabbage! Carrots! My parents would love it here.

But I don’t see Jonah. And I don’t see Prince. I’m not going to worry though because this has happened before. I’m sure they’ll show up any second.

Yup. Any second now.

Three. Two. One.

Okay, I’m starting to worry.

Do not panic. Do not panic, I tell myself.

But did I leave Jonah and Prince behind? I did step through the mirror before them.

I spin around and try to figure out what I came out of.

Oh! One of the spinach patches seems to be swirling. Maybe there’s still time.

I bend down and scream into the green swirl.

“Jonah! Prince! Where are you guys? Hurry up!”

Nothing happens. The swirling is slowing down. Oh, no. What if they don’t come through? Should I jump back into the swirl? I’ve never been in a fairy tale by myself. I don’t want to be in a fairy tale by myself!

Ahhhh!

I should go back in. No. Yes. No. Yes —

Suddenly, Jonah comes flying out of the patch and lands on his tush on top of a bunch of radishes.

Prince leaps out right after him, paws and legs flailing. He barks once, lands on all fours, and immediately chases after a white butterfly.

YESSSSSSS. They’re here! I melt with relief.

Jonah sits up and pulls a leaf of spinach out of his mouth. “Yuck. More spinach? This stuff follows me everywhere!”

“What happened to you?” I yell. “You freaked me out!”

“What happened to me? That was your fault! You should have waited for us to stand closer to the mirror for the third knock! That was scary, Abby! You always hold my hand! Why didn’t you hold my hand?”

Oops. I guess he’s right. I was kind of overeager. “Sorry,” I say sheepishly.

“It’s okay.” He stands and brushes bits of spinach leaves off his jeans. “I’ll forgive you this time. Since we made it. Almost didn’t, but we did.” He scrunches his nose and looks around. “What fairy tale are we in?” He pulls another leaf out of his hair. “Wait. These are vegetables!” His eyes light up. “Do you know what else is a vegetable? Beans! Does that mean what I hope it means? Could we finally be in Jack and the Beanstalk?”

Jonah always thinks we’re in Jack and the Beanstalk. He’s obsessed with Jack and the Beanstalk.

“I don’t think beans are vegetables,” I point out. “I think they’re legumes or something. Or maybe fruits?”

“That’s ridiculous,” Jonah says with a wave of his hand. “Of course they’re vegetables. So don’t you think it’s possible that we’re in Jack and the Beanstalk?”

“It’s possible,” I say.

Jonah hops on the toes of his shoes. “It is, right? It is! We’re in Jack and the Beanstalk! I know we are! We have to be!”