© 2012 by Nancy Donovan
All rights reserved. Published 2012.
ISBN: 978-1-937721-11-4
Jetty House
An imprint of Peter E. Randall Publisher
P. O. Box 4726
Portsmouth, NH 03802
www.perpublisher.com
Contact Nancy Donovan: beachtreeattheC@comcast.net
www.BeachTreeBooks.com
www.NancyDonovanauthor.com
Illustrations by Pat DeGrandpre
Book design by Faith Hague
Printed in USA
To those companions of childhood—the dolls, the animals, the blankets, the “softies”—and to the children past and present who loved them.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to:
Pat Parnell for her editing and encouragement
The Wiggin Memorial Library, Stratham, New Hampshire, Writers’ Group for their excellent critiquing and editing
My several friends who took time to read and comment on Marissa’s adventures
And especially to Kathy Jo Solomon of One of a Kind Fiberart for her creation of the real doll who was the original inspiration for the story.
www.KathyJoSolomon.com
soloperson@gmail.com
Contents
The Adventure Begins
1 The Discovery
2 Marissa’s Story
3 Life in the Forest
4 New Forest Friends
5 Kidnapped
6 Surprise Magic
7 Living in a House Again
8 Flying
9 Homecoming
10 Saying Goodbye
The Adventure Begins …
Every summer Ann and Will visit their grandparents for a week. Grandpa Bill and Grandma Sally live in an old farmhouse on the edge of a village in New Hampshire. The fields haven’t been farmed for many years, but their grandparents love the old house. The fields and woods around it give their two big dogs plenty of room to roam.
One special day, Grandma Sally packed them a lunch, gave them an old rolled-up blanket, and the children went off through the fields to have a picnic.
1
The Discovery
“Will, let’s explore and see what’s deeper in these woods past the meadow. They always seemed mysterious to me—like they’re hiding a secret.”
“Okay. No one told us we couldn’t go in the woods. Grandpa said there are deer there, but he never mentioned bears so I guess it’s alright. I can hear water gurgling. There must be a stream around here. Let’s find it and see where it goes.”
The children followed a narrow path leading deep into the woods. Soon the bright sunlight of the meadow disappeared as they walked into the cool, dark shadows of the old trees. After awhile they saw a sparkle of water through the branches. “There it is, Ann. Let’s follow it.”
“Look on the other bank, Will. What beautiful, bright flowers. We can cross over the stream and pick some for Grandma.”
“Okay. But try not to fall in—walking in soggy shoes isn’t fun.”
“There’re some flat rocks in the water, almost like a path. We can cross on them.”
The children crossed the stream and found themselves in a meadow bordered by tall oak trees. Everywhere they looked, the meadow seemed alive with life—bees were busy around the flowers, birds were flitting from tree to tree, some rabbits poked their heads out of burrows.
“Hey Ann, look over here—there’s an old rag doll propped between the roots of this big tree. She must have been here a long time—she’s covered with leaves.”
“Maybe somebody lost her.”