TIARA THORNELLS
“I’m going now, Randolf.”
That was my calm farewell to him before I turned my back and started walking away. I followed the direction he had given me, he said if I followed the stream, I’d find my way back home.
As I got farther, something made me pause. I turned to look back at him.
But when I glanced at the big tree branch where he had been standing moments ago, he was no longer there.
With a quiet sigh, I turned around again and continued walking.
After several long minutes, just as Randolf had said, I began to see our house at the edge of the forest. I wasn’t sure if Grandpa was home, but I had to make sure he didn’t see me coming in from the backyard.
When I finally reached our closed front door, I knocked twice.
“Wait a minute, Tiara,” Grandpa’s voice called
