The sound of the markets filled the air. The dirt roads became paved under my feet. Smells of breads, and tarts whaffed from the bakery. The baker was just opening his shop. He waved as I walked by. 

 

“Hello Poppy” he called out holding open the door as women entered his shop. I smiled and walked farther down the street. The shops were just opening and the market hummed like a beehive full of bees. Compared to many of the other people in the town, I stood out. Many people had dark hair and eyes with tanned skin from working in the sun. My red hair and green eyes came from my mother who died long ago and despite all the work outside I do my skin is white as milk. My father was a farmer, but after he fell ill, we moved from our farm, into a small hut on the outskirts of the village with little crops, a cow I milked every morning and three fat chickens. I came up to the jewel stand and looked over the gleaming necklaces. The owner was busy with a costumer I looked around at the jewels I glanced at the owner again he had his back turned. I slipped one into my basket under the supplies I already bought. I could never be able to afford one of these, these beautiful jewels. He turned towards me 

 

“Can I get you something?” he asked wiping his hands on his apron. 

 

“Oh, no thank you” I said “I’m just looking about today.” He nodded and stopped. He looked at me curiously. For a moment, I thought I was caught. Thieves were often imprisoned, but many people stole things from the markets. I held me breath. 

 

“You must be Poppy,” he said. I nearly sighed with relief, but stopped myself.

 

“Yes sir I am,” I replied.

 

“I’ve heard about you from the miller’s wife. She seemed very thankful for you helping her when the miller went ill” he said

 

“I am glad to hear that” I nodded, “it was only a small task but I am glad to know she enjoyed it. I am sorry I must be on my way” I said he nodded a good day I walked up to the millers cart and smiled

 

“Hello Mr. Hure,” I said folding my hands together.

 

“ Hello Poppy” said the little man with his brown eyes kind smiling, “what can I get you today?”

 

“A sack of flour please, ”I said with a gleam in my eyes. I would make bread with the flour, and the empty flour sacks I could sew together for a dress. 

 

“Here you go” Mr. Hure said handing me a flour sack “4 alms” I handed him the money.

 

“Thank you sir,” I said placing the bag in my basket, “my father wishes me to say hello for him.”

 

“How is the old man?” Mr. Hure asked.

 

“He is well,” I said.

 

“That’s good. Well good day Poppy” he said. I walked away from his stand to go home again. 

 

I walked past a cart of corn. I quickly picked one up and hid it leaving as fast as I could. I made it safely out of the village and on to the dirt road that was parallel to the forest. I heard a cart rumble down the path behind me and looked back. A black carriage pulled by an old grey horse was behind me I stepped to the side of the road. As the cart passed I smiled at the old woman driving it. She just stared at me under her dark hood. Once she had passed me, I continued to walk down the path until I came across a large opening in the forest edge. Something had clearly been driven through leaving an opening that lead to a muddy path deep in to the forest. I walked down in between two large oak trees that were on each side of the opening. I walked farther in and looked back the opening. It was gone! Nothing but trees everywhere. The great oaks were gone. I looked at the path. It leads to small cottage built of wood. I ran up to the door to see if anyone there could help me find me way again. I raised my hand to knock on it, but I realized it was cracked open. I pushed it opened. 

 

“Hello?” I called stepping in the room “Is anyone here?” No reply came. I looked around. It was a small dusty house and sunlight beamed thought small holes in the ceiling. Around the table there were three chairs. I stepped forward, the floor creaked as I walked. “It must be abandoned,” I said to myself. I looked at the desk in the corner. A small bag sat on the edge. I walked over and picked it up. Coins jingled in side of it, I opened it into my hand. Seven golden coins spilled out. I looked around the cabin once more. No one seemed to live there. I closed the coins in my fist and put them in my basket.

 

“Hello” a hoarse voice said from behind me. I spun around. An old woman in a tattered cloak stood there. I saw the grey horse and cart from the opened door “What are you doing here dearie?” the woman croaked, pointing her crooked finger at me. She looked at my basket and saw the coins “a thief!” she exclaim “a thief!” she repeated 

 

“I’m sorry I…” I tried to explain but she cut me off.

 

“You dare steal from me,” she said. 

 

“But I didn’t think…” I began to speak.

 

“Silence child” she shouted. She grabbed my wrist. I screamed. “A thief must learn their lesson!” She cast back her cloak and pulled me over to the corner where a large cauldron lay. A green liquid swirled around in it. White smoke poured over the sides

 

“You’re a witch” I exclaimed. Fears cold hand crept up my spine.

 

“And you are a thief” she shout back. She dipped a cup into the liquid. She held it up to me. “Drink it dearie” she cackled.

 

“Please” I begged, “my father, what will my father do when I die?”

 

“Die?” the witch asked “foolish girl, this will send you to a kingdom where you will learn not to steal.” she lifted the cup to my lips forcing me to drink. The hot liquid burned my throat. My eyes widened. It tasted like tar. She let me go, and I stumble back. The room filled with green smoke that swirled around me. 

 

“Where are you sending me?” I screamed over the howls of the vicious wind but the witch only smiled at me. The floor beneath me opened into a small hole. I screamed and tried to move away, but the hole enlarged pulling me down in to the dark. I fell down a narrow hole. Roots hit me on the way down. I screamed as things flew over me. I realized they were books and candles floating in the air. I looked down. Thousands of things littered the air, I fell narrowly missing them. A candle caught the edge of my dress I screamed in fear and put out the fire. It had sieged the corner off the bottom off it I fell on the hard ground and laid still. I thought I had died but at long last I opened my eyes to the sun. I lay on soft grass in the forest surrounded by trees. Nothing floated in the air. I heard bids caw. I sat up looking around no witch’s hut or strange path. The trees looked different, the bark was carved into a spiral pattern. I stood up, brushing the dirt off my dress. “Witch,” I called out but no reply came. “Witch,” nothing  “Where am I?” I asked myself.

“The Sherwood Forest” a deep growling voice said behind me I turn around sharply. A large wolf pawed at the ground behind me. His eyes were large, grey, and staring at me. I gasped and the wolf seemed to smile. Don’t fret child,” it said chillingly nice “I will not harm you.”

 

“You can speak,” I said stepping away from it. 

 

“Yes” it, said, its voice slow and musical. 

 

“But you are a wolf” I remarked. It gnashed it razor teeth at me, I stepped back. “Forgive Me,” I said. 

 

“Wolf” it said mocking me, “and you are a human,” he hissed. 

 

“Yes, but” I started.

 

“You say wolf as if I am dangerous, yet humans hunt us, eat our flesh, grind are bones, and sell our furs.”

 

“I can not help it. I have no say in the matter,” I said almost choked by fear 

 

“It does not matter you are still human,” the wolf said, “I said I will not harm you so harm you I will not.” It smiled wickedly “but they shall.” More wolves came out of the trees I gasped and pressed myself against a tree. 

 

“Please, do not kill me,” I begged. The wolf chuckled 

 

“Quiet human, do not fear it will be quick.” He said. One of the wolves jumped forward I dodged out of the way and took off running. For a moment they didn’t follow shocked I was running away. “After her” the wolf growled. The pack took off after me, I ran hard and fast. I looked behind they were almost on me. I looked back ahead I saw a cottage up ahead. I ran to the door and pulled it was locked. I banged on the door. 

 

“Help me!” I shouted, “help!” I banged again. I looked back, the wolves came closer. The door flung opened and I dashed in as the first wolf lunged for me. The door slammed before he got in. I quickly rose to my feet a boy and girl only slightly younger then me had opened the door. They were clearly twins. Brown hair and blue eyes with light skin and very fat. The girl latched the door. The wolf’s voice growled from outside.

 

“Open the door children send out the girl let us feast” he growled and yelled,

 

“Go away horrid beast!” the boy yelled. The wolf growled and yelled back,

 

 “You will not send her away then or we will eat her flesh.” The wolves rested outside the door that night. I learned the girl was Gretel and the boy was named Hansel. The house was strangest of all, it was made of candy 

 

“We were lost in the woods” Gretel explained, “We came across this house and could not help but eat. But it’s a witch’s house she enchanted it the food is magic and nearly impossible to stop eating once you eat it the first time, so you don’t want to leave but the witch plans to kill us and cook us for supper.”

 

“You can not leave, the wolves are waiting for you. So the witch will probably kill you to” Hansel said 

 

“We need to except than” I said. 

 

“How?” Gretel asked, “We ate the food we can’t leave.”

“You can” I said “the magic only works when you eat the candy right?”

 

“Yes” Hansel said. 

 

“Then you must stop eating it,” I said. 

 

“But the enchantment” Gretel whimpered.

 

“We will over come it, when does the witch come back” I asked.

 

“Day break” Gretel said “she will cook us tomorrow.”

 

“Then don’t eat any of this candy,” I said. 

 

“But how” Hansel pleaded. 

 

“I will help you,” I said. “We will stay up all night if we must” an idea popped into my head “does the witch have something she wants to cook you with?” Gretel nodded and pointed to a large box in the corner. I got up and opened it. I smiled the box was filled with vegetables “its only the candy that’s enchanted right” I said they nodded I pulled out a armful of vegetables. I laid them on the table. “Lets over come this enchantment” we work all night. I gave them a chose of candy or carrot. When they choose carrot they got to eat it. If they choose candy they would have to go over and over again till they choose carrot. Around daybreak we heard foot steps out side the cottage.

 

“She’s coming” Gretel whispered. We took our places. Hansel and Gretel in the corner, and I hid behind the table. He door opened and an old woman entered cackling. 

 

“Kiddies” she called out “time for breakfast” she cackled, “the wolves are on break and I have come home.”

 

“Oh, but witch,” Gretel said, “The carrots are not washed.”

 

“Oh my,” the witch cried, “I thought I washed them” she said. She was as forgetful as Hansel had told me and she washed them again. 

 

“There, the carrots are washed, the wolves are resting, and I have come home” she chanted again. 

 

“Oh, but witch,” Gretel called “you have not decided who to cook first.” 

 

“Oh my” the forgetful witch said for she had decided on Hansel not but yesterday “Hold out your arms. Who is plumpest? Who would make the best meal?” the children held out there arms. “ Why the boy of course,” she cried and pulled Hansel away “The carrots are washed, the boy was chosen, the wolves are asleep, and I have come home,” she chanted again. 

 

“Oh, but witch,” Gretel cried a third time “the stove it not heated.”

 

“Nonsense” the witch cried “why I heated it not but 10 minutes ago.”

 

“Oh, witch,” Gretel said “ please check to make sure.” The witch opened the over and felt the heat. 

 

“Foolish girl” she cried, “it’s hot enough to cook the boy. Look!” she leaned in farther to feel the heat again and I jumped out, pushed her in to the oven and closed the door.

 

“Now” I said. We took off through the front door, past the sleeping wolves. The witch’s screams started as we ran into the tree. we heard the wolves wake and run inside and we ran harder. Out of the forest, we parted ways. They would go to their family and I would try to get home. 

 

“Thank you Poppy” Gretel said “we owe you are lives.”

 

“Your welcome” I said 

 

“There is a kingdom not far from here” Hansel told me “there is a forest you can take refuge in.”

 

“What is the kingdom called?” I asked. 

 

He smiled “Wonderland.”

 

 

I walked for many hours till I saw the forest of Wonderland. I ran into the welcoming green arms. I could take refuge here. I thought I walked deep into the trees and laid down beneath a large shady tree. I fell asleep quickly and felt refuged. I woke hours later to a whimpering noise. I stood up and looked around. The noise grew louder like crying. I followed the weeping till I saw a girl sitting at the base of a tree crying she looked up and we gasped. 

 

“Alice” I exclaimed recognizing the young girl immediately from my land she was the seamstresses daughter lost last year

 

“Poppy?” she asked “its you she stood up and hugged me “ I thought I was lost forever” as we talked she explained that one day her mother told her not to go to the woods but she saw the prettiest white rabbit and chased it all the way to it hole. Where she fell down it and landed here. 

 

“I fell down a hole here as well,” I said 

 

“What if we could find it and get back,” Alice said. Beginning our only option we looked for hours trying to find the hole with no luck we sat on the ground depressed

 

“I should have never stole anything” I said 

 

“And I should have listened to my mother” Alice said we sat quiet so a while till I looked up and gasped. Green smoke swirled down towards us

 

“But how?” Alice asked

 

“The witch” I said “she told me I would come back when I learn my lesson” 

 

“And we did” Alice said taking my hand in hers “lets go home” and the smoke surrounded us. We were back in the witch’s cottage standing in front of the witch

 

“Well done girls,” she said. At that moment, she been to glow and morph. where to old woman stood there was a fair and tall beautiful fairy. “You have past my test”

 

“What” I asked confused

 

“ I am the blue fairy I gave you a test and you have both past” she said smiling I looked at Alice 

 

“It looks like we did,” I said 

 

“I can’t wait to go home” Alice sighed. 

 

“Neither can I” I said I looked at my basket “but first…” I reached into my basket and handed the blue fairy the coins 

 

“No my dear” she laughed “ keep the necklace and keep the coins, use them to pay back the price of the necklace” I turned to Alice and handed her the necklace 

 

“So we never forget our lessons,” I said. She smiled 

 

“Thank you Poppy,” she said. After we said good-bye to the blue fairy, I ran all the way back to the market and placed the coins back on the jewel stand and looked at the owner. “I’m sorry” I said. We both learn our lesson Alice and I, I never stole again and she became much more obedient. I never forgot the other land, the blue fairy, or my lesson and so we lived happily ever after.