Abby in Oz

by Sarah Mlynowski

  CLUNK!

  The next thing I know, the basket lands on something hard.

  I open my eyes. The pale blue mist disappears from outside the window.

  We’re back in the tree house. Robin, Frankie, and Prince are still asleep.

  What happened? How is the tree house in one piece? Did Glinda do that? She must have.

  “Look!” Penny cries, her eyes wide. But in awe, not fear.

  “What?” I ask, turning to where she’s pointing out the window.

  It’s a rainbow! So many colors stretch from one side of the backyard to the other in a huge arc.

  “Like the song!” she says. “Remember the song? ‘Somewhere, over the rainbow’!”

  “I remember,” I say, giggling.

  Frankie and Robin start to stir.

  Frankie sits up and adjusts her glasses. “Wow, did I fall asleep?”

  “Yup,” I say. “Because of the poppies.”

  “Abby gave me her cold so I didn’t,” Penny says.

  “You’re welcome,” I say with a laugh.

  “Poppies?” Frankie asks. “What poppies? Did we pick a new topic for the project? Are we giving out flowers or something?”

  Robin stretches her arms over her head in a yawn. “Why do I taste pizza in my mouth?”

  “You don’t remember?” Penny asks, looking from Frankie to Robin.

  “Remember what?” Robin asks.

  Penny and I look at each other. The poppy sleep took away Frankie’s and Robin’s memories of the entire trip to Oz! They clearly don’t remember anything. Again! I wonder why the poppies didn’t erase their memories the first time they fell asleep?

  Penny leans closer to them. “The Wiz —”

  “The whisper. You don’t remember what I whispered?” I interrupt.

  I give Penny a meaningful look. It’s best if we continue to keep the secret between the two of us. For now.

  “The whisper?” Robin asks. “Huh?”

  “Look at that amazing rainbow,” I say, trying to distract them.

  “So pretty!” Frankie says. She and Robin go over to the window to look out.

  Prince rolls over and opens one eye.

  “Good morning,” I say to him, scratching behind his ear. I wonder if he remembers his new friend Toto or not. I hope he does.

  “Hi, Prince,” Penny says, kneeling down in front of him and petting his fur. “What a sweetie.”

  “A sweetie?” Robin asks, turning around. “Since when? You hated dogs ten minutes ago!”

  “What?” Penny says, scrunching up her face as if what Robin just said made no sense. “I did not!”

  “You said dogs slobber and smell,” Frankie reminds her.

  “They do,” Penny says. “Sometimes. But Toto —”

  “Toto?” Frankie asks, raising an eyebrow.

  “Not all dogs are bad,” she finishes. “Long story.”

  She smiles at me. I smile at her.

  “Can we go outside and look at the rainbow?” Robin asks. “It’s so pretty.”

  “We should finish up and choose our project idea first,” Frankie says. “I forget where we were.”

  “I think you each suggested something,” Robin says, frowning. “I didn’t have any good ideas. And then you were arguing about it.”

  “Right,” I say, wincing. Arguing wasn’t getting us anywhere, that’s for sure. “Why don’t we each say our idea again and then take a vote? That seems the fairest way.”

  Penny nods. “Mine was that we give style advice. But you guys thought that might be too mean.”

  “You are good with fashion,” I say. “I do really like the pattern on your shoes.”

  She smiles. “Thanks.”

  “Mine was that we offer a dog-walking service,” I say. “But Penny pointed out that not everyone has a dog.”

  “That’s true,” Penny says, giving Prince another stroke. “Although walking dogs might be kind of fun.”

  “My idea was a tutoring service,” Frankie says.

  Robin nodded. “But I said that I can’t teach anything.” She sighs. “I didn’t have an idea, either. Sorry I’m so brainless at this stuff!”

  “You have an amazing brain,” I tell her. “Now let’s vote. All in favor of the tutoring company?”

  Penny and I both raise our hands.

  Frankie looks surprised. “But …”

  “Your idea is my favorite,” I tell her, and Penny agrees.

  “A tutoring company is a great idea,” Penny explains. “And everyone is good at something. I can give art lessons. Abby can teach people about books. You, Frankie, can teach science and math. And Robin can teach hot-air ballooning!”

  “Huh?” Frankie asks.

  Robin looks at Penny quizzically. “How did you know I can steer a hot-air balloon?”

  Penny’s eyes widen. “Oh, um. Isn’t there a picture of you doing it in your house?”

  Whew. Good thinking, Penny!

  Robin considers this. “Oh, right. Yeah. Okay. But how many people need to learn hot-air ballooning?”

  “You never know when it will come in handy,” I say cheerfully. “Plus, don’t forget you’re also a really good swimmer.”

  “Thanks,” Robin says. “I am also good at bike riding. And spelling, actually.”

  “See? There’s a lot you can teach people,” I tell Robin. “I bet you’ll be a great teacher.”

  Robin beams.

  “So we’re choosing my idea?” Frankie asks.

  “Works for me,” Robin says, and Penny and I nod.

  Frankie’s shoulders melt. “It means a lot to me. I …” Her voice catches. “I know I was being kind of cranky before. But it’s because … well … my dad has to be away for six months for his job. And I’ve been really bummed.”

  “Oh, Frankie,” I say, trying to sound surprised. I put my arm around her. “We’re here whenever you want to talk.”

  “Yes,” Penny says. “We love you. FRAP forever!”

  “FRAP forever,” Robin echoes. “Now let’s go outside and look at that rainbow. Maybe we’ll find a pot of gold.”

  I smile. “Or a yellow brick road.”

  I give a little tap on the mirror in my basement. “Maryrose?” I call. “Maryrose, are you there?”

  Please answer! Sometimes she doesn’t. But I have to tell her what happened.

  When I came home and my mom saw how sick I looked, she told me to get right into bed, and that she would bring me a bowl of chicken soup. But I need to talk to Maryrose first!

  The glass part of the mirror turns purple and starts swirling. Yay!

  Achoo! I sneeze.

  A woman’s face and hair is silhouetted in the mirror.

  “Bless you!” Maryrose says.

  “Thanks,” I say, sniffling.

  “That was some adventure, huh?” Maryrose says.

  I nod. “Gluck tried to trap me again! He really doesn’t want me helping you.”

  “I know,” she says. “But you escaped! Good job! Without any help from me!”

  “Wait. That blue cloud wasn’t you?”

  “No,” she says. “That was Glinda. She’s wonderful, though. I knew her a long time ago … before I was trapped. She also added in a little memory-erasing dust in the poppies. Sorry Penny got your cold.”

  “It’s okay,” I say. “And Maryrose — I’ll save you. One day, I promise.”

  “Thank you,” Maryrose says.

  “Abby!” Jonah calls from the landing. “Mom wants you to get into bed!”

  I turn my head toward the stairs. “Coming!” I call up. I look back at the mirror but Maryrose is already misting away.

  “What were you doing?” Jonah asks, running down the stairs.

  I lower my voice. “I was talking with Maryrose.”

  Jonah’s eyes widen. “About what? Did you go somewhere without me?”

  “Kind of …” Quickly, in a whisper, I launch into the whole story.

  His eyes widen even more as I tell him ab
out the tree house, the witches, the dungeon, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, the tiger, and dogs, and of course, the flying monkeys.

  “The flying monkeys carried you?” Jonah cries. “No fair! I wish I could’ve been there.”

  “Sorry,” I say. “It was really scary, though.”

  “I love scary! How come Gluck never tries to trap me anywhere? Huh? Isn’t he worried about me? Maybe he wants to take me into Star Wars or something?”

  “Next time I see him I’ll ask,” I say with a laugh.

  “You’re lucky you and your friends made it home,” Jonah says.

  “I know,” I say.

  I’m lucky my friends and I were able to work together to get us home.

  * * *

  Later, I’m settled in my bed, propped up on my pillows with a folding table in front of me.

  “Thanks, Mom,” I say as she sets down a bowl of steaming chicken soup. Mmm.

  She kisses my forehead. “Feel better, sweetie. Here’s the book you left downstairs this morning.” She puts a copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz on my bed.

  “I left this book downstairs?” I ask.

  “Didn’t you?” my mom asks, frowning. “I saw it in the kitchen and figured it was yours.”

  “I …” I didn’t have a copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz this morning! But I’m happy to have it now. But where did it come from? Maryrose? Glinda? Either way, I’m excited to finally read it.

  When my mom leaves, I start eating my chicken soup while opening the book.

  OMG. No, OMW!

  We’re in it! In the book! There are full-on illustrations of my friends and me in the book! There I am, holding Prince, and there are Frankie and Robin and Penny.

  At first we’re all standing separately, looking annoyed at each other. Only toward the end do we start working together.

  On the last page is a big illustration of all of us with our arms around one another — me (holding Prince), Penny, Frankie, Robin, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Bob the Wizard, and of course Dorothy, in her blue-and-white dress. Her brown hair is in braids, Toto is in in her lap. And she’s wearing …

  I lean closer to see.

  The red-and-black sparkly shoes.

  Hah. Penny would approve.

  I lean back against my pillows and swallow another spoonful of Mom’s chicken soup.

  Mmmm. I’m feeling better already. There really is no place like home.

  I glance back at the book. And there’s nothing like good stories. Or good friends.

  A Note From the Author

  Dear Reader,

  I am so excited to share the second Whatever After Special Edition with you!

  After tossing Abby into so many different fairy tales — and, in the first Special Edition, into Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — I finally have her visiting my favorite magical story of them all … The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!

  As a kid, I must have watched the movie The Wizard of Oz at least a hundred times — not exaggerating. I watched it over and over again, and then a few more times for good luck. The story was so much fun. I, too, wanted to follow a yellow brick road to a magical emerald city. I wanted a feisty dog named Toto, and loyal travel companions like the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion. I also really, really wanted ruby slippers — I once even got grounded for coloring in my brand-spankin’-new white sneakers with a red marker. Oops!

  But no matter how many times I wished for magical ruby slippers of my own, they never appeared on my feet, or in my closet. And of course, even if they had appeared, I knew I wouldn’t actually get to travel to the Land of Oz.

  Now, as a grown-up, I still don’t have ruby slippers of my own (I’ve searched on Zappos). I don’t have a feisty dog (yet). But I do have a wonderful family and loyal friends. And best of all, I was finally able to make my dream of visiting Oz come true. How? By writing this book! I got to skip down the yellow brick road, meet all the awesome characters of Oz, explore the Emerald City, and click my heels together three times. And you know what’s even more amazing? I get to take you all there with me.

  There’s no place like home, there’s no place like Oz, and there’s no place like a favorite book.

  Happy reading!

  XO

  Using a separate piece of paper, follow the prompts below to write your own fractured story.

  One day, you’re relaxing in your room, rereading your favorite book, when suddenly the page starts swirling and sucks you inside. AHHHH! What and who do you see?

  You’re not going to mess the story up. You’re not going to mess the story up. You’re not going to … OOPS. You messed the story up. How did you mess the story up?

  You’ve got to fix the ending! Or maybe you don’t?! What do you do?

  It’s pizza night at home (hold the spider toppings) and you do NOT want to miss it. How do you get home? And how does the story end now?

  On a separate piece of paper, make a list of words using the below prompts.

  Name

  A type of food (singluar)

  Number

  Type of food (plural)

  Number

  Place

  Job (plural)

  Item of clothing (plural)

  Number

  Noun

  Noun

  Type of room

  Adjective

  Noun

  Place

  Place

  Place

  Now, read the passage aloud using the word that matches each letter in the story.

  * From Whatever After Book 2: If the Shoe Fits

  Too Much (d)!

  “Hello? Maryrose? Are you there?” I know I said Maryrose lives inside the mirror, but truthfully, I’m not sure. All I know is that Maryrose has something to do with the mirror. I think. I really don’t know much. I sigh. “Maybe we imagined the whole thing.”

  “No way,” Jonah says. “We were there. I know we were. We met (a)! We ate her (b) sandwiches! Yum. I wish Mom and Dad would make them one night for dinner.”

  I snort. First of all, (a)’s (b) sandwiches were gross. And second, the likelihood of Mom and Dad trying a new recipe these days is very unlikely. Like (c) in a bajillion. They haven’t cooked in weeks. We’ve ordered (d) for the last two — no, make that (e) — nights in a row.

  Don’t get me wrong, I like (d). What ten-year-old doesn’t like (d)? What adult doesn’t like (d)? Jonah LOVES (d), even though he insists on dipping the crust in ketchup, which is totally gross. But (e) nights in a row is extreme. What happened to cooking? What happened to meat loaf? What happened to salad?

  My parents used to cook all the time, before we moved to (f). They had time to cook then. Now they work all the time. They’re (g) and just started their own firm. I keep telling them I’m old enough to do the cooking, but they won’t listen. Just because I nearly burned down our old house when I put my (h) in the toaster (i) time(s). What can I say?I wanted toasty (h). They won’t even let me near the (j), which makes no sense. Fine. I used too much (k) and turned the (l) into a (m) (n), but also, only (i) time(s).

  I yawn. “Let’s go back to bed.”

  “But I want an adventure! Maybe the mirror can take us to other places, too. Like (o)! Or (p)! Or (q)!”

  Fill in the Blanks #2

  Verb ending in –ing

  Adjective

  Adjective

  Noun (plural)

  Title of a story

  Verb ending in –ing

  Animal

  Adjective

  Adjective ending in –er

  Item of clothing (plural)

  Noun

  Adjective

  Adjective

  Verb ending in –ing

  Job title

  Location

  Noun

  * From Whatever After Book 8: Once Upon a Frog

  The (o) is Coming!

  I see Jonah’s head (a) left, then right. “It looks like a (p),” he says. “But with really (b) trees. Really (b) ones. (c) ones. They cou
ld even be (d)! Are you sure we’re not in (e)?”

  “Jonah, we are NOT in (e)! I am stuck in a well with a (f) (g)!”

  “Fine,” Jonah huffs. “It’s really (h) up here,” he adds. “You might want to stay down there, know-it-all. Bet it’s (i).”

  My flannel (j) are sticking to me. Not exactly comfortable. “I think I’d rather get out of the bottom of the well, thanks. Is there a (k) out there?”

  “No (k),” he says. “Not much of anything.”

  I turn to Frederic. “Any ideas?”

  “Can you climb up?” the (g) suggests.

  I feel the inside of the well to see if there are ridges or anything to dig my feet into, but it feels (l). “Let me try,” I say, and attempt to pull myself up. I can’t. “I guess you wouldn’t be able to give me a boost,” I say to Frederic.

  “My push-ups have made me (m),” he reminds me. “But not that (m).”

  Ruff! Ruff, ruff! Ruff! I hear from above. Ruff! Ruff, ruff! Ruff!

  Prince is (n) the way he does when the doorbell rings. “What’s wrong?” I call up to Jonah.

  “Someone’s coming!” Jonah says.

  “It’s probably the (o)!” I cry. Crumbs. I was hoping to get out of here first. Now what? I have to hide. So do Prince and Jonah! “Go hide!” I tell my brother.

  “Where?”

  “You said you’re in a (p). Go find a (q)! Quick, so she doesn’t see you!” I say. “We want the story to continue the way it’s supposed to!”

  Although what Jonah said before was right. We always mess up the stories.

  “Whatever you say, Abby!” Jonah calls back. He ducks out of sight.

  “Is she coming now?” Frederic asks. His bulging eyes look up, then back at me.

  I nod. I listen for footsteps or voices but don’t hear anything. The (o) has to stop at the well. I take a deep breath. She will. It’s part of the original story.

  Fill in the Blanks #3

  Food

  Job title

  Type of party

  Noun (plural)

  Body part

  Noun (plural)

  Food (plural)

  Animal

  Adjective