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Jackson wiped his eyes quickly. “So how do you help people remember their stories?”

“I lead them to the path. And then I let them lead themselves.”

“What do you mean?”

Josh the Page eyed Jackson. “Are you ready to go on your own?”

“Um, uh, I don’t know,” he stuttered.

Josh the Page nodded. “Then come with me.”

Jackson followed him down to the river’s edge, with Meeka trailing quietly behind them. The rays of sunlight misted through the branches of the trees. The river’s gurgling became louder. They stopped and listened for a moment.

“Jackson. Do you know who you are?” Josh the Page asked.

“Well, I know who my parents are.”

“No. Who you are. What makes up Jackson?”

Jackson thought for a moment. “Well, I like playing baseball, even though I’m not very good.” He glanced away, embarrassed. “I think I’m pretty smart, even though I can’t understand algebra. I think my stories are good, even though my grammar is atrocious. And I think I’d make a pretty good friend.”

Meeka nodded enthusiastically at him.

“And the Author made me, so he must have some purpose for me, in his story, right?” Jackson’s voice caught in his throat.

“You need to remember that,” said Josh the Page. “You need to hold onto those truths very tightly.”

“Why?”

Josh pointed at the water. “You’ll find a lot of stones in this river, and you have to choose one. It might be hard to find, but if you remember the Author and what he’s doing for you, you’ll find the right one. It will be a stone that’s calling your name.”

Jackson gazed at the river. The river was narrow, with long grasses and willow branches grazing the embankments. It went on, curving gracefully to the left. It was so peaceful that Jackson wanted very much to walk down that stream, to feel the cool water tickle his toes, with the branches shading him from the sun.

Jackson looked at Josh, and Josh smiled, but his eyes were very serious. Meeka looked down at her boots.

Jackson began to feel the seriousness of the situation. This wasn’t just a walk down the river. No siree, this was—dare I say it?—a quest. A very important, life-altering quest.

I just want to interrupt for a moment here before you get right into the story.

In your life there will be many quests, some as mundane as picking out your socks and some as exciting as picking out your socks. It all depends on how you feel about socks. Very few quests in your life will be important and life-altering. However, the important and life-altering quests are of a most serious nature. And when they come, you need to consider them very carefully, because they are indeed life-altering. I can’t tell you how, because I am not you.

Jackson’s hands sweated. He wiped them on his pants, leaving wet handprints. His upper lip was wet. He wiped it on his sleeve, leaving a wet trail. He felt like he was about to do a pop quiz.

“So I just step into the river?” Jackson asked.

“Yes.”

“And I just have to find my stone?”

“Yes.”

“And then I come back?”

“Yes.”

“And that’s all I have

to do?”

Josh’s green eyes held Jackson’s. He said nothing.

Jackson breathed deeply and looked at the water. Bits of leaves and twigs floated downstream. He placed his foot into the water. It was cool, but not very cold. In fact, it was rather refreshing. His red pajamas clung wetly to his legs. Annoying, but bearable.

Jackson looked up at Josh, who sat down on the riverbank. Meeka stood beside him. They both smiled.

Jackson readjusted his satchel and took another step. And then another. And another.

Chapter 48

In Which the Quest Begins

The water trickled, gurgling and rushing against larger rocks. Jackson peered at the sandy bottom of the river. Tiny little minnows swam away from his moving feet, creating little clouds of fine sand in their wake. Jackson stepped carefully down the river, searching for stones. He bent down, his fingertips reaching into the cool, clear water. They scratched the bottom, and he pulled up a handful of sand. There