Jackson Jones, Book 1_ The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish - Jenn L. Kelly [49]
She looked so different—beautiful almost. Her hair no longer resembled a wedding cake. It spread loosely around her like a halo. Her eyes were closed, and she was smiling. She looked peaceful. She opened her eyes and looked at Jackson.
“I wonder if it’s still there,” she whispered.
“If what’s still there?” asked Jackson.
But Great-Aunt Harriett didn’t answer. She sat up and pulled herself effortlessly to her feet. She walked back into the cedar maze and chose an opening.
Jackson got up and followed her. Her fingers trailed along the cedar walls, as she hummed to herself. Jackson kept following.
Great-Aunt Harriett turned left and there…
…was a potting shed.
Chapter 75
In Which Jackson Finds Another Door
Gray moss grew on the faded black roof. The windows were covered with dirt and the garden boxes were full of weeds. The door was a chipped blue, tucked into weathered cedar planks. Great-Aunt Harriett trembled beside Jackson. She handed him the key.
“Will…will you unlock the door, Jackson?” she asked, her voice high and excited and terrified all at once.
Jackson took the key from her trembling fingers and slid it into the lock. It stuck for a moment but then turned. The door swung open. It was very dark inside. And musty. And dirty. Jackson sneezed.
Great-Aunt Harriett stepped inside. She stood for a moment, looking at her surroundings, then quickly strode to the windows. She yanked open the shutters and a bit of light came through. Jackson saw a little potting table and chair in the corner. The top of the table was dirty, and the soil smelled musty and dank. Empty pots lay on their sides, and stacked piles of pots waited to be filled.
Great-Aunt Harriett knelt down in the dust and swept away the dirt with her gnarled hands.
“Help me,” she cried urgently.
Jackson knelt down beside her and swept the dirt away with his palms.
And found a door in the floor!
Jackson grabbed the handle and pulled. Locked.
Great-Aunt Harriett reached around to the back of her neck and undid a necklace. A charm hung on it. A small key. She put the key into the lock and turned it. Jackson lifted the handle and the door opened.
Chapter 76
A Chapter that Involves Another Place
Jackson peeked into the hole below but saw nothing. “What’s down there?”
Great-Aunt Harriett smiled, tears running down her face. “Another place,” she said. Jackson looked at her in amazement. She wasn’t lisping anymore! How? What? Why? Huh.
She maneuvered her body to sit on the edge, her legs dangling into the dark hole. Jackson was a little worried. “Should you be climbing down there? I don’t see any stairs. You could hurt yourself,” he said.
Great-Aunt Harriett placed her hand on Jackson’s cheek. Her clear eyes were bright blue.
“Jackson, you’ve given me a great gift. I forgot this place existed. I used to come here as a little girl. It’s a…it’s a door to another place. A place I loved to visit. A place where rooms have rivers, where bookstores sell magical books, and where elves live. Where Josh went when…” she cleared her throat and wiped her eyes.
“I used to come here all the time as a child. I even used to bring your mom here, although I doubt she remembers. Such an amazing place that the Author made,” she said.
Jackson was speechless.
She hugged him tightly. “Thank you. Come visit soon. You’ll love Meeka.” Then she pinched his cheek. Not too hard though. “Go find your story, Jackson!”
She jumped.
Chapter 77
In Which We Learn More
Jackson cried out. He waited for her to hit the bottom or yell or something. There wasn’t any noise.
“Great-Aunt Harriett! Are you okay?” he yelled. But there was no answer. Just quiet. Jackson felt a calming peace fill him. Something told him that she was okay. That maybe, just maybe, this was a door to where he had been. But how did that make sense?
Jackson stepped out of the shed and saw his mom. She walked slowly toward him with a very serious, grown-up look on her face.