Once upon a time

1
Once upon a time
2

• Its a clear day which is funny considering it
  had been foggy and snowy for the past six weeks.
  You sigh as you look in the distance among the
  beautiful pine trees that define the perimeter of
  the forest from your back yard. You have always
  wanted to go in that forest, but your parents say
  that it is forbidden, so you never have.
  Although, you are always curious as to what is
  behind that fortifying wall of trees.
• You are covered in snow from building a snow
  man, but you dont want to go inside because you
  cannot stand the wrath of your mother her voice
  repeating in your ear like a tape player. Every
  time you come in covered in snow she says the
  same thing.
• Snow White, Your mother made that nickname
  for you a few winters ago, for when you came in
  from playing you would be as white as snow. Now
  you stop rolling around in that snow. Youre
  going to catch a cold! I just do not know how you
  manage to get all of that on you. I mean look,
  its even all over your face
• As the usual blabbering of your mother sounds
  in your ears, your dog begins to bark. You look
  up suddenly to see a beam of light stretching
  straight up in the middle of the forest. You
  wonder with excitement as to what it could be.
  Your mother would not come to check on you in
  quite some time.
• Should you go inside and deal with your mothers
  complaints (P.4), or should you be brave and
  follow the light? (P. 3)

3

• You follow the beam of light into the forest
  until you get to a spring. Its quiet and the
  snow reminds you of a cloud straight out of a
  fairy tale. The trees around you cuddle together
  in small groups trying to keep warm you can hear
  their teeth chattering when the wind blows. You
  realize that the beam of light was coming from
  the reflection of the sun on the spring. Youre
  thirsty from running into the forest, and the
  water looks very inviting, but youre not sure if
  its clean or not. Should you drink it (P. 5),
  or should you go back (P. 6)?

4

• As you run back inside the house your dog starts
  barking madly. He was just as curious about the
  beam as you were. He tugs at your pant leg with
  his mouth, whining irritably and pulls you
  towards the beam of light. Finally you give in
  and walk with him into the forest. You make your
  way upon a spring. Its quiet and the snow
  reminds you of a cloud straight out of a fairy
  tale. The trees around you cuddle together in
  small groups trying to keep warm you can hear
  their teeth chattering when the wind blows. You
  realize that the beam of light was coming from
  the reflection of the sun on the spring. Youre
  thirsty from running into the forest, and the
  water looks very inviting, but your not sure if
  its clean or not.
• Should you drink it, (P. 5) or should you go
  back? (P. 6)

5

• As the water goes down your throat, you feel the
  light fill your body. It tingles its way down to
  your stomach and you feel light as if you could
  fly. As your look down you realize that your feet
  arent touching the ground. Youre floating. You
  smile pleasurably as all your senses begin to
  disappear. When alas you can see, hear, smell,
  taste and feel nothing, you begin to find
  yourself sensing a new sensation. Your before
  shivering body, begins to thaw and you see colors
  youve never seen before. Finally when your
  vision becomes clear again you see that youre
  not in the same place anymore. There are vines
  covering what looks like a huge wall that never
  ends. Theres no snow on the ground and there are
  flowers blooming everywhere. You also see that
  there are luminous creatures that look almost
  like butterflies venturing from flower to flower.
  You hear many small voices which you realize are
  coming from these creatures. You look at one
  closely and notice that it is a tiny woman with
  wings. Suddenly it becomes aware to you that all
  these tiny creatures are like this. Something
  catches your attention in the corner of your eye.
  You see its something glittering inside of a
  birds nest on a near by tree.
• Should you go over to the nest and see what it is
  (P. 11), or should you ask the fairy what to do
  (P. 12)?

6

• Deciding not to drink from the spring you turn to
  go home.
• Have the trees moved? you ask yourself. You
  look at your dog to the right but hes no longer
  there. You begin walking slowly through the
  unfamiliar setting. You hear a song. Listening
  closely you follow the music until you reach a
  cave where the music is coming from. You go
  inside and see seven tiny men all around mining
  for precious gems.
• Hi-ho Hi-ho its off to work we go. They sang
  with cheerful smiles as they did their work.
• Should you keep going (P.9) , or should you ask
  them for help? (P.7)

7

• You clear your throat
• Ahem!
• The dwarfs look over at you suddenly. They stop
  what theyre doing and look in awe as if youre a
  giant.
• Ummm could you tell me how to get back to the
  main road. Im lost, you say awkwardly. The
  dwarfs are inarticulate and all you can hear is
  what sounds like baby talk. Finally one dwarf
  makes his way through the crowd.
• Hello my name is Doc. None of us know how to get
  to the main road youre talking about, but you
  can stay with us for a while if youd like. We
  can give you directions to our cabin.
• Do you want to get directions from Doc (P.8), or
  do you want to keep going on your own? (P.9)

8

• You follow docs directions and you make your way
  through the forest to a small cabin. You think
  this is the right cabin at least.
• Do you want to go inside the cabin, (P.10) or do
  you want to continue by yourself? (P.9)

9

• As you continue you suddenly realize that youre
  surrounded by small woman-like creatures with
  wings. You quickly see that theyre fairies. You
  see something glitter in a birds nest on a tree
  near by.
• Do you want to ask the fairy how to get home,
  (P.12) or do you want to see whats in the birds
  nest (P.11)?

10

• You walk into the cabin and see three cups of
  porridge sitting on the table. Youre hungry and
  decide to try some. The first one you try is too
  cold, and the second too hot. The third one is
  just right. Then you try the beds. The first one
  is too soft, the second is too hard. The third
  one is just right. After waking up you find
  yourself in your own bed at home, and your dog
  sitting on the bed with you. It was all a dream!

11

• As you walk over to the tree, you peer inside the
  abandoned nest. You are surprised when you find a
  rusty golden key. Wondering what it is for, you
  look upon the huge wall. Beyond the vines you see
  a door knob. As you push the vines out of the
  way, a small door becomes visible. You stick the
  key in making a perfect match. With a click the
  door unlocks.
• Do you want to go back to ask the fairy for help
  (P.12), or continue your quest through the door?
  (P.13)

12

• Excuse me, you say. The fairy turns
  gracefully towards you.
• Yes, she says. Her voice is high pitched and
  soft.
• I was wondering if you could help me. I went
  inside the forest near my house because I saw a
  beam of light and then I got really thirsty, so I
  drank the water from the spring. Now Im stuck
  here and I dont know how to get home. You said
  in a slightly panicked voice.
• Ah, Yes. The spring of imagination. If you are
  young enough and have a big enough imagination
  this spring can bring you to different worlds.
  The only way you can get back is if you find the
  red shoes of the witch of the north.
• You looked at her questionably. But who has
  them? I thought that one girl that lives in
  Kansas has them. You ask.
• No, thats what the stories want you to think
  happened. Her shoes were fake. The real shoes are
  located on the highest cloud where the wicked
  witch of the west remains.
• But how do I get there?
• The fairy took something out of her pocket. I
  dont know how you can get to the cloud, but I
  cant give you these beans to help you out.
• Do you want to take the beans and continue your
  quest (P.14) , or go look in the tree. (P.11)

13

• As you open the door you find yourself lost in a
  whole different world full of strange and exotic
  beings. You realize it is a garden, and you see
  in the distance a castle. You make your way
  towards the castle and the guards let you in.
  You find yourself faced with a fairy queen. You
  ask her how you can get home and she tells you
  that you need to get the red shoes from the
  wicked witch of the west located with her at the
  top of the highest cloud. She doesn't know how
  to help you, but she gives you three magical
  beans. You leave the garden and find yourself
  faced with two directions to decide from.
• Should you go left (P.14), or should you go right
  (P.15)?

14

• You continue your quest but as always, there are
  two ways to go. Youre not quite sure what to do.
  You sit down to think when all the sudden you
  hear a voice behind you.
• Rightor left. the voice laughed. Which way,
  which way.
• You turn your head, but nothing is there. All
  you see is a strange cat on the tree branch above
  you. You look at the cat intriguingly.
• I would go right you know, the strange cat
  says. The right way, always seems to be right.
  The cat winks slyly.
• Who are you? you ask flabbergasted.
• I, the cat begins proudly, am the Cheshire
  cat.
• The one from Alice in wonderland? Your
  eyebrows raise in amazement.
• The cat sticks his chest up with arrogance.
  Thats me, he says. And if I were you Id go
  right.
• You question what you should do. You could
  listen to the Cheshire cat and go right. (P. 15)
  But, then again, the Cheshire cat did put Alice
  in quite a lot of trouble before. You could
  always go left. (P. 17)

15

• Youre frustrated from looking everywhere for
  the wicked witch of the west. In anger you throw
  the beans on the ground and a tear drops on top
  of them. Suddenly a huge vine grows all the way
  up into the air. Could this vine be your ticket
  up to her castle on the highest cloud?
• Do you climb it (P. 16), or continue on your
  quest? (P. 17)

16

• You finally make your way up the vine. You
  stand up on the cloud you land on. Looking up
  your see there are no clouds, youre on the
  highest. Suddenly you hear a fe fi fo fum. Youre
  scared and go to hide. You see the red shoes in
  the distance and run to them quickly. You put
  them on and say quietly, Theres no place like
  home Three times. You wake at your house in your
  bed with your dog. It was all a dream.

17

• You decide not to climb the vine but to keep
  following the road in front of you. You get
  angry and scared and sit on the ground crying
  sadly. You miss your mom. All the sudden you
  hear a poof and out of no where a kind looking
  lady appears. Her face is round and her smile
  bright. There were to little dimples imprinted
  in her rosy cheeks. She comforts you sweetly.
• There there dear. It will all be ok. She
  lays a soft hand on your shoulder. Whats the
  problem here.
• You tell her your dilemma and she says that she
  is here to help you.
• hmmm she thinks. Ok, Ive got an idea! She
  puts her right hand into her pocket and pulls out
  a wand. Bippidi- boppidi boo! she yells.
• Suddenly the pumpkin in front of you changes into
  a huge carriage. Now get in and it will take
  you where you want to be, she says.
• Do you want to listen (p.21) or go along by
  yourself. (p.18)

18

• You pass along the many beautiful trees until
  you hear something. Its a familiar sound that
  reminds you of home. As you turn the corner you
  see the ocean. Sprinkled across the blue horizon
  are tiny rocks. You here crying. As look around
  to see where it is coming from, something catches
  your eye. It is a gorgeous girl with poppy
  colored hair and grassy eyes. Matching her
  striking eyes is a long fish tale instead of two
  legs. The scales sparkled in the sunlight.
  Tears streaked her sunlit face.
• Do you want to ask her what is wrong (p.19), or
  do you want to go back to find a different route
  (p.20)?

19

• You approach the mermaid.
• Whats wrong? you ask.
• I fell asleep on the beach when the tide was
  high and now I cant get back in the ocean. I
  need water to survive! Now I will die.
• Ill help you, you begin.
• But how could you. Your so small, there is no
  way you could get me all the way down there.
• You think. You put your hand in your pocket and
  pull out one magical bean. You managed to save
  one! Well, I dont know if this will help but,
  its worth a try. You throw the bean on the
  ground beside her. A cloud appears beneath the
  mermaids body. It carries her to the ocean and
  she jumps off into the water.
• Thank you! she cries out while she swims off.
  
• The cloud comes back to you and goes underneath
  your feet. It begins to move! You were going
  home. It spins faster and faster until you can
  see nothing. You close your eyes. When you open
  them, you find yourself on the ground of the
  forest next to the spring. You must have fainted
  from dehydration! Oh no, your mother must be
  worried sick.

20

• You turn around to go in a different direction.
  You travel for three days without any food or
  water. When you try to find your way back to the
  mermaid you cant find the ocean. You die of
  thirst and hunger. Shame on you. Thats what
  you get for not helping peopleor
  rathercreatures.

21

• You enter the carriage unsurely, and look back
  at the cheerful lady. She waves to you and then
  quickly whips her wand through the air and the
  carriage is off. Suddenly youre going so fast
  that the colors around you all seem to blur into
  complete oblivion. When you finally become aware
  again, you are back in the forest at the spring.
  The beam of light is no longer existent. You
  look at the sky to see how much time has passed.
  Nothing has changed. The sun was in the same
  spot, but there was no light. You now know that
  your adventure in wonder land is over.