That night, Jack had the dream again. The running from door to door, the opening and closing, frantically searching for Gran, and finally standing in front of the door that won’t open. He hears Gran’s voice, singing her silly laundry day song. But now, he has learned a few tricks. This time, when he twists the doorknob, it turns and the door opens.
“Gran?”
“I’m here, Jack. Come in.”
Jack walks through the door. He is standing in the kitchen. Gran is there, pulling clean clothes from the washer, preparing to take them outside and hang them on the clothesline to dry.
Jack rushes across the room and wraps his arms around his grandmother, hugging her with all his might. He sobs, his tears soaking into her apron, the apron that smells of freshly baked bread and lavender.
“Please stand up straight with your arms up and out to the sides.” Jack stepped up, balanced himself, and raised his arms.
“Thank you.” Aggie draped the measuring tape over one of his arms and said, “You know what to do. Full measure, please.”
Before Jack could tell her that he didn’t know what to do, the tape curled up and began sliding and stretching itself like an inchworm, along his arm, towards his hand. It was an odd, disconcerting sensation; a little bit creepy, but mostly it tickled.
Jack remained on the floor, resting back on his elbows, and watched as Hudson approached the open door. The bear inched up from the side, closer and closer. When he was close enough, Hudson reached his paw around the edge of the door and looked through.
“What do you see?” asked Jack, fearing the worst.
“Aggie was right,” said Hudson. “It was the wrong question. Definitely… Hey! ” And then, without warning, Hudson disappeared through the door, as though he had been snatched and dragged out.
Jack jumped up from the floor. “Hudson!” he cried. “What happened?”
Jack sat in the bottom of the boat, dangling his arm over the side, his fingers dipping into the water. Hudson sat in the bow, watching. Neither of them was rowing. There was no need. The boat belonged to Aggie, and she had told it where to go. “Go down the river to the landing closest to the treehouse. Let Jack and Hudson off, then return here straight away.” It was a clever boat. It avoided the shallows and steered around snags. It paused when particularly beautiful vistas opened up before them, and turned in gentle circles so that its passengers could enjoy all the views of the beautiful summer afternoon on the water. The little boat gave a very good tour.
Aggie skipped forward to get a better look at Jack’s hat. “The hatters did a wonderful job. Just look at all the doors!” Aggie giggled.
Jack sighed. It was kind of funny, in an embarrassing way. His hat was covered with doors, opening and closing in rapid succession, each revealing some new surprise. Animals and creatures, peering around their doors and attempting to walk through. Hints of weather, seasons and occasions. Teases of sights, sounds and smells. When one door opened, another slammed shut. It was out of control, a boisterous cacophony, rowdy and wild, recreating (and possibly exaggerating) Jack’s first experience in the Wizardling Hall.
“Mom. Dad. I’m sorry.”
The look on Mom’s face was a mixture of sympathy and pride. Dad looked dubious. “Go on,” he said.
Jack took a deep breath. “I was angry about Gran, and I was angry with you, and I’m sorry.”
“You were angry with us?”
“Yes sir.” Jack stood in front of his parents. He was wearing a brightly colored t-shirt featuring cartoon characters from a public broadcasting show that he had watched as a toddler. He held Hudson loosely, casually, the limp bear hanging from his hand.
“Hudson, how long can I stay?”
Hudson was sitting on the window seat in Jack’s studio. He was busy making notes for Jack. There was still much training to be done. Training and preparation. And, there were so many celebrations and festivals and concerts and craft shows to prepare for! Jack was going to be a very busy Wizardling. Hudson looked up at Jack. “How long can you stay where?”
Jack laughed. “How long can I stay here in AfterLater?”
Hudson shrugged. “That’s up to you. Stay as long as you like. Your parents will never know you left. Come and go as you please.” Hudson gave Jack a long look. “Are you feeling homesick?”