strange dream. In it, Jay appeared as a dove and whispered to me to help her. Then she turned into Pinu’s ghost
and called me a nitwit. Pinu turned into Po. I asked him to help me, and he told me a riddle.
“
The answer you seek is neither in water, nor on land, but find it back where you began.” And with that, I
woke up. Back where I began? I puzzled about it over breakfast. I spread marmalade on my newspaper and put
butter in my tea. Pinu’s spirit had hidden the heart in the great wall. But, that was on land. Maybe there was lava
inside the Great Wall of China? After trying to eat my bacon with juice, I grabbed the bag Po had given me and
set out. I searched along the sides of the Wall first. I pressed on bricks, tried “Open Sesame!” but nothing
seemed to work. Next I searched the top. But I felt so tired and the Wall seemed to go on FOREVER! I sighed
and turned to go back. Back where I began. What!? I began my trip in London, but that had nothing to do with
the Great Wall. I sighed again. My head was starting to spin. I slowly turned away and headed back. When I
finally reached my hotel, the smell of dumplings filled the air, so I had some for lunch. They were delicious and
helped clear my mind. Back where I began, back where I began... Hmm. I wonder. I have always dreamed of
visiting the Great Wall.......... THAT’S IT!!!!!!!!!!! Back where I began! In my dreams! I was excited, when
suddenly I saw a problem. How could I enter my own dreams!? All this thinking got me really tired. I decided to
go to bed. I fell asleep at once. Then, thud! I hit hard ground. I opened my eyes. It was not the furry carpet that
was in my hotel room. The queen size bed with double sheets and silk pillows was nowhere to be seen. There
was a faint tapping coming from somewhere above me. I was lying on hard stone bricks. I sat up. No doubt
about it. I was INSIDE the Great Wall off China! I looked up. Inside a small cage dangling above me, was a
dove. I stood up and on my tiptoes to see the bird.
“
Jay?” I whispered, my heart thumping. I slipped a hairpin out of my fringe and managed to get the
cage open. Jay fluttered onto my shoulder. Wait, where was my bag? Oh, there it was. I picked it up and tied it
above my waist. Together, the two of us started walking. It suddenly started getting really hot. I stopped just in
time. An enormous fire pit stopped me from going any further.
“
Jay, you have to fly over and wait for me there, okay?” I whispered to the white dove. Jay nodded and flew
over. Now it was my turn. I looked up. There was a hoop in the ceiling. I could swing over! I grabbed some rope
and swung it. It caught the hoop and over I went. Jay and I hurried to the next room. I suddenly froze. There
stood Pinu.
“
I knew you would come,” he grinned.
“
I will distract him!” I whispered to Jay. Pinu drew a sword.
“
My turn for a bit of fun!” I dodged it just as Jay grabbed the heart.
“
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Pinu yelled. The world seemed to tilt, change and shudder and I woke up in
my hotel room. A beautiful princess stood by my bed.
“
Thank you!” She whispered and faded away. Only later did I notice the little dove necklace hanging
around my neck.
* * *