The bluejay in the pine tree saw her do it. Three-year-old Grace wandered away from the family picnic site and followed a well-worn path through the woods. Delighting in the colors, sounds and smells of the primordial forest, Grace walked along the trail until she came to a shallow stream.
On a rock along the edge of the stream, Grace saw the bluejay return her gaze. Across the stream, a door hung between two slender pines. The door was marked with three arrows pointing up and a tear shaped engraving under each arrow.
Being a curious child, Grace crossed the stream. She didn't like the feel of water in her shoes, took them off and placed them next to the door. As the bluejay flew over the door, Grace heard the fluttering of its wings.
Grace pushed the door open, stepped over the threshold and marveled at the sight of a single golden aspen tree. The bluejay was perched on a branch next to a delicate nest. Grace floated toward the tree. The door vanished.
A few days later, a search party found Grace's white shoes with two tear shaped rocks embellished with the words "We will never forget".
Circling above the scene, the bluejay saw Grace's mother take one shoe and one tear drop stone. Then, she said to her husband, "We'll leave one of each here in remembrance of Grace and all the children never found."
On a rock along the edge of the stream, Grace saw the bluejay return her gaze. Across the stream, a door hung between two slender pines. The door was marked with three arrows pointing up and a tear shaped engraving under each arrow.
Being a curious child, Grace crossed the stream. She didn't like the feel of water in her shoes, took them off and placed them next to the door. As the bluejay flew over the door, Grace heard the fluttering of its wings.
Grace pushed the door open, stepped over the threshold and marveled at the sight of a single golden aspen tree. The bluejay was perched on a branch next to a delicate nest. Grace floated toward the tree. The door vanished.
A few days later, a search party found Grace's white shoes with two tear shaped rocks embellished with the words "We will never forget".
Circling above the scene, the bluejay saw Grace's mother take one shoe and one tear drop stone. Then, she said to her husband, "We'll leave one of each here in remembrance of Grace and all the children never found."
