Lily and James

Prologue

(L i l y E v a n s)

The day I turned 7 years old something extraordinary happened to me, an ordinary little girl who at the time had no idea what happened. I know now that this phenomenon was magic. I remember this moment like it was yesterday, still fresh in my mind and ready to replay. It began on a seemingly average day for me. Aside from the fact that it was my birthday, the day could only be described as normal. The sun shone at an average temperature- sunny, but not hot enough to be uncomfortably sweaty, and the clouds were evenly spaced apart in the bright blue sky as to not block out the sun. But what happened that day was far from normal.

"Lily! Wake up honey!" My mom's singsong voice called out. I half lifted my head off my pillow, which I had clutched tightly under my head. "Why, mommy? I'm still tired," I yawned sleepily.

My mom sighed from the doorframe. "I guess your special birthday pancakes will become cold then..." she trailed off but I could hear the smile in her voice. And I really wanted pancakes. I jerked upright, tiredness nearly forgotten as I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision.

"It's my birthday," I said to myself, marveling at the thought of being 7 whole years old. "I want my special birthday pancakes!"

My mom laughed. "They're sitting on the table."

I threw my blanket off of myself feeling a slight chill but hopping out of bed nevertheless. I tramped quickly down the staircase until I reached the kitchen table. On top sat a plate with a stack of delicious golden brown pancakes with an assortment of fruits and a swirl of whipped cream. I inhaled the sweet aroma and smiled without taking my eyes off the scrumptious looking pancakes. Behind the breakfast were vivid pink balloons attached to a neatly wrapped present with happy birthday wrapping paper and curly red ribbons that unraveled in every direction. My sister Petunia sat at at the seat opposite mine with a playful grin splashed across her face. Behind her, my dad stood proudly, head up high and praise shining in his eyes.

I dug into the pancakes, the sweet flavor ticking my taste buds as the fluffy waffles melted on my tongue, inhaling the plate of food in a few delicious minutes. The rest of my family did the same, leaving empty dishes atop the table. Dad gathered the dishes in a neat pile and motioned for me to open my present.

I joyfully pulled the box in front of me and carefully untied the ribbons and unwrapped the gift. Once all the paper was removed I lifted the lid of the box off revealing a hardcover book of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I pick up the book in awe.

"I've always wanted this book!" I exclaimed.

"Since the day you first saw it through the window of the bookstore," Father recalled.

"And you just couldn't stop talking about it," Mother added.

"Thank you!" I squealed and hugged my family, beyond ready to start the enchanting book.

"I'll help you with any of the words you don't know," Petunia offered.

I nodded, although I couldn't start the book since we were going a trip to the zoo for the day. 

-- 

By the time we got back to our house it was late at night and a wave of tiredness had washed over my body. Mother carried me in her arms up to my room and tucked me into bed with a goodnight kiss on the forehead and another 'happy birthday'.

I kept my eyes closed until my mother my gently closed my door and I waited in bed until her footsteps faded away in the hall as the light shining from under my door went out. I groped around my nightstand for my flashlight and my hands closed around the cool metal. I flipped it on and scrambled out of bed to retrieve my new book from my desk. I brought it to the bench in front of my windowsill and opened the window so a chilly breeze swirled through my room. I breathed in the refreshing air and held my book in front of me.

I was flipping over the cover when suddenly the book slipped out my hands and I watched in slow motion as it flew over the window sill and plopped into the bushes below. I tiny gasp escaped my lips and my hands leapt to my mouth in shock

How could I be so careless as to drop the book out of the window? 

"No, no, no..." I cried out quietly.

The book vanished into the thick bush so I couldn't determine its place.

"Ugh," I groaned. "Quomodo invenient eam?" (How will I find it?) Latin

A slight tingling sensation swept through my chest and I gasped. It felt as though I could feel the textured book cover at my fingertips, right before me yet it wasn't here at all. I needed to find it. Maybe the solution was simply beyond me. Perhaps I could go through a magic portal to the yard like how the Pevensie children went through a wardrobe to Narnia. That's when it struck me. Maybe I could use magic to find the book. I'm just as special as the children in my bedtime stories, so why can't I do the same things as them. 

I held my hands out in front of my and closed my eyes. "Come to me. Book. Book. Book. Into my hands." I peeked open an eye. Nothing. "Find book. Find it." Once more, nothing happened. "INVENIRE!"(Find) I spoke more fiercely.

An unexpected weight dropped onto my hands and to my amazement my book sat in my hands like it had never been outside in the first place. My mouth was open so wide it hurt my jaw and I closed it shut. 

"How is this possible? I have...magic."

AN:

I'll try to update weekly.

-Estelle<3