Sarah walked for a long time, holding a stick ahead of her to use as a weapon in case of an emergency. She was just getting tired and hungry and scared when she saw a quaint little wooden cottage up ahead. Sarah hastened forward, anxious to meet someone who might help her in her exploring. Sarah knocked on the door. The whole house looked so nice and good she didn’t stop to think that perhaps she should have been worried about who lived there. The door opened, and out stepped an old woman with a gray bun, sparkling blue eyes, and wrinkles from smiling. She wheezed, “Oh, are you lost, dearie?” Sarah said, “No. I’ve been exploring this area, and I thought if I could borrow a map from someone who already lives here it would be easier.” The old lady said, “Oh, I have plenty of maps! But first, come in and have some tea.” Sarah, who was quite hungry and sleepy, stepped inside. She looked around, and realized the inside walls of the house were made of ginger bread. Suddenly she remembered a story her parents had told her about a witch who lived in a house like this one. Sarah’s breath caught in her throat. The witch cackled, “Why don’t you go get the tea from the stove, dearie?” Sarah stuttered, “Actually, I just remembered that I need to get back to my home for tea! Well, thank you for the offer of tea, but I must go.” The witch, seeing she had been recognized, said, “Bumpity lumity warty log, turn that unthankful princess into a frog!” Sarah felt herself shrinking, much to her chagrin. Someone knocked on the door. The witch froze in midcackle and turned, a malicious smile already forming on her hideous face. The witch opened the door to admit a small boy and girl. The witch immediately slammed the door shut behind them and cackled, “Ha! Three catches in one day!” Both children looked frightened, but Gretel, a smart girl, said, “Well, I was wondering, I mean, I have always wanted to be a witch, and I was wondering…” The witch smiled and said, “You want to be my apprentice? But you will have to let me eat that boy.” Gretel grinned and said, “Oh, yes! Thank you. I don’t really care much about my brother. But first, I saw an old broom outside, sweeping the doorstep…?” The witch muttered, “Oh, it got out of its shed again? I’ll go and put it up. You watch the frog and the boy.” With that the witch walked outside. Gretel called after her, “It might have gone some way into the woods by now!”
Hansel looked around. His gaze landed on Princess Sarah the frog. He bent down and picked her up. She croaked, “Put me down!” Hansel dropped her from surprise. Sarah said, “I am an enchanted princess.” Gretel turned and said, “Wow!” Hansel went over to a cupboard and looked inside, saying as he did so, “I will see if I can find a way to fix you.” After a moment, he walked back over to Sarah holding a vial that had a label reading, “Spell release. Good until April 31st.” Hansel knelt down next to Sarah and poured a tiny bit onto the floor. Sarah stepped into it and began to turn into a human. One problem: she was still tiny. Sarah said, “I guess it is after April 31st." Gretel started to look for a potion to make her big again, but Sarah protested, "The witch will be back any minute now. I'll find a way to grow bigger later."
Together they all walked outside. Soon they came to a stream. A small white duck was sitting in the water. Sarah said, “Well, I best be going. I’m small enough to ride this duck.” She stepped onto her duck and floated away downstream to whatever adventures would await her. Hansel and Gretel cried after her, “Bye! We can find our way home from here. Good luck! Bye forever, I guess!” Sarah had the unexplainable feeling they would meet again, though. Perhaps on some future adventure…
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