Peter grabbed Mona’s hand and hauled her to her feet. Mona’s mouth hung agape, but her eyes took in the figure before her. He seemed to be about her age and was clothed in green and brown. Peter had this strange grin that encompassed his whole face. Mona slowly pried her hands from his then noticed what lay behind him. Snow white clouds danced in the sky, changing shape before her eyes. She was sure she saw at least three rainbows. The rainbow leaf tree she popped out of rested on a rock cliff that sloped down to a lush jungle below with plants of various colors. Sparkling rivers snaked through the land as well as surrounded what she now noticed was an island. At the edge of the island towered mountains covered in green foliage.

“A beauty, isn’t it?”

Mona turned her attention back towards the boy, “Am I dead or dreaming?” Peter flicked her head. “Ow!”

“It’s as real as it gets.”

“But, who are you? And why am I here?”

“I’m Peter and you wanted to come silly.”

Mona stared at him. “Well I heard someone calling my name. But I didn’t expect…all of this.”

“Well now we get to have some fun in this world together. Isn’t that great,” he said, practically jumping.

“I don’t—I mean, I really should go back and check on Shasta,” Mona said, heading towards the tree.

“He’ll be fine. Besides, do you really want to stay in that house by yourself?”

“How did you kn—” Mona’s body was flung into the air then grabbed onto Peter…who was now floating off the ground! “Wait! Wait! Wait!”

Peter propelled himself towards the island. He zigged and zagged while showing Mona every tree, river, and stone. But one thing Mona hadn’t seen was any sign of life. No monkeys swinging from the trees. No bees buzzing over flowers. No fish swimming through the streams. No people experiencing this dreamscape. It was just the two of them. Peter brought Mona to a spot in the jungle that was covered in mushrooms. Giant mushrooms. He threw Mona from his back down onto the shrooms, which bounced her back into the air. Mona flailed around yelling for help as she paddled from one shroom to another. Her screams quickly turned to bursts of laughter. Peter joined her on the fungal trampolines. “Do a flip!” And Mona went from a somersault to a cartwheel in the air.

“Okay! Okay! I don’t think I can jump anymore,” she laughed. When Mona bounced into the air, Peter caught and gently landed her onto the grass. “Haha. I think my head is spinning a bit.”

Peter flew in and out of the trees in seconds. “Here,” he said, handing Mona red berries with yellow stripes. “They’re bongoberries. They’ll knock that dizziness right out.”

Mona took one bite and was instantly delighted with an assortment of citrus and tart. “Wow, I wish we had these back in…my world. Um, Peter?”

“What’s up?”

“Why is it so…empty here? I haven’t heard a single bird or seen a single fish. And there’s also no people.”

Peter started picking the grass but maintained eye contact. “This place used to be filled to the brim with wildlife and then over time it wasn’t.”

“How did that happen,” Mona asked, still munching on berries.

“I don’t know. It just did. And you’re not my first visitor. Others have come and gone.” Peter’s patch of grass was growing bare. “I guess some people eventually get bored, even in a magical place like this.”

Mona closed her eyes and listened to the running river, the leaves rustling on their branches, and the clouds moving in the sky. It was so quiet. A quiet she’s felt before. “Doesn’t it get kind of lonely when it’s just you? Shasta helps to keep the quiet away but you don’t even have a goldfish to talk to.”

Peter stared, and a tiny smile, different than his previous grin, formed on his face. “Heh, what are you worried or something? If you’re done stuffing your face, we can go do something else together.” Peter stood up and gestured towards his back. He elevated them and headed towards one of the sparkling rivers.

Once on the ground, Mona waded her hands in the stream. “I’ve never seen water so clean before. Or sparkly. Can I drink this?”

“Oooo. Do it! Do it,” Peter said, clapping his hands. Mona sipped from the stream and felt a warmth grow within her. She looked at her hands and saw glowing patterns spiral across her body.

“Whoa, I look so cool! Wait. Am I gonna stay like this?”

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“Haha. Don’t worry, it’ll wear off. Now hop into the boat, you glowfish.”

Mona looked around. “Uh, what boat?”

Peter snapped his fingers, and a long wooden boat splashed onto the water. Mona laughed and snapped her fingers too. But, to her dismay, nothing appeared. Peter tousled Mona’s hair and lifted her into the boat. “It’s not gonna work for you, silly.” Peter sat behind her. “Ready?”

“I guess?” The boat glided through the water on its own. Then Peter stuck his hand in the river, and the trees started getting smaller! Suddenly, the boat and water were pulled into the sky, doing loop-the-loops and abrupt turns. “Can you at least snap in some seat belts?!”

“Where’s the fun in that?!” The river guided the boat towards the mountains and landed it in one of its streams. “Wasn’t that awesome?!”

Hugging the boat, Mona let out a tired chuckle. “Yeah, but I could use some more bongoberries right about now.” Mona could hear a loud rush of water up ahead.

“It’s not over yet. Get ready!”

“Just let me catch my bre—” The boat accelerated toward the edge of the river and zoomed off a waterfall! Forceful winds rippled her face as Mona plummeted to the base of the waterfall, where sharp black rocks awaited her! “PWEEETAAAHH!” Before meeting her doom, Mona was hurled back into the air. She peeled her eyes open to see herself floating down thanks to the leaf parachute suddenly attached to her. Mona let out a deep breath as Peter came into view lounging in the air, hands behind his head and legs crossed. “You know, I think I’ve had enough excitement to last me a lifetime.”

“Haha. Let’s settle down before your heart leaps out of your chest.”

“Um, that can’t actually happen, right?” Mona descended into the babbling brook, her clothes drenched. Once on land, she wrung out her clothes.

“Allow me,” Peter said as he snapped his fingers, summoning a gust of wind from below Mona’s feet, airing her dry.

“How do you do that?”

“I don’t know. I just think of what I want to happen and it just happens. It’s always been like that.” Peter pointed towards the sky. “I can change the time.” The moon took the sun’s place in the sky. Then it reverted back to day. “I can control the weather.” With a snap, snowflakes floated towards the ground. Then it stopped. “I can even change the water.” Peter placed a finger in the stream, turning the water a dark purple.

Mona crouched down and took a sniff. “Smells like grape juice.” The stream reverted back to its sparkly clear hue. “I wish I had that power.” Mona stared at her hands and noticed the sparkled patterns had faded. “With just a snap of my fingers, I could have stacks of cash. Then my mom wouldn’t have to work so much.”

“Let’s head to my treehouse. You’re gonna get a kick out of it,” Peter said, pulling Mona from her thoughts. She secured herself on Peter’s back before he glided into the jungle. Alone stood a rickety tree trunk with a hole on the top. Once again, Peter pried Mona from his back and dropped her down the entrance. The trunk turned into a slide that spat her out onto feather pillows. Mona could hear laughter coming down the slide and quickly jumped out of the way before Peter was flung into a wall.

“Wow, you sure like to have fun.”

“Hey, what’s the point of lounging around feeling sorry for ourselves when we can have fun all day, everyday.”

Mona looked around the treehouse and saw emptiness. No shelves, no fridge, no furniture at all. Just what could hardly classify as a wooden bed and a giant leaf for a sheet.

“Peter, how do you live in here? There’s not much.”

“I have a bed.”

“Looks more like a stump.”

“Well I’ve never had to sleep or eat or, you know, go to the bathroom.”

“What?”

“I mean I’ve had those urges, but when I try to do anything about it, nothing changes. But those feelings go away eventually.” Peter snapped himself a hammock. “I also hear beeps and voices sometimes, but I chock it up to hallucinations at this point.”

“You’re quite strange, aren’t you? Where are your parents,” Mona said.

“Don’t know, but you sure do ask a lot of questions. Rest up quick so we can hang out some more.”

“We’ve been hanging out all day yet I hardly know anything about you.”

“Why do you care?” Peter glanced and saw Mona’s worried eyes fixated on him. “Fine. Ask away.”

“Okay. Well, have you always lived here?”

“Nope. I was born in your world. One day I was climbing up my favorite tree. Then the branch broke, I hit my head, and ended up here.”

“Ouch. That explains the broken branch I saw. I heard you calling to me. How did you know my name?”

“I could see you in my head. Always wandering your house with that glum look on your face. Thought you could use a little company. All the people that visit tend to.”

“Well isn’t that nice of you.”

“My parents never paid attention to me either, so I know what it’s like.”

Mona scratched her head. “Well it’s more complicated than that. Our house was meant for three. Maybe four. Then dad just left and bills went up. My mom jumps from one job to the next to keep things together.” Mona tucked her arms and head into her knees. “I’m sure that’s why she got me Shasta, to keep me company. And I’ve been trying to do my part to help. I thought having a garden would lower our grocery bill a bit. But nothing I do seems to be enough.” Mona saw Peter’s blank stare. “Sorry I kinda rambled there.”

“No, let it out. You’re definitely the first one to do so.”

“Huh? Oh, right. You’ve had other visitors. How long have people been coming here?”

“It’s hard to tell sometimes, but I’m sure it’s been at least a few years.”

“Years?!” Mona jumped to her feet. “You’ve been alone in this jungle for years?!”

“Whoa. Calm down. I told you I had visitors. One leaves and another one eventually replaces them.”

“But when they aren’t here, you just wander this jungle waiting for the next person to stumble by?”

“Pretty much.”

It was a little tricky—he hid it so well—but Mona could hear the pain behind Peter’s words. He’s been alone, hoping for the chance that another person would interact with him. Mona pulled out her phone and checked the time. “5:35 P.M. It’ll be dark soon. I should be heading back. Shasta’s probably worried sick. But I promise to come visit you tomorrow.”

Peter leaped out of the hammock. “No, you can’t leave yet!”

“I have to be home when my mom comes.”

“No! Wait!” Peter grabbed her arm. “You don’t have to leave…because they’re already here.”

“Who?”

“Come, I’ll show you.” Peter dragged Mona to a separate entrance that took them back outside. And standing in the jungle was her mom and Shasta.