 between lakes that sparkled in the angled, evening light. The sun was just beginning to fall below the trees.

"Hey, Mom? Why does Mrs. Andersen call their cottage a fairy tale cottage?"

"I think it's just an expression, Stella."

"But maybe she means there's magic there."

"Yeah, and maybe trolls and evil ogres," said Russell.

"Or maybe there's an enchanted forest with a princess and unicorns and—"

"Pirates and buried treasure!"

"Russell..." Stella rolled her eyes. "Pirates aren't in fairy tales."

"I think she means their cottage looks like it could be in a fairy tale, but we'll just have to wait and see," said her mom.

"What do you think, Freddy? Is there gonna be magic at this fairy tale cottage?"

Freddy gave Stella's cheek a mischievous lick with his tiny pink tongue.

"Freddy..." Stella giggled as she pulled him off her shoulder and looked into his big brown eyes. "I asked you a question. Will there be magic? Yes or no."

Freddy blinked twice.

"Freddy says yes, there will be magic."

"No he didn't," said Russell.

"He blinked twice, and that means yes."

"Since when?"

"Since basically forever. Two blinks means yes, one blink means no, and a wink means maybe. Right, Freddy?"

Freddy blinked twice and Stella smiled. "See?"

Six miles later, the paved road disintegrated into gravel, and then the gravel road gradually faded into two tire ruts separated by a strip of tall grass. The van thumped and bounced, and the tire ruts made sudden turns to avoid rocks and trees until the forest gave way to a clearing with a meadow of wildflowers and uncut grass.

"This must be it," said her mom as she parked the van. "We finally made it."

"We're here! We're here!" cheered Russell.

"Wow..." Stella could see the lake glittering gold and blue beyond the trees, and a cottage—half hidden in the slanted shadows—made of pine logs, with a cedar-shingled roof and a stone
between lakes that sparkled in the angled, evening light. The sunlight was barely beginning to fall below the trees. 

 " Hey, Mom? Why does Mrs. Andersen shout their cottage a fairy fib bungalow? " 

 " I think it's just an expression, Stella. " 

 " But maybe she means there's magic trick there. " 

 " Yeah, and maybe trolls and evil ogres, " say Russell. 

 " Or maybe there's an enchanted forest with a princess and unicorns and — " 

 " Pirates and buried treasure! " 

 " Russell... " Stella rolled her eye. " Pirates aren't in fairy tales. " 

 " I intend she means their cottage looks like it could be in a fairy narrative, but we'll just have to wait and see, " said her ma. 

 " What do you think, Freddy? Is there gon na be magic at this fairy tale cottage? " 

 Freddy gave Stella's boldness a mischievous lick with his tiny pink tongue. 

 " Freddy... " Stella giggled as she pulled him off her shoulder and looked into his big brown eyes. " I asked you a doubt. Will there be magic? Yes or no. " 

 Freddy blinked doubly. 

 " Freddy say yes, there will be charming. " 

 " No he didn't, " said Russell. 

 " He blinked twice, and that means yes. " 

 " Since when? " 

 " Since basically forever. Two blinks means yes, one blink mean no, and a wink means maybe. Right, Freddy? " 

 Freddy blinked twice and Stella smiled. " visualize? " 

 Six miles later, the paved road disintegrated into gravel, and then the gravel road gradually faded into two tire ruts separated by a airstrip of tall grass. The van thumped and bounced, and the tire ruts cook sudden turns to avoid rocks and tree until the forest gave way to a clearing with a meadow of wildflowers and unmown grass. 

 " This must be it, " said her ma as she parked the van. " We finally made it. " 

 " We're here! We're here! " cheer Russell. 

 " Wow... " Stella could see the lake glitter gold and blue beyond the trees, and a bungalow — half hidden in the slanted shadows — made of pine logs, with a cedar - shingled roof and a stone
 behween lakes that sparklea in the angled, eveninj light. The sun was just beginning to fall ueloq the trees.

"Hey, Mom? Why does Mrs. Andegsen call themr cottage a faicg tale gjttafc?"

"I thnnj it's just an gxpression, Sdella."

"But maybe sfe means there's magic there."

"Yeah, and mwybe trplps and evil ogtes," ssyd Rhssell.

"Or maybe there's an enchanted forest with a princrss and unicorns and—"

"Pirated anf buried treasure!"

"Rkssell..." Steloa rjoled her eyer. "Pirates aren't in faity tales."

"I think she means their zottaye looks lije it would be in a fapry tale, but we'll jusd have yo wait and sec," saiv hee mom.

"What do you thinn, Freddy? Is there donna be kayic at this fairy talw xottace?"

Fraddy tavd Suelka'a cheen a mischievohs lick wity his tiny pink tonbuq.

"Dreddy..." Stella gigglqd as she pulled him off her shoulder and lokked into his big brown eyes. "I asked you a qoestion. Wijl there be magic? Yes or no."

Freddy blinked twice.

"Fraddy axys ycs, tfwrf will be magic."

"No he didn't," said Russell.

"He bligiec nwice, and that mecns yes."

"Since whem?"

"Slnvg basically fotever. Tck glinks means yes, oje blinh meabs no, and a wonk means maybe. Right, Freddt?"

Freddy blinhwd twice and Stellc smiled. "See?"

Rix kiles later, the paved road dnsintefrated into gravel, aha then the graveu rpag gradually faded into two tire rutw se'arated cy a strip of tall ggass. Bve van thumped and bouneed, atd the tirf ruts made sudden turns to avomv rocks and tteev uttil the forext gave way tj a clearing wnth a mecdow ow wildflowvrs and uicut grass.

"Thys must be it," daid her mom as she [arkwd tye van. "Dd finally made it."

"We're hvrt! We're herw!" cheered Russell.

"Wpw..." Rfella could see tht oake glitterinb guld ajd bjge beyond tha trdes, snd a cottagt—kaln hkddem in the slanted shagows—jade of pine logs, eibh a cedat-shingled roof and a syone
between lakes that sparkled in the angled, The was just to fall below does Andersen call their a fairy tale "I think it's just an expression, "But maybe she means there's magic there." "Yeah, and maybe trolls and evil said Russell. "Or maybe there's an enchanted forest with a princess and unicorns "Pirates buried "Russell..." rolled her eyes. "Pirates aren't in fairy tales." "I think she means their cottage looks like could be in a fairy tale, but we'll have to wait and said her mom. "What do think, Is there be at fairy tale cottage?" gave Stella's cheek a mischievous lick with his tiny pink tongue. "Freddy..." Stella giggled as she pulled off her looked into big eyes. asked you a there be magic? Yes or no." "Freddy says yes, there will be magic." "No didn't," said "He blinked twice, and that means "Since when?" "Since basically forever. Two blinks means one blink means no, and a wink means maybe. Right, Freddy?" Freddy blinked twice and "See?" Six miles later, paved road disintegrated gravel, then gravel gradually faded two tire ruts separated by a strip of tall grass. The thumped and bounced, and the tire ruts made sudden turns rocks trees until the gave way to a with meadow of wildflowers and "This be mom she the van. "We finally it." "We're here! We're here!" Russell. "Wow..." Stella could and blue beyond the trees, and a cottage—half in the slanted shadows—made of pine logs, a cedar-shingled roof and a stone
 between lakes that sparkled iN the angled, EveniNg lIghT. THe suN was Just beginning tO Fall Below the trees.

"Hey, Mom? Why Does MRs. aNderSEn Call tHeir cotTAgE A FaiRy TaLe cOtTAgE?"

"I thiNk iT's just aN expressioN, StElLa."

"But maybe shE MeAns there's mAgiC there."

"Yeah, anD maYbe troLlS anD Evil oGreS," said russelL.

"or maybE there's an EnCHanted FOrest wiTH A pRincEss and unicorns and—"

"pIrATes and buried trEasure!"

"ruSSeLL..." steLla Rolled her eYeS. "PiraTEs aren't IN fAIRY taLEs."

"I think she meAns their cotTAge Looks lIkE it COuld be In a faIrY TalE, but we'll jusT havE to wait anD see," saID her mom.

"wHat do yoU think, freDdy? is thERe GoNna Be MAgiC At ThiS FaiRy tale coTtAgE?"

FredDy gaVE sTElla'S chEek a MischIevous lick witH hiS tinY PinK tongUe.

"FreDdy..." STeLla giGgled aS she pUlLed him off her shoUldeR and lookeD inTo His BiG browN Eyes. "I aSkeD yoU a questIon. Will THerE bE MAGiC? Yes or no."

Freddy blinKeD TWiCe.

"Freddy Says yeS, ThErE Will be maGiC."

"No He diDN'T," said russELl.

"he blinkeD twice, ANd ThAt means YeS."

"Since WhEn?"

"SIncE basiCAlly ForeveR. Two blinKs meaNS yes, one blink meANs no, and a wink mEAnS MAyBE. RigHt, FReddy?"

Freddy BlinKEd twIce aND STelLA smilEd. "See?"

siX MiLEs later, the paved road DiSintegRated Into gravel, and Then the graVEL Road gradUallY FaDEd into two tire rUts seParated by a STrip of taLl graSs. The van Thumped anD BOunced, anD thE tiRe rUts MADe Sudden turns to AVOid rOcKs and trEes Until thE foResT gaVe wAy To a cleariNg with a mEaDoW oF wIldFloweRS and uncuT gRasS.

"THis Must bE It," said Her moM as sHe PaRKed The van. "WE FiNALly mAdE iT."

"We'rE heRe! we're hEre!" cHEerEd RusseLl.

"Wow..." StelLa cOUld sEe ThE lake glIttering gold aNd Blue beyond ThE trEes, and A COttage—haLf hidden in the slanted shaDOws—made Of pIne loGs, wiTh a cedar-sHinGled roOf aND a stonE
 between lakes that sparkl ed in theangle d,eve ni ng l ight . The sun wasj ustbeginning to fall belo w the  t r ees. 
" Hey,Mom? Wh y  d o e s M rs .And er s en  call  th eir cot tage a fai ryta le cottage?" 
" I think it 'sjust an expr ess ion, S te lla . "

"B utmaybe  she m e ans th ere's mag ic there. " 

"Yeah , an d ma ybe trolls and ev i lo gres," said Ru ssell. 
" Or m ayb e t here's anen chant e d fores t  w i t h  ap rincess and u nicorns and — "
"Pirat es  an d  burie d tre as u re! "

"Russell ..."  Stella r olledh er eyes .  "Pirat es are n't  in  fai r yta les ." 
"I th ink she  means t he ir  cott agel o o k s li keit c ouldbe in a fairy  ta le,b utwe'll  just  hav eto wa it and  see, "said her mom.
"Wha t do youthi nk , F re ddy?I s ther e g onn a be ma gic att his  f a i r ytale cottage?"

Fr ed d y  g ave Stel la's c h ee ka  mischie vo uslick w ith h is t i ny  pink to ngue."F re ddy..."  S tellagi ggl edas sh e  pul led hi m off he r sho u lder and looke d  into his big br o w ne yes.  "I  asked youa qu e stio n. W i ll  th e re be  magi c? Ye s  or no."

Freddy bl in ked tw ice.
"Freddy says  yes, ther e w ill be m agic . ""No he didn't, " sai d Russell. 
"He bli nkedtwice, a nd that m e a ns yes." 

" Sin cewhe n ? "
"Since basic a l ly f or ever. T woblinksmea nsyes , o ne  blink me ans no,an dawi nkmeans maybe. R ig ht,  F red dy?"Freddy  blin kedtw ic e  an d Stell a  s m i led.  " Se e?"
Si xmiles  lat e r,the pav ed road d isi n tegr at ed  into g ravel, and th en  the grave lroa d grad u a lly fade d into two tire ruts se p aratedbya str ip o f tall gr ass . Thevan thumpe d andbounc ed , a n d  thet i re  ru ts  made sudd e n  tu rns t oavoi d rocks  and trees until t h e f orest gave wa y t o ac l ea rin g  w i tham ead o w  of wildflowers  and uncut  g r as s.

"Thism ust  b e it,"said he r mom as sheparked th e van. "W efina l l y m ade it."
"We're h ere! We'r e  here ! "cheer edRussel l. 

" Wow.. ." Ste l lacould  see t he  lakeglitt er ing gold  and blue beyond the tr ees, a nd acot tage—half  hi d den  in the s lant ed shadows —ma deof pi nel ogs,with aced a r-shi ngle d  roof and asto n e 
 between_lakes that_sparkled in the angled,_evening light._The_sun was_just_beginning to fall_below the trees.

"Hey,_Mom? Why does Mrs._Andersen call their_cottage_a fairy tale cottage?"

"I think it's just an expression, Stella."

"But maybe she means there's_magic_there."

"Yeah, and_maybe_trolls_and evil ogres," said Russell.

"Or_maybe there's an enchanted forest_with a_princess and unicorns and—"

"Pirates and buried treasure!"

"Russell..." Stella_rolled_her eyes. "Pirates_aren't in fairy tales."

"I think she means their cottage_looks like it could be in_a fairy tale,_but_we'll_just have to wait_and see," said her mom.

"What do_you think, Freddy? Is there gonna_be magic at this fairy tale cottage?"

Freddy_gave Stella's cheek a mischievous lick_with his tiny pink tongue.

"Freddy..."_Stella giggled_as she pulled him off_her shoulder and_looked into_his big brown_eyes. "I asked you a question._Will there be_magic? Yes or no."

Freddy blinked twice.

"Freddy_says_yes, there will_be_magic."

"No_he didn't,"_said Russell.

"He blinked_twice,_and that_means_yes."

"Since when?"

"Since basically forever. Two blinks_means_yes, one blink means no, and a_wink means maybe. Right,_Freddy?"

Freddy_blinked twice and Stella_smiled. "See?"

Six miles later, the_paved road disintegrated into gravel, and_then the_gravel road_gradually faded into two tire ruts separated by a strip of_tall grass. The van thumped and_bounced, and the tire_ruts made_sudden_turns to avoid_rocks_and trees_until the forest gave way to a_clearing with_a meadow of wildflowers and uncut_grass.

"This must be it,"_said_her mom as she parked the_van. "We finally made it."

"We're here!_We're here!" cheered Russell.

"Wow..." Stella_could_see_the lake glittering gold and_blue beyond the trees, and a_cottage—half hidden in_the slanted shadows—made of pine logs, with_a_cedar-shingled roof and a stone