The third world 3/10

Jennifer Jane knew that something had gone wrong. At least her protective spell hadn't worked so she knew she was in no danger. However she had no idea where she was. The open space by the Witches' Home looked different somehow. There was no Gate of course, she'd already noticed that, but everything seemed more closed in than usual. She made sure that the fire was well and truly out and then started to walk towards the place where Lurgin's bridge should be. Almost at once she noticed some small buildings and a row of iron railings about a hundred yards away. Just by the buildings were swings and slides and a pond with a model yacht sailing on it.

She walked across and looked at the boat. She was used to all sorts of sailing craft but this one was very different. A boy of about her own age was using a radio set to control it, but it only had one sail that looked rather like an aeroplane wing standing on end.

"That's an unusual rig," she said.

"Huh, girls! What do you know! It's a perfectly ordinary model of last years America's Cup winner."

Well she was just as keen as her parents about sailing and they had all watched the races on television, but none of the boats had looked anything like the boy's model.

"I'm afraid I'm lost," said Jennifer Jane not wanting to argue, "do you know a village called Holmwood near here?"

"Down the road about two miles," replied the boy pointing through the railings, "girls," he snorted.

Jennifer Jane went through a gate in the railings and found herself on a footpath beside a country road. Perhaps she wasn't lost after all, at least she could get to her own village and of course she knew the way home from there. One or two cars passed her as she walked along the footpath and then one slowed down, stopped and hooted. The driver leaned across the passenger seat and opened the door.

"Hop in Jenny, you look as if you could do with a lift home."

Jennifer Jane looked in the car. To her amazement the driver was Abigail dressed in a District Nurse's uniform.

"Thank goodness it's you Abigail, yes please, I'm afraid I've got lost."

She looked out of the window carefully as they drove into the village. Things still didn't look normal. Some of the shops sold different things, there were far more cars than usual and she suddenly realised that there were very few trees. That was what had been bothering her, everywhere was built up just like a large town. At last Abigail turned down the road which led to Jennifer Jane's house.

"One of these isn't it Jenny? tell me when."

That was another strange thing. Abigail kept on calling her Jenny and hadn't even mentioned the fact that she'd gone missing from the other world. Still she'd be home soon and would be able to sort it all out with her parents.
"Here we are Abigail," said Jennifer Jane as the car slowly rounded a bend in the road.

Abigail drove in through the gate, crossed the bridge over the little stream in the front garden and pulled up in front of the house. Jennifer Jane's Mother came to the door to see who was calling.

"I found her walking along the road from the recreation ground," said Abigail, "so I thought I'd save her legs and give her a lift home."

"Thanks very much Nurse," said Mary looking rather strangely at Jennifer Jane.

They both waved goodbye as Abigail went back down the drive.

"'Bye Abigail and thanks for the ride,” called Jennifer
Jane

"I thought you were upstairs doing your homework with your Father," said Mary with a puzzled look in her face "and where did you get those awful clothes? Dave," she shouted, "I thought Jenny was upstairs with you."

She is," came the reply, "what's the problem?"

"Come down here Dave," said Mary sitting down on the doorstep rather suddenly.

Dave came down the stairs followed closely by a young girl who looked exactly like Jennifer Jane, except that she was wearing a frock.

"Oh crikey," he said.

"Who are you?" asked the girl.

"My name's Jennifer Jane, I live in this house and you're my Mum and Dad," she said feeling very close to tears.

"I think we'd better all go into the kitchen and have a nice cup of tea," said Mary.