The third world 6/10

Jennifer Jane followed Mary and Dave into the kitchen. She was sure now that they were not her real parents and that she must be in a parallel world much like her own home. While Mary was making the tea, she looked out into the garden. Two thirds of it was no longer there. Six houses had been built where it had been and behind them there wasn’t a tree to be seen.

"What happened to the wood at the end of the garden?"

"That was nearly all cut down when those houses were built," said Dave, "then a few years back they built the bypass through what was left."

Mary put four cups of tea and a plate of biscuits on the table. “Now then my dear, perhaps you can tell us what this is all about?"

Jennifer Jane explained how she lived in a world very similar to this one but which still had fairy folk. That she had visited this parallel world through a magic door where a witches' spell had gone wrong and left her stranded. Clearly none of the family believed a word she said.

"Excuse us a moment dear," said Mary, "would you and Jenny like to go upstairs and play with her dolls for a while, I think Dave and I must have a chat."

Jenny took Jennifer Jane upstairs to her room and showed off her wonderful dolls house and collection of dolls. Jennifer Jane wasn't very interested, she was trying to hear the conversation downstairs.

"She knew where to find us and knows our names..."

"Amazing likeness to Jenny.....seems to know the nurse."

"Can't leave her behind.....what else can we do?"

"Must be mad but doesn't seem dangerous."

"Don't you like dolls?" asked Jenny rather crossly.

"I prefer dinghy sailing really"

"Well I don't, nasty and cold and wet and Daddy always makes us go with him. We've got a big new yacht on the Therdle estuary and he's taking us all there this weekend."

Jennifer Jane suddenly felt a lot happier, if the Therdle had a magic fog like the one in her own world she should be able to return home.

"Would you come down now girls," called Mary. "We've decided we ought to call you Jane my dear, so that we don't get you mixed up with our Jenny. Dave and I have agreed that you ought to come with us for the weekend to our holiday cottage on the Therdle estuary, so that we can all have a nice quiet chat about how we're going to get you home again."
"My Dad sails a dinghy on the Therdle," said Jennifer Jane.

"I'm sure he does Jane dear, perhaps you'll be interested in seeing our new yacht. We're all ready and packed, so I'll just pop in some extra clothes of Jenny's for you to wear and we'll be off."

It was just getting dark as the car turned down the familiar lane leading to the cottage. Jennifer Jane could see the river. Every thing here looked normal at least, so she went off to bed with Jenny after supper, full of hope, while Mary and Dave unpacked the luggage.

"Sailing after breakfast tomorrow, goodnight girls"