The ribbon was tied tightly around my waist as I placed a flower crown on my head. My mother was making me try on my wedding dress options. I was to get married to a stranger soon. Winnie came into the room wearing a colorful dress.

The room was silent as I looked at the plain dress. I hated it. "Come here, Winnie," I commanded as Winnie ran up to me. I kneeled down to her height and looked at her. She had a curious expression on her face. "Don't grow up too fast."

Winnie smiled and raced me downstairs, only to see that our mother had her eyes closed and Nanna was asleep. "Okay, mother, you can open your eyes now!" Winnie cheered as mother opened her eyes. "Surprise!"

Mother was confused, to say the least. "I don't understand." She looked to each of us for answers.

"We can't wear black all the time! How is Winnie supposed to go to the fair in black?"

"Fair?" Mother asked as she stood from her seat.

Winnie grinned brightly. "The fair is in town! Can we go?" Nanna suddenly jolted awake in confusion.

"Surprise!" Nanna yelled as I walked over to her and calmed her down.

"You're a little late, Nanna," I mumbled as everyone looked at Nanna.

"Oh, did she say yes?" Nanna asked as we both looked to Mother.

Mother stood in front of the front door of our small white cottage and gave us an answer. "I'm sorry you two, but no. It has not been a year since your father's funeral. We can't be seen in public caring as if nothing has happened."

"But nothing does happen. Not anymore." Winnie complained as she made me stand up and twirl in our dresses, laughing.

"Please march on back upstairs and put your proper attire back on." Mother pleaded as we continued to spin and jump around the room.

Nanna was tired. "Oh, Betsy."

"I told you she'd never let us have any fun," I complained to Nanna as she stood up.

Nanna was definitely on our side. "Forget your potato peeling Betsy, we want cotton candy!"

"We have fun every day!" Mother argued as Winnie grew angry.

"Father would have taken me to the fair!" Winnie blurted out in frustration.

"I know. But things are different now. And if you can't be a good girl, for me, Winnie, then at least try to be a good girl for him." Mother explained to Winnie as I stood with Nanna.

"Yes, mother." Winnie sighed as she headed back upstairs.

Mother frowned. "Good girl." Our eyes made eye-contact as she walked over to me. "It's perfect."

"It's plain is what it is," Nanna complained as she looked at me. "Try on that blue dress."

"No. You will wear this dress at your wedding." Mother argued as I raced outside to get some fresh air as my guardians argued.

I'm trapped in a house of sad and lonely. On a street named main, but you could call it only. Is it rude to say I'd volunteer for a day of fun just once a year? I'd fly the coup if only I could. But I've got a really bad case of being good.

I'd go find trouble if there were some to get in. Ask a friend to play if I had one to let in. Nanna's rocker sawing through the every dairy day just like the one before. We lock ourselves behind that door. Is it wrong to wish for something more?

"Give it a kiss and see what happens!" I heard Nanna yell as Winnie was shoved outside with a toad in her hands.

Silence surrounded us. The woods did too. Winnie sighed and stood next to me on the fence.

"What was that about?" I asked as Winnie looked at her toad. She was visibly sad. "Hey! How about we give that toad some freedom?"

Winnie nodded as we both crouched down. "Well toad, it was nice while it lasted."

Croak.

"I'm sure your home is a lot more fun than ours," I added as Winnie giggled a bit.

Croak.

"Are you from the woods? I'm not allowed there. Big news, I know. I'm not allowed anywhere. But now's your chance to disappear." Winnie explained to the toad as she set him down. The toad hopped away as we watched him.

Go have fun I'll be right here tied to a string like a precious pearl. It's a pretty tight leash for a really good girl.

Nanna walked outside and laughed a bit. "Well, I guess that enough excitement for us today." Nanna looked as if she was a bit winded.

Suddenly, a parade entered out visions and danced past us. A man in a yellow suit was the conductor of the parade.

"Join the parade, fall in line for the fair! Before the sun sets before we roll on! Ladies and gents, our Midway presents a tonic for the woebegone!" The parade sang as we watched in awe.

"Come to the fair, the best day of the year! They say it won't last, and sonny, they're right! A merriment maker, fill in an acre." The conductor sang.

"But the tent comes down tonight!" The parade sang as they continued dancing.

The man in the yellow suit came up to us, a goofy grin on his face. "Good morning!"

"It is now! The fair is here!" Winnie smiled as I held onto her shoulders. I didn't trust this man.

"Ah well, aren't you wise beyond your-" The man looked into Winnie's eyes. "Eleven years, is it?"

"How did you guess?" I asked, suspicious.

"Well, I'm a conman young lady. It is my business to know unknowable things. I can tell a girl's age just by looking in her eyes." The man said as he looked into my brown eyes. "Nineteen." The man guessed as I sighed. He got it right.

He walked over to Nanna. "For instance, your sister here is probably age-"

Nanna flashed him an angry look. "Ageless." She said firmly.

"Ageless indeed with the spunk of a school girl!" The man cheered, a bit frightened as well.

"Oh, I still feel like one! I'd live forever if I could!" Nanna smiled as the man got serious.

"Funny you should say." The old man said as he leaned closer to us. "Don't suppose you've seen anyone strange around here recently."

"What do you mean strange?" I asked, leaning back a bit to avoid him.

The man laughed a bit. "Oh, I've been up and down this state searching for an unusual family. They used to live here in Treetop some time ago."

Nanna was confused. "I don't recall meeting anyone unusual." The old woman thought as Mother came outside.

"No?" The man asked.

"Until today!" Nanna laughed as she pointed at Mother.

Mother rolled her eyes and walked up to the fence. "Pardon me, is there something I can help you with?" She asked the man on the other side.

"Oh, no. Pardon me I'm just spreading the news about the fair!" The man in the yellow suit handed Winnie a flyer.

Nanna's face lit up. "Is it as fun as it used to be?"

"Oh, madam nothing's as fun as it used to be." The man groaned at the truth.

"You could say that again." Nanna sighed as she leaned into the fence.

"Nothing's as fun as it used to be." The man repeated. A beautiful melody surrounded us as we heard something coming from the woods. "That Tune! Do you hear it?"

I rolled my eyes. "I think we all can hear it," I informed as Winnie looked up at me.

The man was annoyed with me but brushed it off. "Well, then I am getting closer! And as much as I'd like to stay ladies, a man only has so much time."

"We've owned these woods for ages. I've heard that very melody on and off my whole life! It's beautiful! And it's always come from our woods!" Nanna explained as the man grinned in an odd manner.

He pulled a flower out of his pocket and handed it to me. The man in the yellow suit left as I threw the flower onto the grass and stomped on it. "Where do you find a suit that color? And why would you buy it?" I asked as Nanna nodded in agreement.

Winnie smiled and ran to mother. "Don't you see mother, it's a sign! We can go to the fair just like we used to!"

"No, and that's my final word." Mother said as I looked at my family argue.

"But mother!" Winnie begged. I was fed up with Mother.

"No more buts. The world can be a dangerous place Winnifred, and it is my job alone to protect you and your sister!" Mother yelled as I held Winnie's hand.

"Protect us from what? Having fun?" I asked viciously as Mother was fuming.

"That is enough! Now go inside and change your dress and your attitude!" Mother yelled as I gripped Winnie's hand.

"No! I hate you and I hate your rules!" Winnie yelled as we ran to the edge of the fence so we didn't have to look at Mother or Nanna.

"Betsy, let them be," Nanna whispered to Mother. "They'll come in when Winnie is ready to apologize."

Nanna and Mother went inside as Winnie and I waited for a miracle. That's when we heard a croak.

Our toad hopped over to us as we smiled. "Here's a piece of advice, friend you're looking for fun, you won't find it around here," I said as I crouched down to the toad.

Croak.

"Toad! You came back! I guess that makes you my only friend." Winnie said as she crouched down to me. My hair flipped around as I looked at her.

"Hey!" I laugh at my younger sister. "We always do friend-like things. Doesn't that count?"

"I wish I could just go on an adventure with you," Winnie mumbled as I smiled at her. "You're going to be gone soon anyway."

Croak.

With a cage for, a yard, you can only mope in. When a front door shuts, should a gate open? If I don't leave now I'll only wish I had. How can I know good without acting badly? To I'd never seem I would. I've gotta get out. While the gettings good.

Winnie stood up and opened the gate leading to the woods. We were forbidden from going in there. Winnie took off into the woods as I stood up and chased after her. "Winnie!" I called out as I lost track of my sister.