Chapter One

In a time not far past, and in a place nearby to here, there lived a little boy named Juri. He had two sisters, one younger named Luda, and one older one named Nathalie. During the summer, while school was out, Juri, Luda and Nathalie loved to play in the meadow that was behind their home. They constructed a fort out of fallen trees, sticks and branches. For hours the three would play and play, making up stories of fairy-tale creatures and lands. They would invent animals that came to life in their imaginations and played along side them in their clubhouse. They had each other and so many imaginary friends and so everyday of the summer was filled with parties and fun in their clubhouse. 

One morning the children were rushing through breakfast so that they could rejoin their imaginary world in the meadow. 

“I can’t wait to see what Nelly has baked for us today!” Juri could barely contain himself. 

Nelly was the big mama bear who fed the children, and took care of the other animals who had to stay in the clubhouse for the night. The children’s mother said that absolutely no animals were to come into the house, so Nathalie, being the oldest and most thoughtful, decided that they should imagine a mother who stayed in the clubhouse to make sure the younger animals did not get scared at night. 

“Juri, môj drahy , finish your breakfast before you fill your stomach thinking of imaginary pastries! They won’t give you enough energy to play all day – the eggs and toast in front of you will!” Mama fussed over the children, and Juri in particular. 

Despite the fact that he was not the youngest, she worried most about him. He had been sick when he was a baby, and this had left his immune system weakened. She was always fretting over him, and despite his efforts to appear grown up, he liked being babied. 

“I know Mama, I know – I’ll finish it.” And with one scoop he picks up the rest of his scrambled eggs in his last piece of toast and stuffs it in his mouth. He stands up so fast that his chair tips over and hits Nathalie as she passes behind him on the way to the fridge. 

“Juri, OW! Watch out you goof ba…” Nathalie stops mid sentence and stares at her brother. “What’s wrong Juri?" She has never seen her brother look so white. And right before her eyes, before she can even think, he crumples to the ground. 

Mama rushes over to Juri, and as she reaches his little body he opens his eyes. He sees his sisters and Mama standing over him, looking worried. 

“What happened guys?” 

“Nothing môj maly. You’re fine. But, all the same, we will go to the hospital and make sure. Which toy would you like to bring? Natalushka, go and get it for him.” Mama starts packing up some snacks for Juri; she always carried goodies for her babies in her big handbag. 

Juri feels scared, and when his sister brings him his teddy bear, he clutches it tight. He did not feel so funny anymore – couldn’t he just go out to the clubhouse and have some of Nelly’s cookies? They would surely make him feel 100% better. But as he watches his Mama fret and fuss and make arrangements for Luda to go to their Oma’s house while Nathalie came with them to the hospital, he felt a strange feeling – even stranger than the one he felt before he woke up on the ground. He felt that today would be the last regular day for him – and he didn’t know why.