Tales from the Stars

The familiar scent of freshly cut grass and his mother’s lilac perfume filled Douglee’s senses as he burst through the back door, Rocket right on his heels, tail thumping a happy rhythm against the doorframe. The portal, a shimmering, swirling vortex of blues and greens, had vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only the ordinary patch of lawn where they’d first discovered it. But ordinary felt anything but ordinary now. Douglee’s heart still hummed with the echo of starlight and the thrill of a mission accomplished.

“Mom! Mom, you won’t believe what happened!” Douglee exclaimed, his voice practically vibrating with excitement. He bounded into the kitchen, where Mrs. Douglee was humming softly, her hands dusted with flour as she kneaded dough for their evening bread. She looked up, a warm, knowing smile gracing her lips.

“Oh, I think I might, Douglee,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “You and Rocket look like you’ve had quite the adventure. Did the backyard decide to play some new games today?”