Deanna Biloski

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ancient forest surrounding Elowen’s peculiar home. Inside, the vibrant interior of her house glowed like a beacon, a stark contrast to the darkening world outside.

Alice Mosley skipped up the winding path that led to Elowen’s front door. Her bottle-thick glasses magnified her blue eyes, sparkling with youthful enthusiasm. Elowen, dressed in her kaleidoscope of patterns and fabrics, greeted Alice with a warm smile.

“Hello, dear Alice! What brings you to my humble abode today?” Elowen’s eyes held a twinkle, always ready for the next peculiar turn of events.

Alice shifted nervously, her gaze darting around the colorful entryway. “Um, Elowen, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Every time I come here, those strange friends of yours, Tomte and Old Marg, seem to disappear. Do they not like visitors?”

Elowen blinked in surprise, her mysterious eyes narrowing slightly. “Oh, my dear Alice, you’ve noticed, have you?” Elowen chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Tomte and Old Marg are not fond of revealing themselves to just anyone. It takes a special sight to see them.”

Alice furrowed her brow, adjusting her thick glasses. “Special sight? What do you mean?”

Elowen led Alice into the vibrant living room, where the walls were adorned with a patchwork of artworks, tapestries, and unusual decor. Whiskerwinxs, the grumpy Siamese cat, eyed Alice from his perch on the couch.

“Sit, my dear. Let me share a secret with you,” Elowen said, gesturing to a colorful chair. As Alice settled in, Elowen continued, her voice laden with cryptic insights. “You see, Alice, there’s more to this world than meets the eye. Some have the gift to see the magical and the extraordinary.”

Alice’s eyes widened with curiosity. “Magical and extraordinary? Like what?”

Elowen’s laughter filled the room. “Why, like Tomte and Old Marg, for starters. They’re not just figments of my imagination. They’re real, magical beings that exist in the realms beyond what most can perceive.”

Alice’s gaze flickered between Elowen and the quirky decor surrounding her. “You mean, like, ghosts and gnomes are real?”

Elowen nodded. “Exactly, my dear. And you, Alice, possess the gift of sight. Not everyone can see them, but you do. Your unique ability to perceive the magical is a rare and wondrous gift.”

Alice’s eyes sparkled with a newfound realization. “You mean, others can’t see them, but I can?”

Elowen smiled warmly. “Indeed, dear Alice. You have a connection to the mystical, the magical. It’s a gift to be cherished and embraced.”

As the two continued to chat, the vibrant colors of Elowen’s home seemed to glow even brighter, resonating with the discovery that Alice, the seemingly ordinary girl with the bottle-thick glasses, held the extraordinary ability to see the magical inhabitants of Elowen’s peculiar world. Elowen marveled at the newfound depth of her young friend, realizing that Alice’s extraordinary nature extended far beyond the surface. Together, they continued to explore the magical tapestry that wove their lives together, uncovering mysteries and forging a bond that transcended the ordinary.