Page 257 of Naughty Nelle

My heart skips a beat. Straight ahead of me is that one unforgettable tree—the tree that bore that one unforgettable perfect apple. The apple I picked and dipped into poison. The apple I gave to Snow White.

Calla, carrying her basket with Lady Jane, runs over to the tree.

“Don’t pick apples from that tree!” I sprint up to her, almost knocking her down.

“What’s wrong with this tree?” asks Calla, puzzled.

“Nothing.”

Yes, nothing. Except the thought of eating apples from this tree is making me even sicker to my stomach. Ignoring my plea, Calla shakes the tree, and an apple falls into her basket. A big red rosy apple. Exactly like the one I gave to Snow White.

“Jane, look at this apple!” exclaims Calla. “It’s perfect!” She raises it toward her rosebud lips.

As her mouth descends on its shiny exterior, I yank it out of her hand and toss it as far as I can.

Calla gives me another bewildered look. “Jane, you’re acting all weird today. Are you feeling sick?”

“No, I’m perfectly fine.” Perfectly fine? Chances are I’ll never make it through this day.

What has this madman Midas done to my castle? I’m desperate to find out.

When Calla skips off to check on her father, I hurry off. Every nerve in my body is charged with anticipation as I stomp up the steep, winding road that leads to my home. Yes, my home! Kicking rocks and debris in my way, I’m surprised how easy it is for me to make the climb. The daily trek up to Shrink’s office has gotten me into better shape than I’ve ever been. I can be thankful to Faraway for that. But that’s all. Shrink led me to believe I could go back to live in my castle, but now that’s just another wicked lie.

The cloud cloaking the castle lifts as I make the ascent, and by the time I get to the top, my home is in full view with its myriad of towers, spires, and towers.

My heart plunges. Walls are crumbling; windows are cracked; the vegetation runs wild. It’s a ghost of its former glorious self.

As I circle around to the rear, I hear whistling. And then I see them. Seven little men busily working away. Hammering! Sawing! Bashing! Trashing! I can’t believe my eyes. It’s those abominable dwarfs! First they wrecked my life. Now they’re wrecking my castle!

Desperation overtakes me. I furiously gather up an armful of rocks. I’m going to pummel those runts before nothing remains of my former life.

Then one of them spots me.

“Hey, lady, what are you doing here?” he says, not recognizing me. “This is a construction zone.”

What am I doing here? Hey, Grumpster, this is my property, and you’re destroying it! I should get you arrested and thrown into jail! That same dark, dreary dungeon you sent me to!

I aim a rock at his ugly oversized head but stop when, out of the corner of my eye, I notice one of the home wreckers hauling something out of the back entrance. My heart goes haywire. It’s my magic mirror!

“Where are you going with that?” I cry out.

“Taking this piece of junk where it belongs.” He sneezes, blowing boogers all over my beloved looking glass.

Letting go of the rocks, I race after him, but it’s too late. He hurls the mirror into a dumpster. I hear it shatter.

A loud voice inside my head urges me to leave. “Jane, don’t go there!” it says. It sounds like Shrink’s. I ignore it.

Frantic, I hoist myself up into the dumpster. On top of the rest of my bashed up furnishings is my treasured mirror. I heave a loud sigh of relief. It has only broken into six chunks. I’m able to piece it back together.

My magic mirror! We’re together at last. Unable to resist, I look into it. And scream. I’m horrified by my reflection. The cracks, snaking across my skin, have disfigured my face. I’m dizzy, weak. Almost faint. It’s as if the mirror is possessing me. Tell me:

“Mirror, mirror once on the wall,

Who’s the fairest one of all?”

Silence. I bet it doesn’t recognize me. How could it?

I ask again, this time louder. “Tell me!” I scream. “TELL ME!”

---