1 Chapter One

It was quiet, the only sound was the running of the water of the water fall falling into a pond, the beautiful song of the amazingly colourful birds, and the paper of the book that Iris Bloom was reading. This was her last day before she went to a new school, not that she wanted to go of course. New school meant new friends, new challenges, new life, things she was not ready for. Iris carefully placed the book she was reading down on the luscious green grass.

She missed her old friends dearly. She loved going to their houses to hangout, then their hangout turn into a three night sleepover. It was really fun to do homework together, though it may sound boring, friends make it fun. Iris wasn't ready for this change in her life so suddenly. There would have to be so many things she would have change, just to make a friend or two, and the school work is a lot harder. To even get into the school, you need to take this five-page long test to see if you are smart enough to even step foot into there.

Iris was about to pick up her book to continue reading when her mum called out from the picnic blanket. She almost forgot that she hadn't had lunch yet. Iris stood up, brushed some grass off her skirt, and stared towards her mum and sister at the blanket, readied with food in their hands.

"Where were you?" Mrs. Bloom called from the blanket. "I was worried sick!"

"I was just reading mum," Iris called back. She had only just reached the edge of the clearing where her family was sitting - with a large array of food at their feet – when Mrs. Bloom jumped up and ran over gracefully to her daughter and embraced the latter in a tight hug as she always did when worried.

Once Mrs. Bloom and finally let go of her, Iris could actually see where they were. The clearing in the middle of the woods, Iris had only read stories about it. The trees surrounding the picnic area were thick, blocking out the outside world. The canopy of the trees almost let in no yellow light, as the light that did make it though was green, the little light that wasn't green was in the very center, which was where the picnic was, making it seem magical.

"Are you hungry?" Mrs. Bloom asked Iris.

"A little," Iris answered, joining her sister down on the blanket," what did you bring?"

"Just some sandwiches, strawberries and cream, and a lot more options for you to choose from!" Mrs. Bloom said a little too enthusiastically.

Iris look into the over flowing basket. Her mum wasn't kidding! There was five different types of sandwiches, a boll full of assorted berries, and a little container of cream for the berries. And, as Mrs. Bloom also got correct, there was still a lot more food. There were pasties, minnie pies, fairy bread, and so much more food to even keep account of.

After looking through all of the food, savory and sweet, and finally settled for one of the minnie hot-dogs. Mrs. Bloom decided on one of her home-made zucchini slice, and Alice (Iris's 6 year old sister) had some fairy bread.

After lunch, Mrs. Bloom started to put out the dessert.

"Mum, I'm way too full for dessert!" Iris protested," I had three lunches that you insisted me to have, and besides, I want to finish this book, it's the last one in its series!"

"Fine, but you need to at least try some! It's the first time I've tried this recipe, and I want someone to try it!" Mrs. Bloom fought back.

"No, mum. Do you not understand what 'I'm not hungry' means?"

"Sure I do, I just really want someone with a critical tongue to try this!"

"One bite, that's it."

"At least three?"

"One!"

"Fine, I give up," Mrs. Bloom finally stop bothering Iris," you don't have to have any if you don't want."

"Thank you!"

Iris started back to her secret place where she was reading.

"I'm going back to where I was now!" Iris called to her family," I'll be back when you need me!"

"Don't go too far!"

"I won't!"