Whatever After #4: Dream On Read Online Free PDF Page A

mailman. He delivers messages across the land.”
    “Cell phones get messages to friends, too,” I say.
    Bri frowns. “What’s a cell phone?”
    “Something I don’t have,” I say with regret. “So I guess that means this place has no modern stuff?”
    “If by modern you mean cars, planes, elevators, and cell phones, then no,” Bri says. “Where are you from exactly?” Her eyes widen. “It really does sound like the future.”
    “Kind of,” I say. “But not exactly.”
    “If I can’t get to my future, maybe I’ll go back with you,” she says eagerly. “Do you have any princes where you live?”
    “Not in Smithville,” I tell her.
    “Never mind, then,” she says, spinning the wheel again.
    The rain bangs harder against the skylight.
    “Speaking of Smithville,” I say, “we need to find a mirror or some sort of magical object that will take us back.”
    Bri pokes her thumb against the needle. “I’d suggest the spindle, but its magic appears to have been used up.”
    “True,” I say. “We only have just over nine hours to figure it out, too. Robin’s being picked up at ten.”
    “At least it’s the weekend,” Jonah says. “Otherwise Mom and Dad would wake us up at seven.”
    “Yeah, but they’ll probably start wondering where we are if they don’t see or hear any of us by nine thirty.” A drop of water lands on my head. I look up. Terrific. Now the ceiling is leaking.
    “If we find a portal home, we could always carry Robin back asleep,” Jonah says.
    Another water drop lands on my head and I wipe it away with the arm of my pajama top. “And then what? Won’t her parents freak out when they can’t wake her up? They’ll think she’s in a coma. No, we have to figure out how to wake up Robin here. Plus, find a magic portal. Plus, put Bri to sleep.” I’m feeling overwhelmed. Another drop lands on my head, so I stand up. The bed creaks. “Let’s start with waking Robin up and putting Bri to sleep.”
    “But how are we going to do that?” Bri asks.
    “I don’t know. What puts people to sleep?”
    “Car rides,” Jonah says. “I always fall asleep in the car.”
    “You drool, too.”
    “Do not!”
    “Do so. Anyway, cars are not helpful.”
    “We should move Robin to the floor,” Jonah says. “So Bri can lie down. Anyway, Robin looks way too cozy.”
    He has a point. Robin does look a little too cozy. Even on the burlap sack. “Jonah, you take her legs,” I say. “Bri and I will take her shoulders. Ready? One. Two. Three!”
    We pull Robin onto the floor. I feel bad, but it’s for her own good. Kind of like a flu shot.
    “Now you lie down on the bed,” I order Bri.
    She kicks off her red heels and does as she’s told.
    “Now we’re in the right positions,” I say. “I’ll help Bri fall asleep, and Jonah, you help Robin wake up. ’Kay?”
    Jonah’s eyes light up. “I have an idea,” he says. “Be right back.”
    “Be careful!” I tell him as he disappears out the door. I turn my attention back to Bri. “Do you want to take your crown off first? It doesn’t look that comfortable.”
    “It’s not, but I want the prince to realize I’m a princess, you know?” she says.
    “Good point,” I agree. I sit down at the edge of the bed beside her.
    Bri adjusts her head on the pillow and closes her eyes. “What are you going to do?” she asks.
    “Sing you a lullaby,” I say.
    She adjusts her position again. “I can’t get comfortable.”
    “You need to relax.”
    She tosses and turns and turns and tosses. She loosens her gold sash. “Ready,” she says finally. But then she squirms again. “Really ready.”
    I clear my throat. “Rock-a-bye baby, on the tree top. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. When the bow breaks the cradle will fall. And down will come baby, cradle and —”
    Bri’s eyes jerk open. “How is this supposed to relax me? You’re singing about a baby falling from a tree! The baby is going to break her poor little