seats These Daphne asked Mrs Grimm reached around tied both ends together over their laps and then smiled There Safety first she cried Mr Canis started the engine and it sputtered backfired and then roared to life belching a black fog out of the tailpipe When he put it into drive an orchestra of gears screamed so loudly that Sabrina thought she might go deaf Daphne plugged her fingers into her ears Mrs Grimm turned to the girls and shouted something Sabrina couldn’t hear What Sabrina shouted back What the old woman asked I can’t hear you Sabrina yelled More than six the old woman replied Six what Sabrina screamed Probably The old woman laughed I love dolphins too Daphne exclaimed Not since I hurt my toes Mrs Grimm shouted Sabrina put her face in her hands and groaned They drove through the little town which consisted of a two-lane road bordered by a couple of antiques stores a bicycle shop a police station and jail a post office a dentist a restaurant named Old King Cole’s a toy store and a beauty parlor Mr Canis made a left turn at the town’s one and only stoplight and within seconds they were cruising out of the town proper and into what Mrs Grimm called Ferryport Landing’s farm country As far as Sabrina could tell the only crop this town grew was mud After a long drive Mrs Grimm’s house came into view It sat far up on a tree speckled hill fifteen minutes away from the closest neighbor It was short and squat much like its owner with two stories a wraparound porch and small windows framed by bright blue shutters It was painted yellow and had fat green shrubs lining the cobblestone path that led to the front door It might have looked cozy if not for the looming forest behind it Branches hung over the roof as if the trees were preparing to swallow the house whole You live in a dollhouse Daphne declared oblivious to the creepy woods Mrs Grimm smiled but Sabrina wasn’t amused The place was troubling and weird and she felt as if she were being watched She squinted into the dense trees but if anyone was spying he or she was well hidden Why do you live all the way out here she asked New York City was a place where
everyone lived on top of each other and that was exactly how Sabrina liked it Living out in the middle of nowhere was dangerous and suspicious Oh I like the peace and quiet said Mrs Grimm And there’s no one to hear the screaming of children up here Sabrina thought to herself Mr Canis unlocked the car’s huge musty trunk pulled out the two tiny suitcases and led everyone to the front door The old woman followed closely behind fumbling with her handbag until she fished out what might have been the largest key ring in the world Hundreds of keys jangled on the ring each different from the others skeleton keys made from crystals ancient brass keys bright new silver keys in many sizes and several that didn’t look like keys at all Wow That’s a lot of keys Daphne said That’s a lot of locks Sabrina added as she eyed the front door There must have been a dozen bolts of all shapes and sizes Mrs Grimm inserted one key after another until she had unlocked them all Then she rapped her knuckles on the door three times and said We’re home Daphne looked up at her sister for an explanation but Sabrina had none Instead she twirled her finger around her ear and mouthed the word crazy Let me take your coats lieblings Mrs Grimm said as they entered the house and she closed the door behind them turning the locks one after another Liebling Daphne asked It’s German for sweetheart the old woman said She opened the coat closet door and several books tumbled to her feet Mr Canis quickly restacked them for her Girls I must warn you I’m not much of a housekeeper Mrs Grimm said then turned to Mr Canis We’ll have dinner in about an hour Mr Canis nodded and without a word climbed the stairs with the girls suitcases A moment later he was gone Is he your boyfriend Daphne asked the old woman Mrs Grimm blushed and giggled Oh dear no Mr Canis and I are not courting We are just good friends she said What does courting mean Daphne asked her sister It’s an old-fashioned word for dating Sabrina replied Ladies let me give you the grand tour Mrs Grimm led them into the living room It was enormous a much larger room than seemed possible in a cottage so small Each wall was lined with shelves stuffed with more books than Sabrina had ever seen Stacks of them sat on the floor the tables and every other surface A teapot perched precariously on a stack that looked as if it would fall over at any moment Books were
under the couch cushions under the carpet Several giant stacks stood in front of an old television blocking the screen On the spines Sabrina read the strangest titles Birds of Oz An Apple a Day The Autobiography of an Evil Queen and Shoes Toys and Cookies The Elvish Handcraft Tradition Mrs Grimm led them through another door to a room where they found a dining room table littered with even more books some open and waiting to be read Sabrina picked one up and rolled her eyes when she read the title 365 Ways to Cook Dragon The old woman led them from room to room showing them where she kept the snacks in the white-tiled kitchen and how to get the rickety bathroom door to close Sabrina pretended to be interested but in reality she secretly cased the joint In each room she noted where the windows and doors were eyed locks and paid close attention to creaky floorboards It was a habit she’d picked up in the orphanage and all their foster homes She always looked for the easiest way out But here she kept getting distracted by the odd books and the dozens of old black-and-white photographs that decorated the walls Most of them were of a much younger Mrs Grimm and a stocky bearded man with a wide smile There were pictures of them hiking in the jungle standing on an icy glacier scaling a mountain and even riding camels in the desert And then there were pictures of them in the house and Mrs Grimm was carrying a small child in a papoose while the bearded man stood next to her proudly beaming at the camera Daphne walked over to one of the pictures and studied it closely Who’s this guy she asked That was your Opa Basil Mrs Grimm said wistfully Opa Daphne asked Grandfather liebling He passed on before you were born she said Is that your baby Daphne asked The old lady smiled then her expression turned serious That’s your papa she said softly The little girl’s eyes grew as big as the moon as she looked over at her sister but Sabrina quickly dismissed the old woman’s claim Babies all look the same An old photo doesn’t prove anything she muttered Oh my I’ve forgotten the cookies Mrs Grimm said as she dashed to the kitchen In no time she returned with a plate of fresh chocolate-chip cookies Daphne of course happily grabbed one and took a bite These taste just like my mommy’s she exclaimed Where do you think she got the recipe Mrs Grimm said Sabrina refused to take a cookie giving Mrs Grimm an I know what you’re up to look She wasn’t going to be bribed with sweets The old woman shrugged and set the cookies on a stack of books Oh I should introduce you to Elvis Mrs Grimm continued then let out a blasting
whistle Suddenly there was a great rumbling in the house Books fell from their shelves windows shook in their frames and the plate of cookies slid to the floor before it could be saved And then something enormous came charging through the room and right at them It moved so quickly Sabrina couldn’t tell what it was and it pushed over lamps and chairs leaped over an ottoman and knocked the terrified girls to the ground Sabrina screamed sure they were about to be eaten by a bear or some kind of hairy rhinoceros when much to her surprise a gooey tongue licked her cheek She opened her eyes to find the friendly face of a giant dog Elvis please get off of them Mrs Grimm said half commanding and half laughing at the Great Dane He gets very excited around new people The enormous dog gave Sabrina’s face one last lick leaving a long trail of drool before sitting down next to the old woman panting and wagging his immense tail This is Elvis He’s a member of our little family and completely harmless if he likes you said Mrs Grimm scratching the beast on his immense head The dog licked the old woman on the cheek And if he doesn’t Sabrina asked as she climbed to her feet Daphne jumped up and threw her arms around the dog Oh I love him He’s so cute She laughed as she covered the dog with her own kisses This is the only boyfriend I have Mrs Grimm smiled And probably the smartest one I’ve ever had too Watch Daphne stepped back and she and Sabrina watched as Mrs Grimm put her hand out to Elvis Elvis shake she said and the dog reached out a huge forepaw and placed it in her hand Daphne giggled Play dead Daphne said hopefully and the dog fell stiffly over onto his side the impact knocking a lamp off a table Mrs Grimm laughed You two must be starving after your trip I suppose I’d better get started with dinner I hope spaghetti and meatballs is OK I love spaghetti and meatballs Daphne cried as Elvis gave her a fresh lick I know you do Mrs Grimm said with a wink She disappeared into the kitchen where she began rattling pots and pans Don’t get used to this place We’re not going to be here long Sabrina said as she wiped the dog’s goo off her cheek Stop being a snot Daphne said as she laid a huge smooch on Elvis Snot was her favorite word lately She wouldn’t hurt us She’s nice That’s why crazy people are so dangerous You think they’re nice until they’re chaining you up in the garage Sabrina replied And I am not being a snot
