Chapter One
From Wikinovel
The family hated camping, really. Most of the family anyway. But it was Jason Brown's way of making sure his family spent time together, despite their differences.
What was going to be a five day ridge walk complete with drinking from streams, spooking deer, avoiding bears and roughing it under the stars, had been negotiated down, compromised, and compressed into three days. And now, they were in canvas walled cabins nestled among pine trees a short stroll from shower blocks, kiosks and countless other families with small children - not exactly the wilderness adventure that was originally planned.
Jason Brown was tired from the trip. He had eaten all of the snacks his wife packed for him in her fanny pack. His feet were blistered, yet he only hiked 4 miles. Those 4 short miles were like 12 to him because the muscles of his legs had long ago withered away from a lack of exercise, and an excess of eating. The rest of the family, his son, daughter and wife were far up the trail ahead of him.
He was resting on an old log, swatting mosquitoes from his neck, when he suddenly noticed a bright light from a tree.
And from the light came a high pitched voice.
The voice said "Come here, come here. This is the way to the carnival."
And Jason Brown walked nearer to the magical portal he had just seen. Unaware that this is the beginning of a magical journey...
