Ava opened her eyes as the morning light shined through the cracks of the wooden loft.
She felt the picture frame next to her as her mind was still spinning from what she had realized just the night before.
Tommy is my great-great-great-grandfather?
It didn't feel real, and yet it explained everything.
His name, the way the swirl on the picture frame matched the one in her grandmother's house, and the way she had always felt drawn to the river, like it was calling her.
Downstairs the smell of breakfast drifted up fresh bread, roasted apples and something warm in a tin pot.
Ava climbed down the ladder, still holding the picture frame tightly, and Tommy met her with a grin.
So, did you sleep okay?
Ava nodded, but her heart was pounding.
Tommy nodded.
I gotta tell you something.
Okay, what's up?
Tommy said.
So they walked to the river together and Ava told him everything.
About the picture frame in her grandmother's house, the initials and the name.
Your full name, she said softly.
It's Thomas R. Whitmore, isn't it?
Tommy blinked.
Yeah, how did you... Because I've seen your picture in my world.
You're my ancestor.
Tommy stared at her.
I'm your... What?
You're my great-great-great-grandfather.
And for a long moment, neither of them said anything.
The river babbled quietly nearby.
A squirrel darted up a tree.
And then Tommy let out a breath.
Well, that explains a lot as they both laughed.
Ava looked across the water.
I don't know if I'm supposed to stay here or go back, but I think I was meant to find you.
Tommy nodded.
Yeah, it does kind of seem like it.
And suddenly Ava squinted.
Wait, do you see that?
Far downstream, something long and dark had caught against the rocks.
They scrambled along the riverbank as their shoes were squishing through the mud.
As they drew closer, Ava's eyes grew wide.
It was the tree!
It was battered and waterlogged, but it was still whole and all in one piece.
The fallen tree had drifted downstream and gotten stuck.
If we could just find a way to pull it back, Tommy said if he was already moving.
And together they hauled the trunk with ropes and sticks and anything they could find nearby.
And inch by inch, they turned it and guided it.
And the current pushed and tugged.
But finally, they managed to wedge that tree back across the narrowest part of the river.
And they got it to stay, but they both knew it wouldn't stay for long.
It was just moments away from being swept downstream.
Ava stepped to the edge with her heart pounding.
She turned to Tommy.
If I cross, I might never be able to come back.
The tree might wash away again.
Tommy swallowed hard.
Then I'll keep drawing.
I'll leave you a message every year right under the flat rock in case you ever find your way back.
Ava's eyes started to fill with tears.
You promise?
I promise.
Ava stepped onto the trunk and started walking across.
She paused halfway and looked back.
Tommy waved.
Tell your family about me.
Ava smiled back.
You are my family!
She turned, crossed the last few steps, and jumped onto the far bank.
And just like that, the air grew warmer, the trees sharpened in color and a bird called out with a sound she recognized.
She was home.
The river behind her was still rushing and within seconds of her touching foot on the other side, the tree was swept away and Ava knew she would never be able to return to Tommy's time.
At least, not through that tree.
Ava looked around and saw the beautiful cherry tree she had planted with Tommy just the day before, realizing it had actually been over a century ago.
Then Ava reached into her pocket and it suddenly hit her.
She had forgotten the wooden picture frame that Tommy had made for her.
Oh, no!
She ran all the way back home as she began to cry.
She burst into her house and frantically asked her mom Mom, do you remember that wooden picture frame from Grandma's house?
Hey, Ava, her mom said.
Yeah, I remember that.
You mean the one grandma gave us?
What?
Ava said.
She gave that to us?
Yes, she told me to take it before we moved here.
She said it was one of her most important possessions that was made by someone in our family a long time ago.
Can I see it?
Ava said.
So Ava's mom went and pulled it out of a box in storage and gave it to Ava.
And Ava marveled at the same picture frame she had held in her hands just the day before, even though over a hundred years had passed in her time.
It looked remarkably new, even with how old she knew it was.
And then she turned it over and opened it from the back.
And when she opened it, she was stunned. to find papers, dozens of them, sketch after sketch of charcoal drawings from none other than Tommy.
He had drawn pictures of her by the river, pictures of her by Tommy's house and even a picture Tommy had made of the both of them at Ava's house.
Ava's mom stood over her shoulder and gasped.
Wow, who knew all those pictures were hidden in there?
And look at that one.
Is it just me or does that picture look a lot like our house?
And how did you even know all of those were in there, Ava?
Ava's mind was still racing as she thought about trying to explain everything to her mom.
But then she just said, oh, I don't know.
I just had a feeling.
And her mom said, well, what's with this sudden interest in this picture frame anyway?
What even made you think of this?
It's kind of a long story, said Ava.
And every year after that, Ava returned to the river.
Even after the tree was long gone, she would sit on her side of the river sketching scenes of her time with Tommy and sliding the drawings under one of the nearby flat rocks.
Not always expecting something in return, but always hoping.
In one spring morning, many years later, she lifted the rock and couldn't believe what she saw.
There, resting on fresh, bright paper, was a drawing she had never made.
The colors were ones she didn't have.
The lines were smooth and clean, and the signature at the bottom wasn't hers.
And it wasn't Tommy's either.
And at the bottom, in careful handwriting, were three small words.
Are you there?
Ava stared at the drawing for a long time because it didn't come from the past.
It came from someone who hadn't been born yet.
It was someone from her future.
Just like she had once found Tommy from long ago, someone else far ahead in time had found her.
And Ava smiled because now she knew.
When someone discovers the secret river, their story doesn't end.
It becomes part of something bigger, because some rivers never forget, some stories never end and some stories are still waiting to begin.
Hey there, Storyland fans.
If you love these magical adventures, I've got some exciting news.
The Storyland Collection Volume 1, Tales of Magic and Wonder, is now available as an audiobook.
It's packed with all your favorite stories in their true chronological order, professionally remastered for the best listening experience.
Just search for Storyland, all one word...
And you should be able to find it there.
And if you're looking for even more magic, check out Luke and the Magical Marker, my brand new, first ever illustrated book, now available on Amazon.
It's a perfect read for kids who love creativity and adventure.
And one last thing, if you like the podcast, I'd love for you to leave a review on Apple podcasts.
It really helps more listeners discover the story land podcast.
Thanks again for listening and I'll see you in the next adventure.
