Write a short excerpt that begins: "Once upon a time, Susie was my best friend."

Once upon a time, Susie was my best friend. She was kind and caring, and always made me laugh. One day, we decided to go on an adventure.

"C'mon!" Susie called, already halfway across the lawn.

"Coming," I replied, slinging my purple backpack full of supplies over my shoulder as I ran to catch up. We crossed the front yard of my house and strode down the sidewalk, carefully to avoid the cracks. At the end of the street, there was an empty lot and behind it, the beginning of the forest. We'd played there often together, making up games of cowboys-and-indians, or else orphaned prairie girls, but we always allowed the forest a wide berth, as we'd been instructed all our lives; no good came to those who entered that forest. But today was different. Today, we would plunge into that dangerous temptation: adventure.

"Water bottles?" Susie asked.

"Check."

"Flashlight, compass?"

"Check, check."

"Candy bars, Reese's?"

"Check!"

All our necessary gear accounted for, we turned together to stare into the depths of the woods. Were we ready for this?

"Ready as we'll ever be," Susie decided, reading my mind. Grasping hands, we stepped forward, holding our breath, and passed through the trees. It was dark in the forest, darker than I'd expected. I waited for my eyes to adjust to the lack of light, then let out my breath slowly.

It was beautiful.

Green vines wound and twirled up ancient tree trunks. The tree giants, weathered and wise, stood like Greek columns holding up the forest roof. Wildflowers danced around the forest floor, a carpet of delicate celebration. Light was scarce, but here and there, thin streams of gold shot through the dense ceiling of leaves and branches to light up the secret beauty of the world below.

"We. . . we did it," Susie breathed. All the children of Royalville fantasized about the treasures that might be hidden in the recesses of those woods, since they had first learned of their being forbidden to enter it. But we had done it. Finally, we were here.

"It's perfect."