Mara held the pearly Toothbrush as the silver door glowed.
Theo crouched beside her, still wearing the candle in his hat. Above them, the party room smelled of jelly, buns, and rain.
"Are we going down?" Theo asked.
"Yes," said Mara. "But together."
⁂
They stepped onto narrow stairs beneath the cake table.
At the bottom waited a cosy room with shelves of bells.
A round woman in a silver apron clapped with floury hands.
"I am Pippa, party keeper," she said. "Splendid catch, Princess Mara."
"The Toothbrush made a mess," said Mara.
"It made a test," said Pippa. "It opens for brave stoppers."
The Toothbrush wriggled and pointed at a dusty golden clock.
Its face had jam-red hands. Sugar stuck in its cogs.
Pippa gasped. "The Welcome Clock is stuck. Your guests may wander to Tuesday's picnic."
Mara pictured empty chairs and cold buns.
"Toothbrush," she said, "please help me clean that clock."
The Toothbrush crossed its bristles. "Say the proper party words."
Mara swallowed. "I was scared everyone would see my jam tooth."
Theo grinned kindly. "I saw it. I still came."
Mara nodded. "Please, Toothbrush, clean with us, not instead of us."
⁂
The Toothbrush sprang forward.
Theo held the candle high. Pippa turned the little brass key.
Mara whispered, "Together."
She guided the bristles round the sticky cog.
Sugar flew. The clock coughed. Then it rang, bright as a spoon.
Upstairs, feet pattered and children laughed.
Mara lifted her welcome card. The words shone clearly now.
"Welcome, friends," she practised. This time, her voice did not wobble.
Pippa bowed. "A princess who asks for help keeps the party whole."
Then, behind the Welcome Clock, a second silver door slid open.
Painted on it were two crossed spoons and one word: Games.
From inside came three tiny knocks.
