Chapter 1 The Beginning

ac and his little sister Mica have just arrived at WorldWonder with their parents. They are kangaroos. They came all the way from down under to spend a year in WorldWonder, and they are going to learn a lot this year. Lots of interesting things seem to happen in WorldWonder, whether you are a high energy adventure seeker like Mac, a quiet observer like Mica, or something in between.

“Whoa! Did you see that bird, Mica? It’s huge.” Mac yells as he bounds down the path toward the corner of the Nature Center in pursuit of a peacock who is trying very hard to get away from him. Mica, who is a few years younger than her brother, hangs back peering out suspiciously at their new surroundings from the safety of her mother’s pouch.

Her Momma is standing beside the crate they have arrived in and right next to her is Dad and Mac’s crate. Just behind the crates there is an open gate and a path leading back toward the road where a delivery truck is pulling away from the curb.

“Come on, Mica!” Mac shouts as he disappears around the corner. “Momma? Do you think it’s safe?” Mica asks as she looks up questioningly. “What, dear?” she asks, “Did you say something?”

Mica slowly inches out of the pouch deciding that she doesn’t want to ask her question again. Just as she gets both feet on the ground, a shadow falls across the path. Instinct seizes her with fear as she turns to flee back to the safety of her mother’s pouch. Just as she does, however, a huge hand grabs hold of her, and she’s swept into the air. After a moment she turns to see a man with a white beard looking back at her. Something in his face leaves her feeling less nervous, and she calms down a little.

Just then the man says, “Hey there Mica,” and he pulls her in to hold her more securely against his chest, “I’m Mr. Heetderks. We’ve been so excited to meet you. Welcome to WorldWonder. Let’s go find out where your brother is off to.”

And just like that, he turns and follows Mac, deeper into this strange new place. With each step Mica’s fear seems to fade away. This man is very big and very powerful, but he seems kind. Being carried by him is not like being carried in her mother’s pouch. For one thing, she is much further up in the air. And from this height Mica can see all around her. As Mr. Heetderks turns around the corner of the Nature Center, Mica dares to look around a little. When she does, she sees just how spectacular a place this WorldWonder is.

Her mom and dad had been telling her about it back in Australia for months, but Mica, not really caring for adventures like her brother, was content to hear, but not really listen. Sure, she understood that they were leaving their home and would be going to a new place for a year, but she didn’t really think about what that meant. She had her momma’s pouch and that was enough. But she isn’t in her mother’s pouch in Australia anymore. Now, five feet in the air, bouncing along to the rhythm of this strange man’s huge steps she understands, “I’m on an adventure!” and, for the first time, Mica dares to wonder, “Where am I?”

Before she can think much more about it, however, she hears a yelp from a little way down the winding path that disappears through huge leaves. Mica knows from the sound of the yelp that it must be her brother Mac. “He’s probably found some sharp edge or fallen into a patch of thorns,” Mica thinks, knowing her brother well. Just then Mr. Heetderks lowers her to the ground and says, almost as if he had read her thoughts, “I’m sure he’s fine, but you better check on him just in case.”

For a fleeting second, Mica wonders how Mr. Heetderks knows exactly what she is thinking. Before she can really wonder too much, however, a second yelp comes from around the corner, and this one sounds a bit more urgent. And with only one slight hesitation to briefly glance back over her shoulder in the direction of her momma, Mica bounds toward the sound in search of her troublesome brother.