Prologue Zerie Greenapple Why aren’t you done sweeping yet Mama called Zerie laughed Her mama’s voice sounded amused She knew perfectly well that Zerie was daydreaming again Every time it was her turn to sweep the porch Zerie mostly stood there and stared down the red dirt path in front of the house If she squinted she could just make out where it met up with the road of yellow brick out at the edge of town Zerie liked to dream about what kinds of people she might meet if she ever went down that road But her mother and her five older siblings liked to have the front porch clean when they ate dinner
there on summer evenings Zerie I’m coming out there in two minutes and you’d better be sweeping Mama called With a quiet sigh Zerie picked up the broom again Her oldest sister Zelzah used to tell Zerie that sweeping was the most important job in the Greenapple house But now that she was fourteen years old Zerie realized that her sister had tricked her Zelzah just didn’t want to do the boring housework herself She preferred to be out picking apples from the family’s orchard because that’s where her new boyfriend worked I have a feeling you could do that a little faster if you wanted to said a voice behind her Zerie jumped in surprise Grammy I didn’t see you come outside she cried Her grandmother smiled contentedly rocking back and forth on the old wooden porch chair I
can move quickly for an old lady Grammy said with a wink That’s why I know you can move quickly too In fact I think you could do the whole porch before your mama even gets out here Something in Grammy’s tone sent a thrill racing up Zerie’s spine She tightened her grip on the broom handle I do want to finish fast I hate sweeping she admitted Then think about the job being done Picture the whole porch swept clean and sparkling Grammy said Close your eyes and imagine it Can you see it Zerie nodded Then do it Zerie gripped the broom picturing the familiar pattern in her head left corner across the back to the right corner then sweep everything toward the stairs in the center and off onto the dirt path What are you doing
This time Mama’s voice didn’t sound amused This time it sounded shocked in a very bad way Zerie opened her eyes and glanced around Mama stood in the doorway frowning at her The porch was swept clean Zerie frowned too She’d pictured the job being done but she hadn’t done the actual sweeping Had she I said you could do it quickly didn’t I Grammy’s eyes shone Mother How could you encourage her to do this Mama cried turning to Grammy Zerie was moving so fast I could barely even see her She has the talent Grammy said proudly Just like me Mother it’s forbidden Mama replied You know what happens when a citizen of Oz uses magic and you had Zerie do it right out in the open What if somebody saw her Saw me do what Zerie asked What’s forbidden
