Helen watched the waves in the wake of the boat spread across the cold water of the lake. I wish Dad were here, she thought. She tried to imagine him there in the boat, warming his unshaven face in the early spring sunshine and listening to the gentle throb of the outboard motor as he took the family skiff out for it's first cruise of the year. She always looked forward to spending time alone with him on weekends, but something usually got in the way. This time it was his job, usually it was something else. Helen briefly glared at her little sister, Trina, and then looked wistfully back at the waves as they lapped against the dock in the distance.
    "Mommy is supposed to drive the boat," Trina said.
    "That shows how much you know. Mom couldn't get it started, that's why she went inside to call Dad and I started it all by myself. Mom is really going to surprised." Helen looked toward the cottage and hoped she wouldn't be angry as well for taking the boat out without her.
   "You're going to get it from Daddy."
    "You're just jealous because he showed me how to run the boat and not you."
    "Daddy is supposed to put the boat in the water, not you!"
    "I didn't put it in the water, Mom did. And Dad had to work this weekend which is why I'm stuck with you. If he were here, he'd have left you in the cottage!"
    "No he wouldn't! And I'm telling 'cause you're not wearing your life jacket and Daddy says we have to."
    "Life jackets are for six year old babies like you! Dad never wears one and, now that I'm thirteen, I don't have to wear one either."
    "I'm not a baby! I'm taking mine off!" Trina started to pull at the laces when Helen climbed over the seat between them and grabbed her hands.
    "What do you think you're doing?"
    "Let go of me! MOMMY!"
    As Helen wrestled with her little sister she saw a familiar purple object fall out of the pocket in Trina's sweater.
    "You little brat! You swiped my troll again!"
    Trina burst into tears and tried to pick it up. Helen reached for it as well and the boat rocked sharply to the side. As she picked up her troll she heard a splash and was startled to see Trina had fallen overboard. Helen jumped in after her. Shocked by the frigid water, she couldn't catch her breath. She lunged for her screaming sister but couldn't reach her. In the distance she could see her mother run down the dock and dive into the water. Fear started to overwhelm her and her strength began to give out. She was underwater now, she could see thousands of tiny white bubbles surrounding her, showing her the way to the surface, but she couldn't follow them. Soon the bubbles had diminished in size until they were no more than droplets in a mist. There was nothing else.
    "Is this a dream? No, I know it isn't...I'm dead."
   Aside from her voice there were no sounds, no smells, nothing to indicate where she might be.
    "I can't believe it," she fumed. "The brat falls into the water with her life jacket on and I'm dumb enough to jump in after her! If only I could get my hands on her!"
    She went on aimlessly, not knowing if there was anyplace to go, but there certainly didn't seem to be any reason to stay put. Eventually the mist began to dissipate and she found herself outside of her bedroom door in the cottage.
    "Great. The powers that be have sent me to my room as punishment for my crimes against humanity. That's original. Who's running this place, my mother? Well, when in the land of the spirits, do as the spirits do."
    She walked through the closed door and laughed despite herself.
    "I've always wanted to do that."
    She moved around her room, unable to touch anything and not really wanting to. She returned to the door but couldn't go through this time. Some unknown force was keeping her there.
    "So this it, is it? I'm grounded for the duration, am I? Well, if I'm here for a reason, at least let me know what it is!"
    As if on cue, the knob on the door turned and, very tentatively, Trina stepped into the room.
    "Great! I'm here to baby sit the brat! Okay, that's enough eternity for me. Waiter, bring me the bill!"
    Trina crept over to the bureau with something in her hand. It was the purple troll. She carefully put it back in the place from where she had taken it before they had gone to the lake. Then she slowly wandered around the room hesitantly touching things that belonged to her sister but always moving on to something else. Finally she crumpled on the floor and sobbed quietly.
    Helen's anger faded away into the mist that was beginning to surround her again. She knew why she had been brought back here now and she knew it was time to leave for good.
    "Just let me do this one thing!"
    Gradually Trina became aware that the purple troll was in her hand again. She dried her eyes to look at it. She held it tightly, close to her heart.
    Helen lost sight of her sister in the mist. It was a different type of mist this time, she sensed that it was a door of sorts. But the last door. She went through.