Eventually Dottie can’t resist: she opens the closet while the Sorcerer’s out and tries on the soft brown Seven-League Boots. Two steps and she’s terrifyingly fast, sounds roaring and changing around her. It’s light and explosions of color; when she lands, seconds later, she gasps and laughs aloud.

Two steps back find her near the wardrobe again, luckily, and she replaces the boots. That night she’ll dream of flying.

She won’t think about the other pair. They’re similar, but black and cleated, on the other side of the wardrobe.

Dottie’s sure they’re Thirteen-League Boots, and she doesn’t like them at all.