The Barth children could not recognize each other.
"Cy?" Panther asked, reaching out to a young boy with dark, wavy hair and clear blue eyes.
"Panther?" Cy said.
He touched a long wavy lock of her golden hair.
Panther's hair was normally straight brown and quite plain.
"Does anyone have a mirror?" asked Jane.
"What do I look like?"
Jane was absolutely beautiful.
She had short red hair with little curls around her face.
Her skin was rosy, and she had bright, shining green eyes.
"I don't know why anyone wants to be beautiful," complained Bobby,
"This was your idea, wasn't it, Panther?"
"Yes, I wished it," admitted Panther,
"but I'm glad to be beautiful for once."
"Good, lovely, and all that," Huey interrupted.
"Now, be off with you.
Remember that your wish ends at sunset."
Huey disappeared back into his shell.
Cy carefully lowered him back down the well.
The children walked into town.
Many people turned to stare at them.
"I must be beautiful because everyone is looking at me," thought Panther.
Just then, she recognized Aunt Martha's neighbor.
"Look! There's Mr. Becker," she said.
Mr. Becker was walking his dog, Silver.
"Hello, Mr. Becker! Hello, Silver!" Panther called out cheerfully.
Panther, being an animal lover, had gottten to know Silver as soon as they had arrived at Aunt Martha's.
Now, however, neither Mr. Becker nor Silver seemed to recognize her.
"Woof! Woof!" Silver barked angrily.
"What's the matter, Silver? It's me, Panther!" she said.
Panther bent down to pet the dog's head.
"Be careful, young lady," Mr. Becker warned.
"Or else my dog might bite your hand."
Bobby faced his neighbor.
"Mr. Becker, it's Bobby Barth!" he said.
"We live next door."
Mr. Becker looked at each child suspiciously.
"I don't know who you children are," he said in a stern voice.
"But I've never seen you before in my life."
"But, but . . ." Panther stepped forward, attempting to explain.
Suddenly, Silver lunged.
Quickly Panther stepped back, but Silver had pulled the leash from Mr. Becker's hand.
Startled, the children all turned and fled.
Excitedly, the barking dog gave chase.
"Run!" yelled Cy.
The children ran toward their aunt's house.
"I hope Aunt Martha is home!" gasped Panther.
Luckily for the children, the front door was open.
"Hurry!" Cy shouted to his siblings.
He slammed the door behind them, just as Silver reached the steps.
The children collapsed onto the floor.
"That was a close call," Bobby sighed loudly.
"Why did Silver chase me?
He loves me!"
wailed Panther, her beautiful eyes filling with tears.
"Because you look different,"
Cy pointed out, but it didn't help Panther feel much better.
The children looked all over for Aunt Martha and Lamb.
"She's not home,"
said Cy, as everyone followed him into the kitchen.
"Maybe she went shopping?" said Jane.
"Well, I'm hungry," Bobby said.
"I'm going to have a snack."
He opened the fridge.
"I'm taking a shower," said Cy, heading for the stairs.
"Come on, Panther." Jane held out her hand.
"Let's go get changed."
Panther took a moment to study her brothers and sister.
Their voices sounded the same.
But when Panther looked at their faces, it felt as if she was in a house with strangers.