ONCE upon a time, there lived in that part of Germany known as the Black Forest, two families; the Peter's and the Gertrude's. The Peter's and the Gertrude's did not get along, they hated one another. None of their elders remembered but it probably started all the way back in Secret Magic Control Agency Academy or SMCAA or short.

You see, the Peter's and the Gertrude's were and still are the best agent families that lived in Germany and in the whole world for that matter, and they lived right next to each other; separated by only a deep ravine that started opening up when their fraud did.

Now you didn't come here to be blabbered like they do in fairytales, you want to get a piece of action. Well, here you go:

I ran through the halls of Gertrude manor collecting and giving papers to my relatives, my ginger hair which was pulled into a high ponytail wiped in the wind.

"Here you go," I said, handing to Father an important document, making sure it didn't get too wrinkled in my sprint.

"Thank you," he says not looking up from his work, not out of rudeness but of importance. He was working on SMCAA stuff, something that all of us knew not to look at.

Here you go, Jörg," I said, handing my older brother an important document, making sure it didn't get too wrinkled in her sprint.

"Thanks, Gretel," he says, not looking up from his work, also not out of rudeness but of importance. He was studying for Secret Magic Control Agency Academy and the pressure from everyone in the family was a difficult one to handle. Having to first enter the school by passing the difficult exams then getting top marks on all of them. It would kill the average person if they were under that much pressure. You see, every year that a kin of the Peter's and a kin from the Gertrude's (us) both were entering Secret Magic Control Agency Academy, it was a competition for the top.

"Continue working hard, Jörg," I said, trying to raise my brother's spirits. "I know you'll beat that no named loser!"

"Thanks sis, I needed that," my brother said, actually looking at her.

A smile spread across my face, my freckles lighting up just a bit; but then the smile turned to a frown. "You don't have time to talk to me, you have to study." With that being said, I quickly made my exit and continued retrieving and passing documents and other important papers that my family needed.

***

As the sunrise slowly melts into the beginning of a sunset, dinner is served. At our dining table chairs, six chairs were seated, but only five were occupied. First, Mother and Father sat then their children followed oldest to youngest. Emilia (Lia) Gertrude, my older sister and a senior in Secret Magic Control Agency Academy, then Jörg Gertrude, my favorite and only brother, and finally me, Gretel Gertrude, only ten years old making me the youngest, walked, no, spirited into the dinning room.

"Gretel," Mother warned. I, knowing what she wanted me to do without her having to explain, slowed down and followed the line in silence.

When we finally reached our seats, dinner was served. Maultaschen was placed in front of us by some of our many servants who took care of the house so the Gertrude's could work. The maultaschen, which to Americans would be described as a ravioli, only as a more oblong shape, was filled with minced, bread crumbs, onions, and spinach. The broth that the two logs lay in was also delicious.

As we ate, our mother asked, "How has studying been, Jörg?"

Wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, he answered, "Very well, I am sure to be those no names this coming week."

"I'm glad to hear it, but my son, do not get too confident in your abilities. You may forget something because of it. Also prepare for the worst." She turns her head to her youngest, me. "Gretel remember thi-" She paused as I stopped playing in my seat by swinging her legs.

"Sorry." I look down at my non-swinging feet.
Mother sighed mumbling something like, "It's just a phase...she will learn."

The rest of dinner is uneventful, but when it concludes Gretel's mother pulls her aside. "Oh Gretel."

"Yes, Mother?" I asked turning around to face my mother.

"Can I ask you for a favor?"

My eyes widened and sparkled in excitement. I knew this day would come. The first day of my agent training. It always happened a few years before we could go to Secret Magic Control Agency Academy so we would be prepared to ace the exam.

"Of course!" I said also as if I was a barking dog who was excited to see my owner come home.
Mother grimaced at the noise, closing her eyes and moving her head slightly to the side. Opening her eyes to look at me, she gave me my mission. "I want you to go over to Peter Manor and bring me back something to prove you have appomplised it."

My head dropped; that was impossible. I didn't know what my older siblings 'favors' were but surely they weren't are difficult as this one. Infiltrating an agent's own home! That was the most difficult thing I had every heard. I had never even seen Peter Manor's front doors in the ten short years I have been alive. How was I ever going to infiltrate it?

"I suggest that you go know before the night sets. I expect you to come back before the mockingbirds sing."

That means the rest of the day and until morning to complete my mission. Pushing everything behind me, I gave my mother a curt yet confident nod and scampered outside.

Looking up from up upon the hill our house was built on, I looked for Peter Manor. It was also built on a hill that was near our manor but a thick and tall forest blocked the way. I looked at the path that led its way to her house.

'Surely with someone as prestigious as the Peters would have at least a pathway,' I reasoned. But with only about half a day, I decided that I needed to get there as soon as possible so that I may get inside and steal something from Peter Manor.

I looked towards the Black Forest.