Jesse had believed Terebithia to his own little wonderland, where everything was laid at his feet and controlled by the mind of a child to fit everything they desired. And it was. Until it wasn’t.

He had brought Leslie with him, hoping to show her around his little made up world, but when they got there.. things looked different. The rope swing was the only thing remaining the same.

Instead of the acacia trees shielding the sun, it was willow trees, and the lake running through Terebithia and under the bridge was thinner than it had been previously, the water colder and running faster than before. Even the weather was different. There was a cool breeze, even a little bit of rain, but the sun remained high in the sky enough to create a beautiful rainbow.

Leslie was disappointed, that was for sure.

Leslie: “are you kidding? This is nothing like what you said it was, Jesse! I want to go home!” She snapped, frowning like a girl that didn’t get the right present on her birthday.

Jesse, in a state of panic, looked around and tried to change things.. but he couldn’t. They’d left his map back in his room in the real world.

Jesse: “no, Leslie, listen to me—“ he tried to protest and calm her down.

Leslie: “no, I will not calm down!” She pushed him away. “You can stay here. But I’m going home, and I’m not coming back.”

And with that, she turned back to the swing, sitting down and letting herself fall back into the real world, leaving Jesse alone with his thoughts.