Cuba finds a hidden blue door behind the wardrobe and steps with Stefan into a cloud world full of floating islands, bells, and strange new wonders.
Cuba loved his attic room. He liked climbing into the soft armchair and watching the clouds slide past his window like slow white ships.
One rainy afternoon, when the drops drummed on the glass, he noticed a silver glimmer behind the wardrobe.
Curious, Cuba pushed it aside. In the wall behind it was a little door he had never seen before. It was painted blue and edged with tiny white clouds, as if someone had brushed them there with a fairy’s hand. Sitting on the handle was Stefan, his favourite plush cat. Then Stefan gave a tiny purr.
"Stefan, can you see it too?" Cuba whispered.
Stefan only blinked and dropped to the floor.
Cuba reached for the handle and opened the door.
There was no room behind it. Only thick, cool mist. A breeze slipped through, and somewhere far away he heard laughter, light and tinkling, as if hidden children were playing in the sky.
Stefan darted into the mist first, leaving little paw prints behind him. Cuba took one deep breath and followed.
When the fog parted, he was standing on a cloud island soft as a blanket. Around him floated more islands, some with rainbow flowers swaying in the wind, others with candy trees and pink cotton-candy bushes.
Then a bell rang.
A balloon ship drifted out of the clouds and stopped in front of him. Someone on deck lifted a hand, as if they had been waiting for him. Cuba’s heart jumped.
Was Stefan already aboard?
Before he could move, a voice cried out from the nearest cloud island, loud and clear: "Cuba!"