Basia discovers that her old wardrobe can talk. When it opens by itself, a shiny corridor appears inside, and an odd song drifts from somewhere deep in the dark.
Basia had just lined up her teddy bears on the shelf when she heard a soft whisper.
She froze. The room was quiet. The whisper came again, thin and secret, from the big wooden wardrobe in the corner.
"Basienko..."
Basia took a careful step closer. The wardrobe stood still, dark and tall, with its brass handle glinting in the moonlight. She pressed her ear to the door.
"Hello?" she whispered back. "Is that you talking?"
The wardrobe gave a small squeak. Then, with a slow creak, one door swung open all by itself.
A glove with red polka dots slid out onto the floor.
"Gabryś, at your service," said the glove, giving a proud little bow. "Guardian of the wardrobe treasures."
From the shelf, Julia Doll tilted her head and winked at Basia.
"You’ve found us," she said. "Now listen carefully."
Every toy in the room trembled with tiny giggles. The carpet rustled. The wardrobe door opened wider and wider until Basia could see a shining corridor inside, sparkling with gold stars.
Far away, deep in the glow, someone was singing a quiet, wobbly song.
Gabryś held out his cuff. "Come on, Basia," he said. "We’ve been waiting for you."
Basia reached for Julia’s hand, took one breath, and stepped toward the light. Just then, something clattered far down the corridor, and the singing stopped.