Disclaimer: Peter (it's a different Peter) and Martha are mine. Susan isn't, or I should say wasn't, and neither are the magic rings (although I wish they were, they might come in handy).
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This story takes place after "Loose Ends," so it would be a good idea to read that first.
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"To my beloved grandchildren, Peter and Martha." Those were the words on the mysterious box that had been found in Grandma Susan's closet. Whatever was in it, it was clear that she had meant it for them. But why? Peter had never gotten along well with his grandmother. She was, of course, a very nice person. Most grandmothers are. However, she had disapproved, for no clearly defined reason, of the sort of books he read. "Ridiculous fantasy!" she had called them, and had often complained that he was rotting his own mind and Martha's.
Martha was five years younger than Peter, and loved to be read to. She could read very well herself, compared to most seven year olds, but still begged, cajoled, and forced Peter to read for her. He didn't really mind. After all, reading a favorite book to Martha was almost as exciting as reading it for the first time himself.
While Peter was thinking and staring at the box he held on his lap, Martha came bursting into his room shouting.
"Hey, Peter! Mom said you were upstairs, and you had a package for both of us. You didn't open it without me, did you?"
"No," said Peter. "I waited. Let's see what's in it."
Peter cut the tape on the box with his Boy Scout pocket knife and opened it.
"Books!" exclaimed Martha joyfully.
Peter examined the books suspiciously. Any book Grandma Susan sent was sure to be boring. She had given him several others, as yet unread, with titles like "The Right Way to Build a Doghouse" or "How to Get Good Grades."
The book on the top of the pile had a cover picture of a flying horse. That was so unexpected that Peter wondered if he was seeing right. He rubbed his eyes, looked again, and rubbed his eyes again.
"The Magician's Nephew," read Martha. "That looks interesting. Read it to me!"
"What do you say first?"
"Please," responded Martha. "Read it to me, please."
"Well, all right..."
Just then, their mother called to them to come and eat supper, so they left the box lying open on the bed.
After they had eaten, Martha rushed back to Peter's room. Peter helped clear the table, and then went to find her.
She was jumping on his bed. "Stop that, right now!" said Peter. "You'll break the mattress springs."
Martha stopped jumping, but not before giving one last, huge leap. Then she flopped back on the bed, knocking the box of books onto the floor.
Neither of them noticed the small box that had fallen from the large one, and Peter accidently kicked it under the bed.
"Now look what you've done," he said, as he gathered the books up again.
"Oops," said Martha. "Sorry. Will you read to me now?"
Peter sat down and opened the first book.
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Note: This should get more interesting, but they have to find the rings first. Peter and Martha live in America, because it's plausible that Susan moved there, and it's a lot easier for me to write. If you've read my other story, you already know that.