Calvin's Great Slide

After the devastating loss of her husband, Calvin's mom decides it would be best if they moved in with her parents in the country. Like a fish out of water, Calvin feels out of place; he is not used to the quiet solitude of country living. He's used to the constant sounds of the city. Already, he questions whether this transition is going to work. Although he loves his grandparents, the loss of his father is overwhelming. In trying to get his footing in his new home, he decides to explore the large house. In a chest beside his grandfather's bed, he finds an ornate magnifying glass with a tiny compass embedded in the handle. Strangely, as he holds it, he feels compelled to hold on to it, as if he is connected to it by some magnetic force. In the same chest, he sees a roll of parchment bound with string. Is it connected to the magnifying glass? As Calvin's grandfather lay dying, he instructs him to keep the magnifying glass and parchment safe and to never tell anyone about them, even his mom. They are magic. Excited at the prospect of using magic, Calvin eagerly looks through the glass, hoping to see something magnificent. When he only sees that it simply magnifies things, his spirits sink. What is the point of a magic magnifying glass if it doesn't do anything magic? His grandfather tells Calvin that one day, when he is ready, he will see the magic. The glass will serve as a guide when he loses his way, and it will reveal things to him and bring him to new places. He is warned that it is dangerous to misuse it. After his grandfather dies, Calvin realizes the magnifying glass and parchment work in tandem to lead him to places he feels compelled to explore. But for what purpose? Is he supposed to learn something? Can he trust that he won't be led astray? One night, the magnifying glass and parchment compel him to escape out of his bedroom window, leading him out into the darkness on an adventure that takes him far from home. He wonders if he'll make it back.