Alice followed his gaze. "What?" she asked him.

Max sat on the edge of the bed and wiped his eyes. "Bars. I still see bars."

Alice felt such a rush of emotion for this boy. She walked over to him and sat down next to him. After a minute, she put her arm around him and hugged him. "It's okay,Max. I will help you. I promise...kay?"

"Kay," sniffed Max. "How?"

"You stay here," she said. And with that, she climbed out the window.

"Where are you going?" he called after her. He looked out the window. There she was, standing on the ground.

"Around front...to pick some flowers, she winked as she said this. Max winked back. He hopped off the bed with renewed energy...went to the door and looked out.

"Are ya there, Alice?" he asked...concerned. "I'm right here, Max. I won't leave you...not ever," she said through the door. "Just picking you some flowers." Max smiled at that. He couldn't wait to get a handful of flowers. He had never smelled them up close before.

After a while, Alice announced that she was finished, and was going around back to climb in. Max rushed to the window. He was not prepared for what came next. Instead of Alice's head popping through the window, he got an armload of vines. And they just kept coming. Piles and piles of them. All over the bed. All over the floor.

"Ok, I'm coming in now. Move!" she shouted. Max moved. In she came, grinning from ear to ear. She gestured to the piles of vines and morning glories. "There are your bars and locks, Max. Can we go now?"

Max grinned. He looked at the window. He didn't see the bars any more. He took her hand and they went to the door. "Let's push!" he said, excited. "YOU push," said Alice, looking him in the eye. "You do it, Max." Max faltered only a moment. "I can't do it alone."

"Yes you can. I helped you already. You can do it. I want you to do it." She stood back and folded her arms across her chest. Max turned to the door. He gave it a gentle push. "See? I can't..." he stopped mid-sentence. The door was swinging open slowly. It stopped finally, wide open.

He turned to look at Alice. "I'm scared. I can't go alone." "You don't have to Max, you silly! I'll go with you," she said. And with that, she took his hand again and they stepped out into the sunshine. Alice looked up. The cloud was gone. She smiled at Max. Max smiled back. Together, hand in hand, they ran off into the field...laughing as they went...