Before the big trip to Sweden, Sara had one very special day at home. It was a sunny Saturday morning, and her best friend Sophia was coming over for a playdate!

“Sophia’s here! Sophia’s here!” Sara shouted, running to the front door in her favourite stripy socks.

Sophia, who was also eight, had curly hair that bounced when she laughed and always carried a little bag full of stickers and coloured pencils. The two girls hugged like they hadn’t seen each other in years, even though it had only been since school on Friday.

“I brought my new forest-animal stickers!” Sophia said, waving the packet. “We can make a map of Sweden with reindeer and foxes!”

“Yes! And maybe a secret path too!” Sara replied, pulling Sophia inside. “Dad’s making his famous blueberry pancakes!”

*sizzle sizzle*

In the kitchen, Dad John was wearing his silly chef hat that looked like a tall white mushroom. He flipped a big golden pancake high in the air and caught it perfectly with the pan.

“Two hungry explorers reporting for pancake duty!” Sara announced, saluting like a captain.

“Ahoy there, crew!” Dad John laughed. “These ones have extra blueberries because brave adventurers need extra energy for dreaming about Sweden.”

The girls sat at the table with big grins, watching the steam rise from the warm stack of pancakes. The kitchen smelled like summer berries and maple syrup. Sara felt so happy she could almost burst.

“When we go to Sweden,” Sara whispered to Sophia, “we’ll find the real forest and have a picnic just like this… but with lingonberries!”

“And maybe meet a friendly troll who likes pancakes,” Sophia giggled.

Dad John put two big plates in front of them and winked. “Eat up, you two. Big adventures start with full tummies.”