Summer was almost over.
Soon, Vinnie and Mandy would be starting school.
Right now, they were folding laundry.
"Dad has almost finished moving into the attic," said Vinnie.
"We don't have a lot of time left for photo trips!"
"And when school starts, we won't have any time at all," Mandy sighed.
The children looked at each other.
"We shouldn't waste a single moment," said Vinnie.
He tossed a sock into the laundry basket.
"Mom and Dad are in the kitchen," Mandy said in a low voice.
"Maybe we can sneak upstairs."
"Let's go," said Vinnie, and they ran up the steps.
Once they were inside the attic, Mandy grabbed the photo album.
"Look, Vinnie!" exclaimed Mandy.
"We're almost at the end of the album."
She showed him how many pages were left.
"I can't believe how many trips we've done," said Vinnie.
"This is interesting,"
said Mandy, pointing to the new photo.
The old man stood in a boat by a river.
The sun was setting behind him.
Something glowing leaped out of the water.
"Can you tell where this is?" asked Mandy.
Vinnie shook his head.
"Well, we're about to find out!" Mandy cried.
The picture glowed brighter, and the children's eyes closed.
Soon they were spinning down the dark tunnel.
Mandy and Vinnie fell onto soft soil.
They could hear shouts and laughter.
"Where are we?" asked Mandy, standing up.
They were in a small village.
People were running around laughing.
Two women hurried over to the children, holding small cups.
They splashed Vinnie with colored water.
"Gross! What is this?" screamed Vinnie.
The front of his shirt was soaked bright red.
He rubbed at the wet stain.
"Everyone is splashing each other,"
Mandy said, looking around.
The street was filled with people holding cups.
Laughing loudly, they chased each other, throwing colored water.
"What's going on?" asked Vinnie.
A boy splashed Mandy.
"Hey!" cried Mandy.
Her sleeve and part of her arm were stained purple.
The boy set down his cup and put his hands together in front of his chest.
"Hello," he said, bowing slightly.
His face, arms, and clothes were soaked in many bright colors.
The children imitated the boy's greeting.
Vinnie introduced himself and Mandy.
"I'm Rishi," said the boy.
"Is this your first time here?"
Vinnie and Mandy nodded.
"What's going on?" asked Vinnie.
"It's the spring festival!"
shouted Rishi, picking up his cup.
He splashed someone running by.
Everyone was soaked with different colors.
Mandy noticed a cup someone had dropped.
She picked it up.
There was still some colored water inside.
"Oh well, if you can't beat them, join them," she said.
Mandy laughed and quickly splashed Rishi and her brother.