The little mushroom peeked around his big brother’s leg. “Is that it?”

“Yep. This is the Surface. It’s a weird place, lots of light and space, but most of it is empty because nobody likes leaving the ground. Kind of like us.”

The little mushroom sucked in his breath as a shadow flew over the sky. “What is that?”

“That’s a bird. They leave the ground whenever they like, and go soaring through all that empty space.”

“Someday I’m gonna do that,” said the little mushroom.

The eldest said nothing, hearing something in his little brother’s voice that made him think the boy might.