The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet

These chapters are primarily expository in nature, introducing the settings, main characters, and central conflict. In accordance with the patterns of most portal fantasies, Eric’s home is presented as a dull, ordinary place that contrasts sharply with the action-packed world that he and his friends soon stumble into. The basement that Eric is supposed to tidy features a playroom with “paneling on the walls, bookcases, a toy chest, a big sofa, and even a television” (3), and the listing of these mundane details, and the phrasing “even a television,” suggest that the luxury of a well-equipped playroom is not something Eric takes for granted. The narrative makes it clear that he is an ordinary child living an ordinary life, and a nice playroom is the extent of the novelties that he knows at this point.

The other side of the basement is even more mundane because it is filled with objects associated with adult work: a tool bench, a shelf full of canned food, and a washer and dryer. As the narrative describes the endless clutter of junk “In piles. In bunches. In cartons. In boxes” (4), this staccato series of sentence fragments conveys the omnipresence of the jumbled collection, and the weary tone of the narrative ironically suggests that there is simply nothing exciting to find here.

When Eric, Julie, and Neal tumble down into Droon, the abrupt shift in setting represents the act of Escaping the Mundane World and Embracing New Growth. This contrast in settings is a key element of portal narratives, as the new fantasy world offers the protagonists an equal blend of dangers and wonders, enticing them with endless possibilities. As the three friends overcome their initial fears and descend the glimmering rainbow staircase, this first step into a broader world represents their inner growth as they venture beyond the safe, limited boundaries of Eric’s home. The implicit metaphor of real-world troubles continues as the Ninns begin to attack, for although Lord Sparr’s strange minions are firmly lodged in the realm of the fantastical, their sudden appearance can be interpreted as a manifestation of life’s unexpected challenges. Only by showing courage and fortitude will the children be able to overcome this new problem, and although Eric wants to flee back into his own world, the disappearance of the magical staircase suggests that he has no choice but to face his new problems head-on.

This sequence of events aligns with the typical conventions of heroic adventure stories. Eric, like many such unlikely heroes, feels called to pursue a greater adventure, and this urge explains his decision to descend the magical staircase despite Neal’s objections. Although Eric contends that they have no choice but to investigate, he hesitates at the threshold of this new world, and this temporary resistance to change emphasizes the emotional toll involved in voluntarily forsaking the safety of the familiar. 

As the adventure proceeds, the author introduces several obscure forms of foreshadowing, such as the mysterious white bird that Eric notices is often following Keeah. At this point in the story, the significance of the bird is not yet clear, and Eric is unaware of its magical qualities. However, its presence in the story also indicates the author’s intention to commit to writing a lengthy, detailed series of interlined adventures, for although the white falcon’s identity is not explained in this book, a later installment will eventually reveal that this falcon is really Queen Relna, Keeah’s mother, who has been magically enchanted.

When compared to the decisive Keeah, a princess with miraculous healing powers, the wholly average Eric stands as an unlikely hero who nonetheless represents Abbott’s equally mundane readers. The characterization of his two friends also reinforces how “normal” Eric is, for Neal and Julie often represent two ends of a continuum, with Eric left with the task of deciding between these two extremes. The pragmatic, responsible Julie contrasts with the careless Neal, whose antics cause the loss of the ball and contribute to the children’s discovery of the portal to Droon. Notably, while Julie remains mindful of the need to clean the basement and Neal actively resists this chore, Eric represents a halfway point between the two; he initially forgets that he is supposed to clean the basement and grumbles when his mother reminds him, but he has every intention of buckling down and finishing the job like an obedient son.

As the three friends become immersed in Droon’s troubles, they must adapt to the necessity of Joining the Battle against Evil. After surviving the Ninns’ attack and meeting Keeah, Eric realizes that he cannot escape to his world or remain neutral in this fight. If he is to remain true to his own principles, he must choose a side in this raging battle. The novel’s conflict centers on whether he will successfully keep his bargain with Keeah by carrying her message and helping to defeat Sparr, and it is clear that as ordinary as he may be in his own world, Eric will have to become an extraordinary hero in order to survive the dangers of Droon.

The bargain between Eric and Keeah also introduces the novel’s focus on The Importance of Honoring Commitments, for Eric’s demeanor shows that he takes his promises seriously. At first, he does not want to help Keeah because his first responsibility is to his missing friends, Julie and Neal, whom he is determined to find and accompany back to the Upper World. However, when he finally accepts Keeah’s deal, he immediately demonstrates his intentions to follow through on his promise. When he sees that she is in danger, his first instinct is to help her, and he spares no thought for his own safety. In this way, his first few actions in Droon foreshadow his transformation into a capable hero who remains unfailingly loyal to his friends.