Omri receives a metal cabinet, or cupboard, that resembles a bathroom medicine cabinet. He places a plastic toy “Indian” in the cupboard and locks it with a key provided by his mother. Locking and unlocking the cupboard door magically transforms any plastic toy into a live being; repeating this procedure reverses the effect. Thus, Omri can call forth people from other times and places by using the cupboard to transmute the corresponding toy figure. Using this method, he produces real people in miniature—Little Bear, Tommy Atkins, and Bright Stars, among others—and a horse. Patrick brings forth Cowboy Boone and his mount. The cupboard is the fulcrum on which the plot pivots: Anything can happen when a toy is placed in it, and it is how the story’s magical events take place.

Omri’s mother finds him a key from her collection that fits the cupboard’s lock perfectly. Turning the key in the lock transforms any plastic object inside and back again. It is unclear whether the key or the cupboard is the source of the magic, but without the key the cupboard cannot work. The key descends to