14-THE TEN STAGES OF SEASICKNESS

THE TEN STAGES OF SEASICKNESS Do you suffer from motion sickness? I do. I get sick on boats. I get sick on planes. I get sick in cars. It's really the most awful feeling. First my ears begin to buzz. Then my tail twitches. Then my eyes cross. Then my stomach lurches. Finally, I turn as pale as a slice of mozzarella. When we reached Butterfly Island, Thea, Trap, and Benjamin had to carry me off the boat.

"I'm not getting on any plane, boat, or car," I shouted. "Ever again!" Thea stared at me with an innocent expression. "Who said you have to?" she smiled. "You mean... no planes?" I asked, looking around. "NO planes," she replied. "NO boats?" I continued, still not convinced. "Not a one," she agreed. "NO cars? NO Trains?" I pressed in disbelief. Thea just kept shaking her head. At last, I heaved a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, there would be

no more wild rides. I was beginning to feel like my old self again. "Which way do we go now? I asked cheerfully. "Where is this famouse VALLEY OF THE CHEESETTES?" Thea waved her paw in one direction. "Oh, it's right around here," she answered. I unfolded a map. That's when I noticed something. The whole island was shaped like a giant butterfly! How very odd, I thought. I looked around me. There was green everywhere. Green trees, green bushes, green grass. This place was a gardener's dream. I stepped forward into the high grass. Then I stopped. A strange feeling came over me. There was something WRONG with this picture. I just couldn't quite put my paw on it. Behind me, I heard Trap humming a silly

tune. It was from some popular TV show. My cousin loves cartoons. He knows all the theme songs by heart. At that moment, I realized what was wrong with the island. There were NO rodents. There were NO buzzing insects. There were NO chirping birds. There were NO sounds at all. Except for Trap, it was quieter than the Cheddarton Library when mean Mrs. Hushermouse is working. I felt a shiver run up my tail. My paws began to shake. My heart started to race. What kind of an island was this?