12 THE AMAZING SPOONCIL!

CHAPTER 12 THE AMAZING SPOONCILI 'But you can't redraw a whole universe!' I say. 'I mean, I know you're a good drawer—and I admit that you're much better than me—but… a whole universe? Really?!' 'Sure!' says Terry. 'Universes aren't quite as complicated as you might think. You just start with a big bang, a bit of space, a few trillion suns, a couple of billion planets, a bunch of moons, a black hole or two, and take it from there.'

'But what about your sore hand?' I say. 'It's not sore any more!' says Terry. 'When Professor Stupido un-invented bites and bruises it got better instantly!' 'Well, that's great,' I say, 'but he also un-invented pens and pencils.' 'That doesn't matter,' says Terry. 'I've got a spooncil!' 'What's a spooncil?' 'It's half spoon and half pencil!' says Terry. 'I made it myself. Check out the ad!'

'Wow, that's brilliant!' I say. 'But how come you've still got it? Didn't Professor Stupido un-invent spooncils as well?' 'It's the only one of its kind,' says Terry, 'which is maybe why he couldn't un-invent it—he didn't know it existed. Well, that and the fact that I keep it hidden up my nose.'

'You keep it hidden up your nose?' I say. 'Why?' 'For emergencies, of course,' says Terry, 'just like this one. The only problem is that it's quite far up. Can you help me get it out?' 'No way!' I say. 'I'm not putting my finger up your nose!' 'But the fate of the whole entire universe depends on it!'

'I DON'T CARE!' I say. 'I'm still not putting my finger up your nose!' 'Never mind,' says Terry. 'I think I feel a sneeze coming on.' 'Excellent!' Terry tilts his head back. 'Ah… ah… ah…'

I cover my face. Terry's sneezes can be pretty messy. 'Nah… sorry,' says Terry. 'False alarm.' 'That's a pity,' I say. 'No, wait,' says Terry, 'here it comes again.' 'Thank goodness!' I say. 'Ah… ah… ah…' 'Nah,' says Terry. 'Another false alarm.' 'Oh well,' I say. 'I guess we're just going to have to float around in nothingness forever.'