13 PIP (AGAIN, AGAIN)

CHAPTER 13 PIP (AGAIN, AGAIN) I wondered if we would find a new magical creature in trouble. Or maybe someone else had noticed the grumplets were making everyone in the forest miserable and had come to us for help? I opened the door, and there was Pip. "Sorry about earlier when I threw the candy, Zoey," he said, looking at the ground instead of at me. "I just had a—" "BAD CASE OF THE GRUMPLETS!" we said at the same time and laughed. "It's OK, Pip. We understand," I said as Sassafras, Pip, and I shared a three-way hug.

"Have you come up with a solution yet?" Pip asked. "It's getting really bad out there in the forest. EVERYONE is fighting. I'm having the worst summer ever." "Don't worry, Pip. I've got a plan." Pip was excited to help, so after I grabbed my bowl of berries, his napkin picnic blanket, and my science journal, he hopped on my head and the three of us headed out to the clearing once again.

We got Pip all set up, and Sassafras and I once again hid in the bushes. "OH, THESE BERRIES ARE SO DELICIOUS!" Pip proclaimed. "THEY TASTE LIKE HAPPINESS AND JOY AND JUST SO MUCH GOODNESS!" He waved his arms about. "I JUST DO NOT HAVE THE WORDS TO DESCRIBE THEIR YUMMINESS. EVERYONE SHOULD TRY THESE! HAPPY! JOY!" Sassafras's ears pricked. The grumplets came faster this time! I quietly clapped my hands. I gasped. "Sass—look!" I whisper-shouted to my cat. "They are looking on the ground first!" Sure enough, instead of grabbing the joy in the air first, the grumplets were snorting and snuffling

along the ground. Pip started flinging berries every which way. "OH, WHOOPS! I'M SUCH A SLOPPY EATER! BERRIES ARE GOING EVERYWHERE!" I held my hand over my mouth while I laughed. Oh, Pip! It worked, though. The grumplets made their way over to the berries Pip had tossed everywhere and ate them! "OH MY, I AM RUNNING OUT OF

BERRIES! UHHH…?" Pip gave me a worried look. Oh no! Would those berries be enough for the grumplets to leave Pip's joy alone? He tossed around the final few, and we all waited. I was sure that he'd storm off at any minute. But then a weird thing happened. The grumplets patted their tummies. And then walked away. After they were gone, Pip hopped over to us. "Zoey! It worked! I don't feel the least bit grumpy!" "WE DID IT!" Pip and I cheered and hopped up and down while Sassafras bounded around us. It was time to try the last part of my plan.