16 NOW WHAT

Chapter sixteen. Now what? Three hours later I dramatically dropped down to the forest floor with my arms and legs spread out. I stared up at the sky and blew out a giant breath. "Now what?" I asked Pip. Pip opened his mouth to answer. Then closed it again. Sassafras booped my cheek to make me feel better. I sighed. "I really thought we were getting closer after talking to Gorp and trying the peanut butter, but the last four groups of creatures we asked had the same ideas we've already tried." "I know," said Pip. "I'm really not sure what

to try next." "And it's getting late." I sighed again. "I really need to head home." "Oh," Wishy whispered. She started crying quietly. I sat up. "I'm so sorry, Wishy. When we get home, I'll ask my mom for any other ideas she might have." We slowly made our way back home. I had Pip go check on Tiny and the monster siblings. I went into the house to talk with Mom while Wishy waited outside the barn. I flumped down at the kitchen table and laid my head on my arms. Mom came over and rubbed my back. "It's going that well, huh?" I turned my head to the side. "I feel like we asked everyone in the forest today. Two things almost worked, but not all the way. Everything else either did nothing or made the hiccups worse." I pulled out my science journal to show my mom all the things we'd tried. "Well, it does look like you've tried everything I've heard of. And even some things I

hadn't." Mom sat down next to me at the table. "Isn't it funny how the magical creatures cures are similar to human cures?" I nodded. "I noticed that, too." Mom thought for a minute. "Well, with humans, sometimes it just takes time for hiccups to go away. Maybe that will work for Wishy, too! Why don't you make everyone comfortable for the night, and perhaps she will be better in the morning?" "OK," I grumbled. "I guess we haven't tried leaving the hiccups alone yet." I walked back out to the barn and laid a little folded-up tissue in the tray with Tiny so he'd have somewhere cozy to sleep. Pip decided to go home for the night.

I took Wishy over to our greenhouse. "It should be warmer in here tonight. I hope those pesky hiccups go away while you sleep!" She hugged me. "Thank you for—hic—trying so hard—hic—Zoey." As I went inside for the night, I tried to be hopeful that the hiccups would finally be gone by the morning.