Free The Boy with 17 Senses by Sheila Grau Page B

Bonip clinging to the bird’s legs. She unlocked the front door and walked out of the restaurant and across the open area, and placed Jaq on the edge of the indoor garden. “This is where Plenthy always went after exploring in the mall. Do you know him?”
    Jaq shook his head. She was so big. Terrifyingly big. Even though she sounded nice, there was no getting around that bigness.
    â€œYou’re still scared, aren’t you?” Fiona asked.
    Jaq nodded. She handed him the bird and smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
    Jaq smiled.
    Fiona smiled back. “What’s your name?”
    â€œJaq,” he said. “I’m Jaq.”
    â€œFIONA!” The man giant had spotted her. He was coming toward them.
    â€œGo!” Fiona said. “But come back and visit again, okay?”
    Jaq, still stunned, managed to say, “Maybe?”
    â€œI’ll keep an eye out for you. Be careful next time. Bye!”
    Jaq rushed into the bushes and disappeared.

    Squish! Yank! Spin!
They zipped through the wormhole and popped back out in the cave behind the waterfall. The glow from the wormhole faintly lit the space. Jaq stumbled forward, dropping the huge bird. What did she call it? A plastic chicken? He fell to his knees and kissed the ground.
    â€œHome,” he said. “We’re home. And safe.”
    Bonip lay beside him, completely still.
    â€œAre you okay, Bonip?” he asked.
    Bonip nodded. His belly was hugely distended. “But I still feel sick.”
    Oh, the relief to be back on Yipsmix! Jaq’s head immediately felt clear and sharp and focused. Unfortunately, the first thought that came to him was that he hadn’t even tried to find that Plenthy fellow who needed help. He’d just grabbed the glug and left.
    â€œThat was really scary!” he said to Bonip, but he was really saying it to himself. It had been scary, and there wasn’t anything more he could do—or was there? The girl giant knew Plenthy. She probably had a clue to his whereabouts.Maybe Jaq should go back and ask her. He looked at Bonip, still unmoving. If the little wipper was injured, maybe Jaq should take him home. Yes, that was what he should do. He would take Bonip home and then think about going back for Plenthy.
    â€œHey, are you okay?”
    Bonip burped. “So full. Arg.”
    â€œWe have to get out of here,” Jaq said. Just being next to the wormhole was making him nervous, like it might suck him back in. He glanced at it again. Was it dimmer than when he first went through? The electric shimmer of the wormhole seemed a bit less charged. “Can you lead me past the waterfall again?”
    â€œI’ll try. Just plop me on your shoulder.”
    They edged slowly out from behind the waterfall and down the path. Soon Jaq was able to walk with his eyes open and fingers in his ears, and then they were far enough away that he could pull them out.
    â€œBonip, I’m really glad you came with me,” Jaq said. “I never would have gone through that wormhole if it weren’t for you. And I would have jumped right back out of there, too. The things we saw! Can you believe it? A land of giants.”
    â€œThis
here
is a land of giants,” Bonip replied. “Dummy.”
    â€œYou know, with all this glug, I’ll be able to buy so much food for my mom and Grandpa. They’re going to be so happy. I’ll even buy you some worms, Bonip. A whole stinking bucket of worms.”
    â€œDon’t talk about food,” Bonip said, rubbing his belly.
    â€œGiant pink wiggly worms.” Jaq started walking down the path. “Squishy, melt-in-your-mouth worms. Meaty, juicy, delicious . . .”
    Bonip moaned, then covered his ears.

    It was a long walk home, and the day was almost over. The two moons rose over the hill as if they were glaring at the exhausted explorers. Jaq felt like they were the eyes of the