Flora & Ulysses

Well, he’s breathing,” said Mrs. Tickham.

“Yes,” said Flora. “He is.” She felt a swell of pride.

The squirrel rolled over onto his stomach. He raised his head. His eyes were glazed.

“For heaven’s sake,” said Mrs. Tickham. “Look at him.”

She chuckled quietly. She shook her head. And then she laughed out loud. She kept laughing. She laughed and laughed and laughed. She laughed so hard that she started to shake.

Was she having some kind of fit?

Flora tried to remember what TERRIBLE THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU! advised in the event of a seizure. It had something to do with moving the tongue out of the way or stabilizing it with a stick. Or something.

Flora had saved the squirrel’s life; she didn’t see any reason she couldn’t save Mrs. Tickham’s tongue.

The sun sank a little lower in the sky. Mrs. Tickham continued to laugh hysterically.

And Flora Belle Buckman started looking around the Tickhams’ backyard for a stick.