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I reallyfor Muffintops, and thinking how much he’d like a nice pot of peppermint tea

Chapter

35

The Final Preparation

By Sunday night, Tick had heard back froe incident with the burned letter and its miraculous reappearance They were as shocked and clueless as he was about hohy it happened Paul wasn’t shy about expressing his doubt that it had occurred at all His theory was Tick had been so stressed out about the ic words that he’d experienced one whopper of a bizarre dream

But Tick kneas real He’d even asked Kayla about it and she didn’t re the letter No, Tick knew so supernatural Soe what itfor his dad The la looht o’clock Sunday evening to discuss the Big Day, and to run through the clues one final ti for, it seemed they’d have only one shot at this Or rather, Tick would have only one shot The clues had been very clear--he o alone, unless his dad wanted to drop dead of a heart attack right before the special time

Tick had just pulled out the Journal of Curious Letters when he heard a soft knock at the door "Come in," he called out

His dad opened the door and shut it behind hio, kiddo"

Tick groaned "I know I’ve been dying for this day to come and now that it’s here, I e had a week or two more I’m scared to death"

"Well, at least you’re honest" Dad ca the loud creak of the bedsprings, which sounded as if they were about to break "Most kids would act all tough and say they weren’t scared at all"

"Then ether "Well, on’t have o, so let’s run through everything"

Tick wasn’t ready for that yet "Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"What ifwhatever I do takes one a long time?"

His dad’s face melted into a look of deep sadness, all droopy eyes and frowns "Professor, trust ht How could any good father let his son go off to who-knohere to do who-knohat and for who-kno long? Especially after the dangerous things we’ve been through" He paused, rubbing his hands together "But what can I say--I’m nuts? It’s hard to believe in all this--but I believe in you I’onna let you walk out of this house and down that road"--he pointed out the --"and off to wherever or whatever it is you’ve been called to do It’s going to kill onna do it I’ silence followed Tick felt so stir within him, a new appreciation for his parents and what they went through worrying about their kids It couldn’t be easy And now Tick was going to do the worst thing possible to his dad--ht happen to his only son

"What about Mom?" Tick finally asked