A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup Page B

said Aristotle. As the psychic studied the maps before him, Jough looked at Ethan and both fought the urge to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
    “So, let me ask you. Is this your first encounter with a real live amazing psychic?”
    “Actually, our dog is psychic,” said Jough.
    Mr. Cheeseman used a small cough to hide the snicker that escaped his lips.
    “What?” gasped Aristotle. “A dog that can predict the future! Do you dare mock the Amazing Aristotle?”
    “No, of course not,” said Jough. “Our dog really is psychic. I mean, she can’t predict the future, but she’s able to warn us any time danger is nearby.”
    “She got her psychic powers by drinking from the toilet,” said Mr. Cheeseman. “How did you get yours?”
    “Certainly not by drinking from the toilet,” said Aristotle.
    “Oh no, of course not,” said Mr. Cheeseman. “I didn’t mean to imply that. I was just curious, that’s all.”
    “You mean curious as in fascinated?” said Aristotle.
    “Yes,” said Jough quickly. “That’s exactly it.”
    “Then prepare to be fascinated. Now where were we?”
    “I think you were going to tell us our future,” Jough said.
    “Yes, the future.”
    Aristotle gazed at the well-wrinkled charts before him, then spoke in the direction of Mr. Cheeseman.
    “I see you dancing with a beautiful woman. You are very happy.”
    “Dad,” said Jough excitedly. “Do you think it’s Mom?”
    “I don’t know,” said Mr. Cheeseman. “What does she look like?”
    “What does who look like?” said Aristotle.
    Suddenly, the sounds of music struck the air. Jough and Mr. Cheeseman looked over to see Jibby standing near the bus and playing a fiddle, the bow clasped between the scissors of his Swiss Army hand.
    The men in the group all leaped to their feet, clapping and stomping right along with Jibby. They took turns dancing with Juanita, her long pleated skirt twirling about like a red and green parachute. She first danced with Jake and Dizzy, then with Sammy, whose back seemed to be doing much better.
    Mr. Cheeseman smiled as he watched. His smile caught Juanita’s eye and she twirled her way over to the table, offering him her hand. Suddenly Mr. Cheeseman’s smile disappeared. As lovely as Juanita was, all he could think about was what a fabulous dancer Olivia had been. Mr. Cheeseman looked at his son.
    “Jough?” he asked.
    With only one word, Jough knew what his father meant.
    “Sure, Dad,” said Jough, and he stood up, took Juanita’s hand, and danced with her until Jibby’s tired arm could fiddle no more.

CHAPTER 11
    W ith darkness closing in, it was time for Mr. Cheeseman and his family to bid farewell to their new friends, quite certain, as with everyone else they had befriended over the last two and a half years, that they would never see them again.
    “That was, without a doubt, the best shindig I’ve ever been a part of,” said Mr. Cheeseman to the entire group as they gathered around the station wagon to say their goodbyes. “Thank you all very much.”
    “Nonsense,” said Jibby. “It is we who should be thanking you. Some of us more than others. In fact, I think Dizzy’s got something to say to you.”
    Dizzy looked at Jibby, not sure what to make of this.
    “That’s right,” said Jibby. “In honor of this happy occasion, I’m reinstating your speaking privileges.”
    With a smile and a sigh of relief, Dizzy turned to Mr. Cheeseman and his family and spoke for the first time in four years. His words came slowly and seemed to stretch out to the point that they might break.
    “Before today,” he began, “I was useless. Helpless. But thanks to you, I can stand on my own two feet again. Or on one foot. On a single wire. Thirty feet above the ground. I don’t know how to thank you.”
    “Just don’t forget us when you become a big star in Hollywood,” said Maggie.
    “Don’t worry about that,” said Jibby. “Ain’t none of us going to forget you folks. Well, none of