Prompt Word: Excuse Minervie and Chip 35 Peter and Chip were sitting together at the breakfast table giving Mindy a bit of a headache. Peter burped, followed by “excuse me.” Then Chip burped a little longer, followed by “excuse me.” Then Peter burped longer still, “excuse me.” Both kids were snickering. Mindy decided that this wasn’t a battle she had energy for, so she picked up her coffee and went out to the parlor....
Prompt Word: Pitch/Firm Minervie and Chip 34 Minervie said, “You’ll be staying over with Mindy and Peter for two weeks, it’s my turn to go to Queensland.” Chip replied, “What are you going to queeze-lan for?” Minervie was packing, and not being careful in her reply, “Oh, it’s a long running joke, but one of us always goes to make sure nobody sees when the pitch falls.” Chip was excited, “I want to go see the baseball game!...
Prompt Word: Perfect Minervie and Chip 33 Chip came home from school, “Grandma, I, here is my grade sheet.” Minervie wondered why Chip was nervous, she took the offered paper, and nothing was wrong. Written across the margin in red ink, the word, ‘Perfect’. Minervie said, “This looks great Chip, I’m proud of you.” Chip looked confused, “Uh, what does the red word mean?” Minervie looked down with a smile, “perfect is a type of magic for regular folk, where all mistakes are so well hidden, nobody can notice....
Prompt Word: Mouse Minervie and Chip 32 Minervie stood in the Gathering Wood, next to a tree on a gentle hill. Between tree roots, among an overgrowth of native plants was a hole. “Come out and face me, and we’ll talk. If I have to come for you, you WILL be sorry,” Minervie warned. A horned rabbit came up, breathing very fast, and stood there, then after about 15 seconds moved off to one side....