I still couldn't think of an invention to help Molly.
I did suddenly get an idea for the ending of our story though.
It happened when I was pouring myself some Crunchy Oats cereal on Wednesday morning.
I shook the last few crumbs into my bowl.
I tried to get a new box from the cupboard, but I couldn't reach it.
Even when I stood on a stool, the box was just out of reach.
"Mom, I can't reach the cereal!" I called.
My mom was in the living room, putting on her coat.
"I'm late for work, Iggy," she said.
"Please ask your brother to help."
"He won't do it!" I said. "He never helps me."
I don't think my mom heard me, because she said good-bye and hurried out the door.
"You took the last chocolate granola bar," said Tate, staring at me.
"And now you're eating all the Crunchy Oats!"
"There's a brand-new box," I started to say.
"But I can't . . ."
To my surprise, Tate smiled at me.
"I'm just kidding," he said.
"I'll get the cereal for you."
Tate reached up and grabbed the box of Crunchy Oats cereal.
"Gee, thanks!" I said.
"All you have to do is ask," said Tate.
"What?" I blinked in surprise.
All you have to do is ask?
That was it!
The boy in our story could ask the giant vacuum to give his brother back.
The giant vacuum was friendly and gentle.
The vacuum would be happy to return Jack's stuff, along with his big brother.
And Jack would be happy to have his big brother around again.
Just like me.
Once in a while anyway.
Molly loved my plan for our story ending.
We titled our last chapter "Just Ask."
As we wrote the final words, I got the best idea ever—the one I'd been hoping to get.
"Why don't you tell Lucy you can't sleep because of the monster show?" I said to Molly.
"Then just ask her if she and Caswell can watch something different."
"Just ask?" echoed Molly.
She shook her head.
"But that would be admitting I'm a big baby."
"No," I said, "it would be telling Lucy that you don't like monster shows."
Molly looked thoughtful.
"Just ask?" she repeated one more time.
I nodded. "Yep. Just ask."
And that is exactly what Molly did.
She didn't feel like a baby either because Lucy just shrugged and said, "Sure."
And Caswell said, "I'm sick of Monster Madness anyway."
After that Molly started sleeping better.
And Lucy started thinking up stuff for all of us to do after school.
We played games and read books.
We went to the playground and even made a homemade pizza together!
A few weeks later our own books were printed and placed in the school library.
Molly and I were there one day when a second-grade class came in.
The kids started looking for good books to read.
I saw a little girl pick up Jack and the Giant Vacuum.
It was the book that Molly and I had written!
"This book looks really good!" the little girl said to her friend.
And then she sat down and read the whole story!
"Wow," I thought, watching her.
A lot of my inventions, like the Enchanting Cherries bubble bath, turned into big disasters.
But this time, with Molly's help, I had invented something pretty cool—a real page-turner!