Sunlight poured across the cozy kitchen table. A bright green floret waited on the plate.
Tiggle squinted at the bumpy little tree and made a face. One claw tapped it, very gently, just in case it jumped first.
First, Tiggle slid the green piece to the far edge of the plate.
Then Tiggle hid it behind a carrot round and peeked. It was still there.
Clink went the spoon on the bowl. "Nope," said Tiggle softly, when the little green umbrella still sat there.
So Tiggle tried a different way.
Tiggle poked the floret with a fork. Flop! Up it sprang, onto Tiggle's head, and then—plip!—into the water cup.
Tiggle blinked at the floating green piece. Then a tiny laugh popped out.
Ripples wiggled. The green shape wiggled too. Tiggle fished it out and held it close to the nose.
Tiggle broke off the tiniest top and put it on the tongue.
Tick, tick, tick went the kitchen clock while Tiggle chewed. The strange taste turned buttery and fresh.
Tiggle took another small bite. The plate did not look like a trap anymore. It looked like a map.
Then Tiggle reached for another green bite, and another, mixing them with rice and orange carrot pieces on the fork.
"What else can I try?" asked Tiggle, crunching softly in the sunny kitchen.
