P 249 words

When Petrach eventually came home his hair was stuck down with
rivulets of rain.

"Don't tell me," said Ninny, "you found your map and then lost your
way. It started to rain. You got wet."

"Oh Ninny," said Petrach and he slumped down into their best
armchair.

"I'll make us a cup of tea," said Ninny, "and then you can tell me all
about it."

Ninny was used to Petrach's endless quests for maps. Sometimes they
ended in tears and sometimes they ended in maps. It was always one or
the other. She went into the kitchen.

When Ninny came back from the kitchen she passed Petrach one of the
steaming mugs she was holding.

"So it wasn't a map of the moon?" said Ninny.

"Oh it was a map of the moon alright," said Petrach.

"Then what's the problem?" said Ninny.

"It was the wrong side again," said Petrach. "The side I've already
got."

"Oh Petrach," said Ninny. And then she wondered how she could tell her
own good news. She decided to be a bit more like Spoonitsy. She decided
to go for it.

"I went to the hospital this morning," she said.

"And what size is he this time?" said Petrach. He sounded like he
couldn't take anymore.

"Well that's just it," said Ninny.

"What is?" said Petrach.

"He's exactly the same size as he was the last time," said Ninny
excitedly.

"What?" said Petrach.

"Just that," said Ninny. "It seems our baby has stopped
shrinking."