Princess Josie could feel her baby brother holding onto her finger with his little grip. He looked at her with big eyes. She knew she couldn’t hand him over to this funny man.

“-Then – then – turn me into a slug,” she whispered.

The little old man’s face grew very crinkly. He was smiling everywhere. Then, without saying anything, he turned into a giant snail. His curly beard was the twirly shell, and his eyes still laughed at her.

“It’s not so bad being a slug!” he said. “But I hope you enjoy playing with your baby brother now.”
And out of the palace he slithered, his head bobbing as though he was dancing in the sunny afternoon.

Princess Josie looked at her little brother, and her little brother looked back at her. It was not so bad having a baby brother, she thought. No matter what the strange old man said, it was much better than having a baby slug.

And baby brother seemed to agree with her, because he looked at her and gave her the biggest smile that turned into a laugh.

And Princess Josie knew she was going to have lots of fun with him.