Progressive 11
The Hiccups That Saved Us
Max couldn’t stop hiccupping. Every few seconds, “Hic!”—again and again. His little sister, Ellie, giggled from the sofa. “You sound like a frog!” she said.
“I’ve tried everything,” Max complained. “Holding my breath, drinking water upside down… nothing works!”
Their mom turned on the news. On the screen, a reporter was standing outside the Smith Museum. “The Jewel of Smith Museum has been stolen,” she said. “Security cameras show nothing.”
Ellie’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go check it out!”
“What? We can’t just walk into a crime scene,” Max said.
“We’re not walking in; we’re investigating,” Ellie said, grabbing his arm. “Come on, Sherlock Hiccups!”
At the museum, they joined a crowd of curious people. Max tried to stop hiccupping, but it didn’t work. They noticed the security room door was slightly open. “Let’s peek inside,” Ellie whispered.
Inside, the room was empty. Ellie started scrolling through the security footage. Max hiccupped again. On the screen, a faint shadow moved. “Did you see that?” Ellie asked.
“Nope,” Max said. Hiccup! Another shadow appeared.
Ellie froze. “Your hiccups are doing something to the video!”
Every time Max hiccupped, the cameras showed a figure moving. The person wore a special suit that usually made them invisible. Now, Max’s hiccups created tiny vibrations that revealed the thief carrying a small bag.
“Max, your hiccups just solved the case!” Ellie whispered.
They ran to Detective Harper, the lead investigator. At first, he didn’t believe them. Then Max hiccupped again in front of the footage. Harper’s eyes widened. “I’ll be… you kids just found the thief!”
Later, the museum recovered the jewel. The thief was arrested. The mayor gave Max and Ellie medals of honor. “You are the most unexpected detectives in town,” he said.
Max smiled, hiccupping one last time. “Maybe hiccups aren’t so bad after all.”
Ellie laughed. “Don’t get used to it, Sherlock. One mystery at a time.”
Comprehension Questions
Why was Max having a hard time at the start of the story?
What did the news report say about the museum?
How did Max’s hiccups help find the thief?
Who helped Max and Ellie after they discovered the shadow?
How did the story end for Max, Ellie, and the stolen jewel?
Your Thoughts
Have you ever helped solve a problem in an unexpected way? How did it feel?
Why do you think Max’s hiccups were useful in this situation?
Do you think it is important to pay attention to small details, like the children did? Why or why not?
