She tried every cure-all she could find in her magazines.

Then Aunt Polly heard of Pain-killer. This medicine was as hot as chili peppers. She gave Tom a teaspoonful and watched his face.

The medicine did the trick. Tom’s stomach was on fire! He roared and screamed and raced around the room! He was more like his old self again. Aunt Polly was sure that her young nephew was cured.

The next morning Tom decided to stop moping around. He was itching for an adventure. He took the Pain-killer off the shelf and gave a dose to Peter the cat. Peter leaped into the air. He screamed and ran around and around the room. He banged against furniture. He upset flowerpots. He stood on his back legs and pranced around!

Aunt Polly came into the room just as Peter flew out the window. She peered over her glasses. Tom lay on the floor, roaring with laughter.

“What’s the matter with that cat?” asked Aunt Polly.

Then she saw the teaspoon lying on the floor beside Tom. She knew what Tom had done.

“How could you treat our poor animal that way?”

“I did it because I felt sorry for him,” replied Tom. “He doesn’t have an aunt to care for him. If he did, she would burn out his stomach with her new medicines.”

Suddenly Aunt Polly felt sorry. She had been as mean to Tom as he had been to the cat. Her eyes watered. She put her hand on Tom’s head and said gently, “I only wanted you to feel better, Tom. And it did do you good.”

“I know you was meaning for the best, Auntie. So was I with Peter. It done him good, too. I never saw him move so fast in his life!”

The best cure of all was waiting for Tom at school. Becky was back!

Tom tried to get her to notice him. He did cartwheels. He jumped over the fence. He stood on his head. He ran around the school yard chasing boys and yelling and screaming.

But Becky didn’t even look his way. She was still mad at him for getting engaged to Amy first.

Tom heard her telling a friend, “Some people think they’re so smart—always showing off!”

That made Tom angry.