If Cedric and Sofia can sing this classic Shirley Temple song to Baby Amber as they keep her entertained while Cedric's spell runs its course, let's see what Madeline and Sabrina can do with it as they help take care of Ricky! They know that James always says that music makes everything better, so now's their chance to see if the saying is true, especially since James can't be the one to sing this time. Shirley Temple's music is not mine.

"Sabrina, tell me again why we have to do this?" Madeline asked as she and Sabrina made their way to Ricky's nursery.

"James got sick at Royal Prep this afternoon, remember?" Sabrina reminded her, "He's got that problem with that Pelican-Egg-Powder stuff, and he'll be sick from it for the next few days."

Madeline nodded in understanding. She remembered Nell and Bobby Lee telling her and Sabrina about one other time James had accidentally been exposed to that powder that didn't agree with him, and how sick he had gotten. "It's a good thing Mister Cedric and Miss Bianca had Nell get all of us tested," she admitted, "You and I don't get hurt with that powder; Nell, Elena and Ricky don't get hurt by it; Mommy and Grand Mommy don't get hurt with it, but Gabby and Bobby Lee had mild reactions to it."

"That's right," Sabrina agreed. "But since Gabby's young, she'll probably grow out of that. But Bobby Lee, I don't know."

"I don't think they will," Madeline shook her head. "James said he had trouble with that stuff when he was Ricky's age, and it still bothers him now."

"Oh well. It was just a thought," Sabrina sighed as they stopped by James' room to check on him. They saw him lying half-asleep on his bed, trying to read one of his stories. "James, you need to rest!" she scolded gently. "You got sick at school and you have to get better."

"Can we get you anything?" Madeline asked as she took the book and set it on his desk.

"Maybe a glass of water and one of my writing buddies," James murmured, looking toward the trunk at the foot of his bed. "It doesn't matter who you get; just surprise me."

"Okay," Sabrina smiled. She withdrew his stuffed green cat Cammo Kitty, while Madeline tucked his stuffed Jaquin Zebra in with him. "They'll tell us if you start reading, writing, or sharing ideas for stories with them when you're supposed to be resting!"

As he watched Madeline pour a glass of water and put it on his bedside table for him, James chuckled softly and murmured his thanks as he went to sleep. As much as he hated to admit it, he didn't feel like doing any writing or reading right now.

When they finally made it to Ricky's nursery, they found him awake in his crib and babbling away.

"Well, hello to you too, Ricky," Sabrina smiled. "Did you have a nice nap?"

"Zoomer and Greenie watched you, right?" Madeline asked as they changed him.

Ricky squealed and held the aforementioned kitties out to them, and Sabrina smiled as she picked him up.

"That's good to hear, Ricky, now we're going to give them a little break while we play with you until Nell comes home!" she smiled as she took out a tape of Bianca's favorite songs.

"You think that's a good idea?" Madeline asked.

"Of course it is," Sabrina grinned, "If James can do this sort of thing, so can we!"

"And maybe we'll take Ricky to see him later, if he's up to it," Madeline added as she took Ricky in her arms.

Ricky squealed as Madeline started dancing him around and began to sing, I've thrown away my toys, even my drum and train
I want to make some noise with real live aeroplanes

"Good idea, Maddie; Nell loves this song!" Sabrina grinned as she joined in, Someday I'm going to fly, I'll be a pilot, too
And when I do, how would you like to be my crew?

She took Ricky in her arms, and Madeline sang with her, On the Good Ship Lollipop
It's a sweet trip to a candy shop
Where bon-bons play
On the sunny beach of Peppermint Bay

Ricky giggled at the song. He'd never heard anything like this! But if his mommy liked it, this song must be good.

"That's right, Ricky; Nell said Mommy and Bianca sang this to her once," Sabrina smiled as she sang, Lemonade stands everywhere
Crackerjack bands fill the air

Madeline nodded as she joined in, And there you are
Happy landing on a chocolate bar

Sabrina took Ricky back as she sang, See the sugar bowl do the tootsie roll
With the big bad devil's food cake

Madeline hugged Ricky as she joined in, If you eat too much, ooh-ooh
You'll awake with a tummy ache

Sabrina finished the song with her, On the Good Ship Lollipop
It's a night trip, into bed you hop
And dream away
On The Good Ship Lollipop

"Oh, yes; I remember Mama and Bianca singing that to me after that goose pecked me," they heard Nell's voice in the door. "But Papa always said that was too sugary for his taste!"

"And now, I have to go wash my ears out with soap! Or at least go guard something!" Bobby Lee shuddered. "Either that or I'll go see how James is doing."

"No, let him rest," Nell smirked. "You heard what the doctor said; you can play with James again in a few days."

"Yes, Mother!" Bobby Lee said as he ran off, but not before pausing and poking his head in James' doorway and looking in on him.

"If I'd have known I'd get that reaction from him, I'd have played that song when he was teasing me when we were kids!" Nell giggled as she took Ricky in her arms.

"At least we know that music really does make everything better!" Sabrina said as she and Madeline joined her in a hug.

"Okay, and what do you say, girls? Shall we sing it again?" Nell grinned.

"Yes!" Madeline and Sabrina cheered.