The town of Giggleton had many problems.

The mayor talked too much.

The baker burned everything.

The school principal was afraid of pigeons.

And the town clock had been late for seventeen years.

But nobody had ever complained.

Because Giggleton was not a normal town.

In Giggleton, people believed that strange things were perfectly ordinary.

A cow wearing sunglasses?

Normal.

A man arguing with his own shadow?

Tuesday.

A chicken becoming mayor?

That had actually happened.

But on Wednesday morning…

Something happened that was even stranger.

The entire town sneezed.

At exactly 8:15 a.m.

ACHOOOOOO!

Every person in Giggleton sneezed at the same time.

The mayor sneezed.

The baker sneezed.

The police chief sneezed.

The school principal sneezed.

Even the statue in the town square somehow appeared to sneeze.

Nobody understood how.

Nobody knew why.

And nobody was prepared for what happened next.

At 8:16 a.m…

Everyone sneezed again.

ACHOOOOOO!

Then again.

ACHOOOOOO!

Then again.

ACHOOOOOO!

By 9:00 a.m., the entire town was sneezing every thirty seconds.

The mayor was furious.

He stood on the steps of the town hall.

“WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?”

ACHOO!

He wiped his nose.

“WHOEVER IS DOING THIS MUST STOP!”

ACHOO!

The crowd stared at him.

The mayor shouted:

“STOP SNEEZING!”

ACHOO!

The police chief raised his hand.

ACHOO!

“Sir?”

ACHOO!

“Yes?”

ACHOO!

“I think…”

ACHOO!

“…we have…”

ACHOO!

“…a problem.”

The mayor stared at him.

“YOU THINK?”

ACHOO!

The mayor’s assistant, Mr. Wobble, walked forward.

He was holding a notebook.

“Sir, I’ve investigated.”

The mayor looked hopeful.

“Excellent.”

Mr. Wobble sneezed.

ACHOO!

The notebook flew out of his hand.

The mayor sighed.

“What did you discover?”

Mr. Wobble picked up the notebook.

“I discovered that…”

ACHOO!

“…everyone is…”

ACHOO!

“…sneezing.”

The mayor stared.

“That’s your investigation?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not an investigation!”

“I’ve also made a chart.”

Mr. Wobble opened the notebook.

The chart was completely blank.

The mayor stared.

“There’s nothing on it.”

“I haven’t finished.”

“WHY NOT?”

ACHOO!

“Because I keep sneezing.”

The mayor looked at the sky.

“Why me?”

ACHOO!

---

Meanwhile…

At the other end of town…

A young detective was sleeping peacefully.

His name was Felix Fumble.

Felix was nineteen years old.

He had recently opened a detective agency.

Unfortunately…

He had never solved a mystery.

Not one.

His office was located above a restaurant.

His sign read:

FELIX FUMBLE
PRIVATE DETECTIVE
I SOLVE ALMOST EVERYTHING

Below that was another sign.

EXCEPT THE HARD THINGS.

Felix was sleeping on his desk.

His assistant, Dotty Doodle, entered the room.

She was fourteen years old.

She wore enormous round glasses and carried a notebook filled with strange drawings.

She looked at Felix.

“Wake up.”

Felix didn’t move.

“Felix.”

Nothing.

Dotty picked up a trumpet.

She blew it beside his ear.

TOOOOOOT!

Felix jumped.

“THE CRIMINAL!”

Dotty stared.

“There is no criminal.”

Felix looked around.

“Then why did you wake me?”

“Because the entire town is sneezing.”

Felix sat up.

“What?”

ACHOO!

Felix sneezed.

Dotty sneezed.

ACHOO!

The ceiling shook.

Felix stood.

“A mystery!”

Dotty smiled.

“Exactly.”

Felix immediately grabbed his detective coat.

Then his magnifying glass.

Then his notebook.

Then he stopped.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“Do we have any evidence?”

“No.”

“Any suspects?”

“No.”

“Any clues?”

“No.”

Felix smiled.

“Perfect.”

Dotty stared.

“Perfect?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because we have nothing to distract us from the truth.”

Dotty looked confused.

Felix opened the door.

“Let’s investigate!”

They walked outside.

Immediately…

ACHOOOOOO!

Felix sneezed so hard he fell backward.

Dotty laughed.

Felix stood up.

“Don’t laugh.”

“Why?”

“I’m a detective.”

“So?”

“Detectives aren’t supposed to sneeze.”

“Why not?”

“Because it looks unprofessional.”

ACHOO!

Felix wiped his nose.

“Let’s pretend that didn’t happen.”

---

Their first stop was the bakery.

The baker, Mr. Crumble, was standing behind the counter.

He looked miserable.

Every time he sneezed…

He accidentally threw flour into the air.

ACHOO!

A cloud of white flour exploded across the bakery.

Felix entered.

“Mr. Crumble!”

The baker turned.

ACHOO!

Flour covered Felix’s face.

Felix stood completely white.

Dotty laughed.

Mr. Crumble apologized.

“Sorry.”

Felix wiped his face.

“Don’t worry.”

He looked at the flour.

“Is this normal?”

“No.”

“Has anything strange happened today?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“I woke up.”

Felix stared.

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not very helpful.”

Mr. Crumble shrugged.

ACHOO!

Another flour explosion.

Felix stepped backward.

“Wait!”

He looked at the flour.

“What’s that?”

Dotty examined the floor.

“Flour.”

“No.”

Felix pointed.

“There.”

A tiny black footprint.

Everyone stared.

The footprint was very small.

Almost like the footprint of…

A mouse.

Felix immediately became serious.

“Aha!”

Dotty looked at him.

“What?”

“A clue!”

He pulled out his magnifying glass.

The footprint was only two centimeters long.

Felix examined it.

Then he whispered:

“Interesting.”

“What?”

“The criminal is tiny.”

Dotty stared.

“You think a mouse caused the sneezing?”

“Maybe.”

“How?”

Felix thought.

“Perhaps the mouse is evil.”

Dotty sighed.

“That’s your theory?”

“It’s my first theory.”

“What are your other theories?”

Felix thought.

“Perhaps…”

He pointed dramatically.

“…the mouse is extremely evil.”

Dotty covered her face.

---

They left the bakery.

The next stop was the police station.

Chief Grumpy was sitting behind his desk.

He was a large man with a very serious face.

He also had a very serious mustache.

Felix entered.

“Chief Grumpy!”

The chief looked up.

ACHOO!

His mustache flew off his face.

Everyone froze.

The mustache landed on the desk.

Felix stared.

The chief stared.

Dotty stared.

The mustache appeared to stare.

Felix slowly pointed.

“Chief.”

“What?”

“Your mustache.”

“I know.”

“Did it just fly off?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I sneezed.”

Felix looked at Dotty.

“Interesting.”

Dotty whispered:

“Don’t say the mouse.”

Felix looked at the mustache.

“Could be the mouse.”

“Felix.”

“Fine.”

He turned toward the chief.

“Have you discovered anything?”

Chief Grumpy nodded.

“Yes.”

Felix leaned forward.

“What?”

“Every sneeze happens at exactly the same time.”

Felix’s eyes widened.

“Exactly?”

“Exactly.”

Dotty opened her notebook.

“That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because people don’t sneeze together.”

Felix nodded.

“Unless…”

He looked at the ceiling.

“…someone is controlling them.”

Everyone became silent.

The chief’s mustache slowly moved.

Felix jumped.

“THE MUSTACHE!”

The mustache fell off the desk.

Dotty picked it up.

“It’s not alive.”

Felix looked disappointed.

“Oh.”

---

That afternoon…

Felix and Dotty climbed the highest hill outside Giggleton.

They wanted to observe the town.

Below them, people sneezed.

ACHOO!

ACHOO!

ACHOO!

Felix opened his notebook.

“Let’s make a list.”

Dotty sat beside him.

“First clue?”

“Everyone sneezes at the same time.”

“Second?”

“The sneezing started at 8:15.”

“Third?”

“The baker found a tiny footprint.”

“Fourth?”

“The police chief’s mustache flew off.”

Dotty stared.

“That’s not a clue.”

“It could be.”

“How?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Dotty sighed.

Felix looked through his telescope.

Then he suddenly froze.

“Dotty.”

“What?”

“Look.”

She took the telescope.

“What am I looking for?”

“The town clock.”

She looked.

The clock showed 8:15.

Dotty frowned.

“It’s broken.”

“Exactly.”

“How is that important?”

Felix looked at her.

“The sneezing started at exactly 8:15.”

Dotty’s eyes widened.

“And the clock stopped at 8:15.”

Felix nodded.

“Exactly.”

“Do you think the clock caused the sneezing?”

Felix became serious.

“Maybe.”

Dotty groaned.

“You’ve gone back to nonsense.”

“No.”

Felix pointed toward the clock tower.

“Someone stopped the clock.”

“Who?”

Felix smiled.

“That’s what we’re going to find out.”

---

They entered the clock tower.

It was dark.

Very dark.

Dotty turned on her flashlight.

Felix immediately screamed.

“What?”

“Something moved!”

“Where?”

“Behind you!”

Dotty turned.

Nothing.

Felix laughed nervously.

“Just testing you.”

“You screamed.”

“That was part of the test.”

Dotty rolled her eyes.

They climbed the stairs.

At the top…

They found the clock mechanism.

It was huge.

Hundreds of gears.

Thousands of moving parts.

But one gear was covered in something strange.

Dotty examined it.

“What’s that?”

Felix leaned closer.

A strange yellow powder covered the gear.

Felix touched it.

He smelled it.

Then he sneezed.

ACHOOOO!

Dotty sneezed.

ACHOOOO!

The entire tower shook.

Felix’s eyes widened.

“That’s it!”

“What?”

“The powder!”

Dotty looked at it.

“What about it?”

“It’s making us sneeze.”

“Obviously.”

“But how did it get here?”

Felix looked around.

A tiny yellow feather floated through the air.

He caught it.

Dotty stared.

“Is that…”

“Yes.”

“A feather?”

“Yes.”

“From what?”

Felix slowly looked toward the window.

Outside…

A flock of birds flew over the town.

One bird was different.

It was bright yellow.

And it was carrying something.

Felix grabbed his telescope.

The bird was carrying a tiny bag.

Dotty gasped.

“Is that the powder?”

Felix nodded.

“The bird is spreading it!”

Dotty looked horrified.

“A bird is making the entire town sneeze?”

Felix raised his finger.

“Not just any bird.”

He looked at the yellow bird.

“It is clearly…”

Dotty waited.

“…an extremely suspicious bird.”

Dotty groaned.

“Felix.”

“What?”

“Just say it’s a bird.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I think…”

Felix pointed.

“…that bird is working for someone.”

Suddenly…

The yellow bird turned.

It looked directly at Felix.

Then…

It smiled.

Felix screamed.

“BIRDS CAN SMILE?”

The bird flew away.

Felix and Dotty ran after it.

Down the tower.

Across the hill.

Through the town.

People sneezed everywhere.

ACHOO!

ACHOO!

ACHOO!

Felix chased the bird.

“STOP!”

The bird flew faster.

Dotty shouted:

“You’re chasing a bird!”

“I’m a detective!”

“You’re running after a bird!”

“IT’S A SUSPECT!”

The bird flew into an abandoned building.

Felix followed.

Dotty followed.

The door slammed shut behind them.

The room was completely dark.

Felix whispered:

“Hello?”

Nothing.

Then…

A light turned on.

Felix and Dotty froze.

Someone was sitting in a chair.

A small figure.

Wearing a black cloak.

Felix raised his magnifying glass.

“Who are you?”

The figure slowly stood.

“I’m the reason Giggleton is sneezing.”

Dotty gasped.

Felix pointed.

“I knew it!”

The figure laughed.

“You’ll never stop me!”

Felix stepped forward.

“Why are you doing this?”

The figure raised one hand.

“Because…”

A dramatic pause.

“…I have a plan.”

Felix waited.

Dotty waited.

The figure waited.

Nobody spoke.

Finally, Felix said:

“Well?”

“What?”

“What’s the plan?”

The figure looked confused.

“I was going to reveal it dramatically.”

“Then reveal it.”

“Give me a moment.”

“Okay.”

The figure cleared his throat.

“Because…”

Suddenly…

ACHOOOOOO!

The figure sneezed.

His black hood flew off.

Felix stared.

Dotty stared.

The figure stared.

A tiny yellow bird landed on his head.

Felix pointed.

“YOU!”

The figure panicked.

“Don’t look at me!”

Felix grabbed him.

“You’re under arrest!”

“For what?”

“For making everyone sneeze!”

“But I didn’t!”

Felix stopped.

“What?”

The figure pointed toward the window.

The yellow bird flew away.

The figure shouted:

“IT DID!”

Felix stared.

“THE BIRD?”

“Yes!”

“Why?”

“I don’t know!”

Dotty looked at the man.

“Then why are you here?”

The man sighed.

“Because I’m trying to stop it.”

Felix froze.

“Stop what?”

“The Great Sneeze.”

“The what?”

The man looked terrified.

“Tomorrow morning…”

He pointed toward the town.

“…everyone in Giggleton will sneeze at the same time.”

Felix nodded.

“Yes.”

“No.”

“What?”

“Tomorrow won’t be one sneeze.”

Dotty stepped forward.

“What will it be?”

The man whispered:

“The biggest sneeze in history.”

Felix’s face went pale.

“How big?”

The man pointed toward the sky.

“Big enough…”

He paused.

“…to blow the entire town off the map.”

Felix stared.

Dotty stared.

The yellow bird stared.

Then…

The man sneezed.

ACHOOOOOOOO!

The entire building shook.

A window shattered.

Felix fell backward.

Dotty grabbed the table.

Outside…

The town clock suddenly began moving.

The hands spun backward.

Then forward.

Then backward again.

Felix slowly stood.

“What just happened?”

The man looked terrified.

“It’s started.”

“What?”

“The countdown.”

Felix looked at Dotty.

“How long do we have?”

The man looked at the clock.

“Twenty-four hours.”

Felix nodded.

“Good.”

Dotty stared.

“Good?”

Felix grabbed his detective coat.

“That means we have plenty of time.”

The man shook his head.

“No.”

“Why?”

The man pointed toward the window.

A massive yellow cloud was moving toward the town.

“It’s already here.”

Felix stared.

Dotty stared.

Then…

Everyone in the town sneezed.

ACHOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The entire city shook.

Felix grabbed Dotty.

“RUN!”

They ran.

Behind them…

The yellow cloud grew bigger.

The town clock struck thirteen.

And somewhere high above Giggleton…

The mysterious yellow bird laughed.

Because this…

Was only the beginning.

TO BE CONTINUED…