Yes! It worked!

“I know what the problem is,” I say.

“What?” Patty asks.

“He needs to move.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s been locked in a cage for two hours. Healthy people move. They run. They climb. I think you should let him out and let him climb some trees. That will make him healthier for sure. It will clean out all the toxins.”

Jonah gives me a thumbs-up. “I’m a very good tree climber. Even a house climber. That’s how I got up on your roof!”

“I’m not letting him outside,” Patty cries. “Are you crazy? But exercise is not a bad idea.”

“It’s not?” I ask.

She nods. “Do you know how to do a jumping jack?” she asks him.

“Of course I do,” he says.

“Then do those.”

“Right here? In the cage?”

“Yes! Go.”

“O-kay.” He starts jumping. “One. Two. Three.”

At least we bought some more time.

After ten, he’s just counting and not moving. Which should be fine considering the witch can barely see.

“I can’t hear you jumping!” she yells.

Guess not.

“I want to feel the floor shake,” she calls out. “Do it with feeling!”

He scowls. “Twelve.” He jumps. “Thirteen. Fourteen —”

Poor Jonah.

* * *

A billion jumping jacks later, it’s time for kale smoothie number four.

I sneak Jonah a banana, and he dumps his smoothie in the pail. He licks his lips as noisily as possible.

The witch reaches over to pinch his finger again. Luckily, Jonah sticks his finger inside the fig again just in time.

“You’re not ready to eat yet,” the witch groans.

Then she turns to a floor lamp and starts talking to it. “Go into the cupboard under the sink and grab me the huge piece of licorice. Maybe that will help.”

Huh? Oh, she thinks the lamp is me!

“Feeding him licorice is going to help?” I ask.

“He’s not going to eat it. He’s going to skip rope with it!”

I find the secret junk cupboard and unfurl the longest piece of black licorice I’ve ever seen. It could probably be in The Guinness Book of World Records.

Too bad black licorice is disgusting, or I would take a bite. I hand the licorice rope to Jonah.

“Now jump!” Patty yells at him.

Inside the cage, Jonah jumps.

The witch turns back to the lamp. “Now get back in that kitchen and make me another smoothie, too! Something to tide me over! And I want him healthy in the next hour. Or I’m eating him anyway! Junky or not junky — I don’t care! I’m tired and hungry, and your smoothies just aren’t cutting it! They’re an appetizer, but they are not a meal! Do you hear me? They are not a meal!”

“Okay,” I say.

We have got to get out of here RIGHT NOW.

I go back to the kitchen.

I know now that there’s no way I can leave Jonah here while I try to get help. There’s no time, and there’s no telling what the witch will do while I’m gone. No. The first thing I need to do is rescue Jonah from the cage. I need to get my hands on the key. But the key is in the witch’s pocket.