John Dory opened the door to the room where he and his brother's would practice for their concert, today they were going to start practicing for the concert which they would be performing  in a few days. John dory smiled. "OK bros. Now we got a concert coming up , so we gotta practice so we can do it perfectly."

Clay let out a groan. He was starting to get tired of John dory wanting their concerts to be perfect.

Branch quickly ran up next to floyd. He smiled. This had to be it. he would perform with his brothers on stage. This was so.....

"Whoa branch. What do you think you are doing?" John Dory said. Branch looked confused. "Aren't I performing with you guys on stage this time?" He asked

John dory opened his mouth then closed it. He had to break it to branch very gently so he would not end up making his brother sad.

"Branch,um... you're not... preforming with us on stage time."

Branch looked sad he looked down.

"But I promise your time to perform with us on stage for the first time is coming very soon I promise."

"You promise?" Branch asked.

"Yes. I promise." John dory said. Branch smiled and hugged John dory.

John dory smiled and ruffled branch's hair affectionately.

Branch smiled. "Can I watch as you practice?"

"Absolutely little bro." Joh. Dory said. He then returned to his brothers. He pressed a button on a case player and found himself looking at Branch. Was he procrastinating letting branch perform with them? He knew that branch would often practice the dance moves and hum the lyrics when he was in the playpen, which was pretty cute. Branch was showing talent, he had a falsetto of gold. He showed talent, at the recording studio everyone always commented that branch had an amazing voice, and he was only one year old.

No it was too soon. Branch was almost ready but...not yet.

John dory coughed and stood beside his brothers. "Ready?" He asked.

Everyone nodded.

"The music began to play and the brothers started to sing and dance. Branch smiled as he watched imagining that he was next to them on stage performing for their fans suddenly, he began to become aware that he was really craving a cookie. He glanced at the doorway then looked back at his brothers.

They were busy performing, no way would they notice if he snuck out to grab a a cookie from the cookie jar, he would grab it quickly eat it and return without anyone realizing he was gone.

Branch snuck out of the room quietly and walked to the kitchen. He looked up and the counter. There was the cookie jar all the way up on the counter. Branch walked over to the table and started to push a chair toward the counter, he then pushed a stool next to the chair and climbed onto the stool, then from the stool, he climbed onto the chair and smiled. He reached for the cookie jar.

"OK, not bad not bad, but I feel as if we could do better." John dory said

Clay and spruce groaned. They thought they had done great why was when they rehearsed it was never good enough for John dory. Clay looked over at the dresser where he had placed his water balloons.

Spruce shook his head. "Don't do it." He whispered.

John dory frowned. "Hey, where's branch?"

"I'll go find him." Floyd said as he headed to the door. He headed to the bedroom and opened the door. "Branch, hey you in there?" He whispered. There was no answer, Floyd looked around the bedroom. There was no sign of branch, maybe branch had gone to a different room in the pod.

Branch frowned he couldn't reach the cookie jar still. He sighed. Why was he so small? It was not fair. Suddenly as he looked at the tablecloth he had an idea he pulled on it and the jar moved over towards him

He began to pull it more.

"Branch? Where are you?"

Branch gulped he had to hurry. He quickly pulled at the tablecloth. The cookie jar moved towards him more.

"Branch?"

Branch pulled faster and faster. He had to hurry. The cookie jar was almost there his fingertips could almost touch the jar just one more tug! Yes! He could reach the jar. His hand reached the lid to the cookie jar now to take off the lid, grab a cookie and.....

"Branch! What are you doing?" Floyds voice caused Branch to turn around causing the chair to wobble and he started to teeter, but just as it looked that he was about to fall,Floyd quickly caught branch.

"I got you, it's ok branch. You ok?"

Branch nodded. He was thankful his brother had been there to stop the fall from happening.

"Branch, what are you doing out here?" Floyd gently asked, he had a feeling that Branch had gotten hungry for a cookie.

Branch opened his mouth to lie but froze. How could he lie to floyd. Floyd was honest with him. He sighed. "I was trying to sneak a cookie." He admitted.

"Hmm. I thought so. Now branch you know we're not allowed to have any of these cookies until after dinner tonight." Floyd gently said.

Branch looked down sadly. "I know." He said looking down. " I guess you're going to tell grandma when she comes back from her errands huh?"

Floyd smiled gently. "Well technically,you didn't steal a cookie yet,so... I won't tell."

Branch smiled at Floyd and hugged him.

Floyd smiled. "Come on, let's go and return to the other room before our brothers come out to look for us." Branch smiled and Floyd picked him up and took only 2 steps when

SMASH!

Branch and Floyd looked back and gasped. The cookie jar was on the floor, smashed to pieces and the cookies were spilled all over the floor.

Branch gasped and guiltily raised his hand, he was still holding the tablecloth.

"What was that sound!" John Dory called from the room.

Branch began to sweat nervously.

"It was nothing! I accidently tripped on the macrame carpet bro,but I'm fine."

Floyd turned to branch and opened his mouth and out came a hiccup. He picked up branch and placed him in the play pen. "Stay here, branch." He instructed.

Branch blinked. "Floyd you just lied to john dory."

"I know *hic* I had to I don't *hic* want you to get*hic* into trouble." Floyd said as he quickly began to pick up the cookies and began to sweep up the broken pieces of the jar and threw them into the garbage can. He sighed with relief and picked up branch.  "There we go branch, *hic* that cleanup *hic* didn't take too long."

At that moment the front door opened and grandma rosiepuff entered the room. "Boys I'm home." She smiled seeing Branch and Floyd. "Hello boys."

Floyd ran to his grandma .

Rosiepuff took branch in her arms so floyd could hug her  "Welcome *hic* home grand...*hic*Grandma." He said.

"Oh my.looks like someone has the hiccups." His grandmother said

At that moment John Dory, Clay and Bruce ran over to hug grandma rosiepuff.

John Dory heard a hiccup and glanced at Floyd. He frowned. "Oh no. Floyd you got the hiccups?"

Floyd hiccupped.

Grandma rosiepuff smiled. "Come on floyd I'll get you a cookie."

Branchs eyes widened. She was going to notice that the cookie Jar was...

"Grandma. I... I broke the cookie jar. *hic*

I was *hic* *hic* getting branch a cookie *hic* and I accidently*hic* knocked it over*hic* I'm really sorry grandma." Floyd said, looking guilty.

"What!" Clay exclaimed in disbelief

"oh come on floyd seriously?" John dory groaned.

Grandma rosiepuff looked carefully at his face. Floyd did look guilty but it looked like he was guilty about something else. And there was something about Floyd's hiccups that seemed almost.almost.. familiar.

She did not believe for a single second that Floyd broke the jar. Somehow she had the feeling that Floyd was lying to cover for someone but she didn't want to force Floyd to tell. She knew that Floyd would never willingly tattle on any of his brothers. 

"Alright Floyd. Thank you for telling me the truth. I know that it was hard to do so. But you do know I have to punish you for trying to sneak a cookie. No desserts for a week Floyd.

Branch gulped nervously. He should be the one who was not allowed deserts for a week, not Floyd.

"Yes *hic* Grandma." Floyd said.

Later on at diner Floyd was trying to eat his dinner  but it was difficult  for him, he still had the hiccups which made eating a bit difficult for him. He had to wait for each hiccup before he took a bite of food.

John Dory groaned. "I can't take it anymore. The hiccupping is driving me crazy. Grandma please can't you make them stop?"

"Now John dory, I know he's been hiccupping for a few hours, but there's not much we can do about the hiccups. They will go away in time, we just have to wait."

"But our concert is coming up soon what if Floyd can't get rid of them by then?"

"I'm sure by then they will be gone."

"But grandma Floyd needs to practice and he can't practice if he has the hiccups...." John Dory started to protest

Floyd sighed he wished his hiccups would stop. But it seemed like he was never gonna stop hiccupping. He got up and walked to his room. He looked at his pillow and whispered. "Can you *hic* keep a secret? I *hic* lied about the cookie jar *hic*

The sound john*hic* dory heard was the *hic* cookie jar breaking *hic* and branch forgot *hic* to *hic* *hic* let go of the tablecloth, which is why *hic* the cookie jar fell *hic* off the counter*hic* and broke. I lied to protect branch . I don't want him to get into trouble."

Grandma rosiepuff walked into the room.

"Floyd sweetie are you alright?"

"I'm alright grandma I..." He paused and gasped "my hiccups are gone!now I can eat again!"

Floyd ran to the dining room and began to eat. John Dory sighed. "Thank goodness your hiccups stopped floyd." He said.

"see john dory, Like grandma said hiccups always go away with time." spruce smiled

A few days later, the brothers were rehearsing, everything was going well.

"OK stop." John dory said. "Clay the rusty robot needs to be rustled, bruce I told you to smile, your frowning and Floyd I can barley hear you."

Branch frowned. "Actually John dory, I thought they were pretty good..."

"I didn't ask your opinion branch!" John Dory said. "Besides you kept singing to the lyrics so just stop,you're not performing with us at the moment you only join us in the recording studio..."

Branch looked down.

"Leave him alone john." Floyd said.

John Dory approached Floyd who gulped. "Please?" He asked weakly.

"Listen I'm trying to make our performance perfect and if you can't..."

SPLASH!

John Dory blinked and he slowly turned to see clay holding water balloons. "Leave Floyd alone. We are trying our best. Why is nothing we do ever good enough for you?"

John Dory scowled" I'm the leader and I'll decide when something is perfect."

SPLASH!

Clay had thrown another Ballon at john dory.

"STOP DOING THAT CLAY ITS NOT FUNNY!" He screamed.

"I thought I was supposed to be the fun boy. Have you changed your mind?" Clay asked taunting.

John dorys eye twitched and he began to chase clay around the room.

"You'll never catch me john dory." Clay yelled as he climbed onto a desk. He held the water balloon. "Stop John. One more step and your precious folder gets it."

John let out a gasp. "Clay please not my folder. It has our songs. Look I'm sorry ok. Look I'm backing up."

Clay dropped the balloon and John dory screamed. The balloon hit the folder and bounced, rolling onto the floor.

"Gotcha John dory! That'll teach you for being so bossy."

Spruce gulped he didn't like the look John dory was looking at clay. His face was red and he thought he could see steam coming out of John dory's ears.

"Uh oh." Spruce said. Quickly he said.

"Clay, I'd start running if I were you."

Clay saw the look in John dorys eyes and began to back up to the door.

"John, relax it was just a prank Clay did. Please calm down, John, the folder is fine. Please breathe." Floyd said as he approached John dory.

John Dory lunged for Clay shoving past Floyd who fell to the ground

"Floyd!" Branch exclaimed as he ran to his brother.

"I'm ok branch." Floyd said. We better hid. Quick under the table.

Quickly Floyd and and branch crawled under the table.

Spruce grabbed hold of John dory. "Alright John that's enough. We promised grandma not to fight! Clay apologize!"

"No he had this coming a long time." With that Clay threw a Ballon at john dory who hid behind spruce who ended up getting wet.

"Missed me!" John Dory yelled.

Spruce glared in anger.

"OK bros maybe we should take a break from rehearsal. Maybe we can go and get some ice cream and..."

"Stay out of this floyd you were off key at the end." John dory yelled in anger.

"No he wasn't." Spruce yelled. "You just telling him that because you like to bods us around. Well we're getting sick of it."

"Please, this fight isn't going to solve anything, all its doing is getting us soaked and making a mess." Floyd exclaimed but his cries fell on deaf ears. Floyd crawled out. "Branch hurry climb in my hair. I have to try to stop this fight."

Grandma rosiepuff entered the pod. "Boys I'm home from the...boys? Boys?" There was no sound of her grandsons running to greet her and that could only mean one thing. She hurried to the room

She opened the door and gasped. Spruce, John and clay were throwing water balloons at each other and yelling and poor Floyd was trying to get the fighting to stop

"BOYS!"

John dory,Spruce and clay turned to see their grandma. Uh oh. They had been caught fighting. "Boys I told you I don't want you fighting anymore."

"But grandma it was.." Clay began.

"It was my fault grandma. I wanted to stop rehearsing *hic* *hic*" Floyd covered his mouth as he began to hiccup.

All at one john dory, Clay and spruce no lo get felt angry all they felt was concern for Floyd. What was going on? Was Floyd becoming sick? Had their fight given him the hiccups.

Spruce quickly ran to the kitchen and returned with a cup of water. "Here Floyd drink some water." Floyd hiccuped and branch poked his head out. Rosiepuff gently took branch out of Floyd's hair.

Floyd took the cup and drank it slowly he sighed then hiccupped. Clay ran to the kitchen and returned with a cupcake. "Maybe something sweet can help."

Floyd munched on the cupcake but hiccuped as soon as he swallowed.

John Dory tried to think but his mind went blank. "We..we gotta get branch to a doctor grandma"

Branch whined as he reached for Floyd who kept hiccupping.

Grandma rosiepuff looked at floyd then remembered something.

"Floyd did you really start the fight?"

"Yes *hic* it was *hic* all my *hic *hic* fault." Floyd said hiccupping.

"Now floyd I can tell you're lying."

Floyd's eyes widened. "I'm not *hic* lying grandma *hic*" then he looked down. He sniffled. "I'm sorry." He said.

"Why are you sorry for Floyd?" Spruce asked confused."

"I've *hic* I've been lying to grandma *hic* and *hic* John dory. *hic*. I didn't start the fight. John dory did. And...and branch *hic* was the one who broke the *hic* cookie jar. I caught him trying *hic* to sneak a *hic cookie and I promised not *hic* to tell on him *hic* and we forgot he was holding *hic* the table cloth and the crash john*hic* dory heard was the cookie jar breaking

I didn't want branch to get in trouble. I didn't want my brothers to get in trouble. I'm sorty I lied grandma!" Floyd began to cry covering his face as he sobbed. 

Rosiepuff gently knelt next to floyd and hugged him. "Shh. its alright floyd." She rubbed his back gently

Suddenly clay let out a gasp "Hey his hiccups stopped." Clay exclaimed.

"Just as I thought." Grandma rosiepuff smiled. "Floyd did you tell anyone about the cookie jar yesterday?"

"The pillow on my bed." He admitted. "I really needed to tell someone and since it can't talk..."

"Grandma I don't understand. How come Floyd hiccupped but when he told the truth they stopped. Is it just a coincidence?" John Dory asked he was confused about Floyd's hiccups.

"No John dory. It appears that Floyd  gets the hiccups when he lies, just like your father did."

"Dad had hiccups when he lied?" Spruce asked in disbelief. 

"Yep. That's why he could never lie to me. I could always tell he was lying when he began to hiccup after speaking. I thought the whole thing of floyd  hiccupping  after he he spoke  was familiar and now...."

Floyd looked down. "I'm sorry for lying guys."

John Dory hugged him. "Honestly I'm just relieved that you are alright. I was worried when you started hiccupping ."

Floyd sighed.

"Hey at least now we can tell if you're lying ." Clay said.

Floyd smiled then frowned. "Wait is branch and John dory going to be punished for what they did?"

"Mmm.. I'll let it slide just this once." Grandma rosiepuff said smiling at the brothers. 

Branch and John Dory sighed with relief.  Branch then reached for floyd. he wanted to hug his brother.  Rosiepuff smiled and handed branch to floyd. Floyd smiled hugging branch who giggled happily.