At home, Jack’s dad tucks him into bed. He puts a cold washcloth on Jack’s forehead.

‘So,’ his dad says kindly. ‘Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?’

Jack hangs his head.

‘I had a spelling test today,’ he says. ‘I forgot to practise the words.’

‘You forgot?’ says his dad. He lifts his eyebrows and smiles.

Jack sighs. ‘I’m terrible at spelling, Dad,’ he says in a little voice. ‘I just can’t do it!’

‘That doesn’t sound like my Jack,’ his dad says. He gives Jack a cuddle. ‘Why don’t we practise the words together?’

‘You will have to go back to school sometime, and the spelling test will still be there.’

Jack climbs out of bed. He pulls the wrinkled paper from his school bag and hands it to his dad.

His dad reads the words. ‘Hmm. Some of these are tricky,’ he says. ‘But I have an idea. Come and help me with some cooking.’

Jack looks surprised. ‘But I thought we were going to practise my spelling?’ he says.

‘We are!’ says his dad.

Jack follows his dad into the kitchen.

‘Right,’ says his dad. ‘First course is alphabet soup. Then words on bread and biscuits shaped like letters.

We are going to practise those words, then eat them up when we get them right.’

Jack laughs. This sounds like fun!

All afternoon Jack and his dad make words out of biscuits, pasta and even cut-up fruit.

When they have eaten all the food, Jack and his dad practise with a pencil and paper. Soon Jack knows all the words off by heart. He can’t wait to do the test tomorrow!

That night, Jack lies in bed and waits for the worry monsters to come. When they do, he is ready for them.

‘Go away!’ he says. ‘I’ve practised my words for the spelling test.’

The worry monsters disappear.

Jack knows they will come back again someday. But he also knows that he doesn’t need to be afraid of them anymore.

When Jack does his test the next day, Ms Walton is very surprised.

‘My goodness, Jack!’ she says. ‘You have improved. Well done!’

‘Wow!’ Billie says when she sees his mark.‘How did you remember all those words?’

‘I’ll teach you a trick my dad taught me,’ Jack grins. ‘But I hope you like alphabet soup!’