Grandma’s Cure for the Hiccups

"You need a dragonfly, first of all."

A dragonfly? How could that help my hiccups?

"Then," Grandma said, "a sunflower that's exactly 14 days old. You set that on fire and drop in a 3-inch string from the first piece of clothing your great-great-great aunt ever wore, along with one centimeter of the dragonfly's left wing."

What on earth would that do? This cure was getting more ridiculous by the minute.

"Then, at precisely 3:52:17 P.M., pet a miniature dachsund three times. Then spin around, pour lemonade on your head, and jump into the nearest body of water."

Okay, none of this made any sense.

"Grandma," I said, "how in the world will this help my hiccups?"

"Because," Grandma said, a twinkle in her eye, "by the time you've finished, your hiccups will be gone!"