James And The Giant Peach

James is jolted awake the next day by the insects shouting excitedly about leaving, and the peach suddenly moving. Kind and gentle Ladybug explains to James that Centipede is chewing through the peach stem so the peach can roll down the hill and away from “this desolate hilltop and those two repulsive aunts of yours” (44). Before James can gather his thoughts, Centipede sticks his head in and joyfully announces that the journey is about to begin. Ladybug exclaims that they are about to visit the “most marvelous places and see the most wonderful things” (45), which prompts Centipede to burst into song about all the wonderful and terrible things that might happen to them, ending with the verse: “But who cares! Let us go from this horrible hill! / Let us roll! Let us bowl! Let us plunge! / Let's go rolling and bowling and spinning until / We're away from old Spiker and Sponge!” (46). This seems like a fantastic idea to James.

Just as the peach begins to roll, Spiker and Sponge settle down at their ticket booth in the garden, musing on where James might be. Spiker suggests that James might have fallen and broken his leg, “or his neck” (47) is Sponge’s hopeful addition.