Chapters 8, 9 and 10 Summary

When Wilbur and Eliza's parents show up for their 15th birthday, the children expect things to go as always. They put on the usual show of being babbling idiots and pretend not to recognize their parents at first, and then become over excited by the thought of presents. By then they are full grown so when they jump around with glee, even the floor shakes. They use an ancient Greek language their parents won't recognize to communicate. Eliza says she can't believe they "were related to such pretty dolls." At five-thirty, they are taken to bed, as they pretend they need 16 hours of sleep a night.

That evening, Eliza and Wilbur sneak through the passageways to spy on their parents through a hole in the wall. Their father talks about how the Chinese have devised a way to make people smaller...