It’s Day 26 of this 30-day writing challenge, and I’m feeling more pumped up about writing today. I feel like being completely absurd, so here goes…..
When I looked around the large table, I saw the stunned faces of the Elders Council. They stared at each other as the news registered. After a few moments, I broke the silence. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, Charlie,” Professor Pedantic nodded. His bushy white eyebrows knit together. “My sources have confirmed that the dwarfs are en route to the castle.”
“En route?” Shivani Roy repeated. Despite the gravity of the situation, I tried not to grin. Conversations were always entertaining when Shivani was annoyed.
The school’s head mistress, Professor Serenity looked at Pedantic. Her tone was mildly disapproving. “Really, Robert? They aren’t dwarves. They are Small-Statured Bharatians.”
“I don’t care what they are,” Director Fussybottom replied grimly. He stood up and began pacing. Also grimly. “If they’re trying to enter the castle without a permit, then it’s a problem.”
“They need a permit to enter the castle?” Shivani asked. She looked at me. “Why don’t I have a permit?”
Professor Pedantic shot a withering glance in Shivani’s direction, before turning his attention to the director. His head bobbed up and down like a doll. “I agree with you, Director,” he nodded. “We need to think of the children.”
“Heavens! You’re right, Peddy. What about the children?” Mistress Prissy Pants clucked before waving her hands to fan herself. “I’m feeling a little faint.” She rifled around the large bag on her lap and pulled out her smelling salts.
“There, there, Prissy,” Director Fussybottom replied in a baritone voice that echoed through the room. “We’ll take care of the situation.”
Professor Pedantic pushed his chair back from the table and slowly stretched out to his full height. He waited for everyone’s eyes to fall on him. “I propose that we form a committee.”
“A committee?,” Shivani sputtered, as she stomped back to the table. Her golden eyes flashed, as she gestured towards the window. “Yes, that makes perfect sense. Let’s form a committee while the dwarves storm the castle.” She threw up her hands in disgust. “We need to do something about this, not just sit around talking.”
General Hawkthorn stared at Shivani in surprise. He nodded slowly. “I agree with the girl. We need to dispose of dwarves immediately.” He turned to a Warrior named Samuel. “How quickly can you assemble your men?”
Shivani shook her head. “No, that’s not what I meant.”
I glanced out of the window. The dwarfs still had to cross the moat and scale the castle wall to get into the school. Before Shivani called Professor Pedantic or General Hawkthorn a moron or some other Earth insult, I interjected. “What type of committee?”
Shivani snapped her head at me and snarled. “Charlie, are you freaking kidding me?”
I flushed, rattled by her tone. I still didn’t understand all of her Earth words, but it was obvious that she didn’t agree with me.
“Now, Miss Roy,” Director Fussybottom chided her. “Being under attack is no excuse for bypassing protocol. If you have a proposal, you must submit it to the committee.”
Shivani rolled her eyes and threw up her hands in disgust. “But there is no committee!”
“That’s why I proposed that we form one,” Professor Pedantic smirked at her and pointed to the stack of papers in front of him. “It’s in the handout. Would you like one?”
Shivani and I heard the shrieks at the same time. Both of us rushed to the window. There was a dwarf trying to swim across the moat. “This is ridiculous,” Shivani muttered. “The dwarfs will be here any minute.”
“That’s why I’ve been asking you to build a bigger wall,” Miss Prissy’s lower lip quivered. “But none of you listened to me. And now we’re going to be overrun with dwarves.” Her large brown eyes welled with tears.
“All the more reason to form the committee as soon as possible,” Director Fussybottom said mildly, as he handed her a tissue. “Please raise your hands if you support Pedantic’s proposal. All those in favor?”
Everyone except for Shivani raised a hand and said, “I.” I winced when she looked at my traitorous hand with disgust.
“Excellent,” Fussybottom said, bringing down his gavel with relish. “And who should lead this committee?”
“Oh, my God,” Shivani said, clenching her hands into fists. “What on Earth is the point of this committee?”
“This isn’t Earth, dear,” Professor Pedantic said gently. “You’re in Bharat. Poor thing. Do you need Miss Prissy’s smelling salts?”
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