Read School's Out...Forever! for Free Online Page B

steps.
    â€œSaint Dominick’s dog!” exclaimed Count Moneypots as the yellow-haired horde sped toward him. “What is
that
?”
    â€œPeasants!” screamed Lady Drippingwealth as the brothers hurtled up the castle steps and through the door.
    â€œStop those ruffians!” Mordred shouted.
    Fergus grinned. “That’ll put an end to talk of pennies!”
    Molwena pulled a flask of cabbage soup from her bag. Wiglaf nearly fainted from the stench. “Th—thank you, Mother,” he managed.
    â€œIt’s for Dudwin, silly,” said Molwena. “I know you don’t like my soup. The rest of the family can’t get enough of it, but you, Wiglaf, have always been differ—” Molwena’s eyes widened. “There’s Queen
Barb
!”
    Wiglaf nodded. “She is Erica’s mother and—”
    â€œOh, I know who she is, don’t I?” said Molwena. “I once spied her at the Pinwick Fair. ’Twas the year they had that two-headed calf. I snipped off a bit of her petticoat for a souvenir.”
    â€œYou
what
?” cried Wiglaf.
    â€œWasn’t I the envy of every wife in Pinwick!” Molwena smiled. “You were a newborn baby at the time, Wiggie. Say, who’s that with Queen Barb?”
    â€œQueen Marge of Palmlandia,” said Wiglaf.
    â€œLook at her, waving a royal handkerchief. Aah, she’s puttin’ it into her pocket and—a bit of the corner’s sticking out.” Molwena smiled. “Wouldn’t I like to show
that
off back home!”
    â€œMother, no!” cried Wiglaf.
    But Molwena was already making her way toward the queen.
    Now Frypot stepped onto the platform in front of the castle. He picked up the megaphone and called, “Families, take your seats. Graduation is about to begin!”

Chapter 8
    W iglaf hurried into the castle where Lobelia was handing out graduation gowns.
    Angus was already pulling his on over his head. “This thing’s itchy!” he cried.
    Erica stared at Angus. “Your gown looks like a feed sack!” she said.
    â€œIt
is
a feed sack,” said Lobelia. “Dyed black. They all are. Penny-pinching Mordred. What else could I do?”
    The students struggled into the itchy gowns while Lobelia gave out graduation caps she’d made of parchment.
    â€œStay in line!” she said, herding the students back outside. “When Mordred calls your name, go up and get your diploma.”
    As Wiglaf marched out to the castle yard, hespotted his parents seated on a back bench. But where were his brothers?
    The royals were sitting in the front row. Wiglaf and the other DSA students filed into the rows behind them.
    How Wiglaf wished graduation were only a bad dream! He didn’t want to leave his school and his friends. And when he walked away from DSA, Worm would not know where in the world he was.
    â€œAll stand for the headmaster!” called Frypot.
    Mordred’s red cape flapped behind him as he made his way to the platform. He smiled so broadly that his gold front tooth
and
his gold back molar sparkled in the sunlight.
    â€œRoyal persons!” boomed Mordred. “Ordinary parents! Peasants! Students! Whatever! Let’s get star—”
    SPLAT!
    A watery blast landed inches from the headmaster.
    SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLASH!
    â€œWater balloons!” cried the students. They stomped their feet and cheered as more balloons rained down from above.
    Wiglaf looked up. He spied his brothers! The yellow-haired knaves had somehow broken into Lady Lobelia’s chamber and were leaning out her window, heaving water balloons!
    Prince Rex leaped to his feet in the front row, shouting, “Keep ’em coming, lads! Keep ’em coming!”
    Mordred ran around dodging the missiles and crying, “Stop! Stop!”
    But the water-filled sheep bladders kept on coming.
    SPLAT! SPLAT!
    Wiglaf enjoyed the barrage enormously! Yet he felt glad to be