School's Out...Forever! by Kate McMullan

his runny nose Baldrick-style on his sleeve. “WAIT!”
    He stomped onto the platform and grabbed the megaphone from Frypot.
    â€œDon’t rush off!” he cried. “There’s been a little…change of plans. Dragon Slayers’ Academy is open again. Yes, parents, you—”
    Suddenly, a loud voice called out above the headmaster’s: “KNOCK KNOCK!”
    Wiglaf cringed. It was Fergus!
    Mordred’s violet eyes bulged. “Who…who’s there?” he said.
    â€œHarry!” cried Fergus.
    â€œHarry?” cried the headmaster. “Harry who?”
    â€œHarry up and finish your speech so we can all go home!” cried Fergus.
    â€œHar-har!” laughed Prince Rex. “That’s a good one!”
    â€œNo need to go!” cried Mordred. “School is open!”
    â€œBut, sir!” said Torblad. “We’ve graduated. We’re done!”
    â€œYes! We’re done!” shouted students and parents,and they rose from their seats. There was much hugging and slapping of backs and then the families headed for the castle gate.
    â€œCome, poppet,” Queen Barb said to Erica. “Let’s go home. Popsy and I have to pack!”
    â€œRoyals!” cried Mordred, running up to them. “I want to make you aware of a special DSA graduate degree. Your Erica is a perfect candidate!”
    â€œSorry,” said Queen Barb. “Erica has other plans.”
    Mordred turned to Queen Marge and bowed. “Where is that fine lad of yours?” he asked. “Happy to have him in Class I! Or, is he a very gifted lad? We can skip him up to Class II, no problem!”
    â€œWe shall find a school closer to home,” said Queen Marge.
    â€œAlas!” wailed Mordred. He staggered off, weeping bitterly.
    Wiglaf turned to the dragons. “Soon DSA will be no more,” he said. “If you still wish to be married here, we must act fast.”
    He led the pair over to the sobbing headmaster. Dudwin tagged along.
    â€œSir?” said Wiglaf. “These dragons would like to be married here.”
    â€œHere?” Mordred stopped staggering. He blew his nose on the hem of his tunic and looked up at the dragons with damp violet eyes.
    â€œAt my castle?” he said.
    Worm and Shirley nodded.
    Mordred sniffed. “This castle has just had a major makeover,” he told the happy couple. “Perhaps you saw that as you flew in. And golden castles don’t come cheap.”
    â€œNo problem,”
said Shirley.
“My family is loaded.”
    â€œLoaded?” yelped Mordred. “As in tons of dragon gold?”
    Shirley nodded.
“Tons and TONS.”
    Mordred bit the side of his thumb. He was near tears again. But now they were tears of joy.
    Molwena, Fergus, and the brothers walked over to Wiglaf and Dudwin.
    â€œReady to go home, lads?” asked Molwena.
    â€œNot yet,” Wiglaf said. “The dragons are about to get married.”
    â€œWe want to stay for the wedding,” said Dudwin.
    Molwena sighed. “I love a good wedding.”
    â€œYou stay then,” Fergus told her. He turned to Wiglaf. “Bring us some gold when you come home,” he said. “That’s why we sent you off to school in the first place.”
    Fergus pounded his chest with his fist, producing an earsplitting farewell burp. Then he led eleven of his sons toward the castle gate.
    At the gate, the yellow-haired brothers turned and all together called, “Come home soon, Wiggie! We miss you!”
    Wiglaf smiled and waved. Maybe going back home wouldn’t be so bad after all.
    â€œWe miss pounding on you!” called one brother.
    â€œAnd tripping you!” called another.
    â€œAnd giving you noogies!” called the littlest brother.
    Wiglaf stopped waving. Going home was going to be much worse than he had imagined.

Chapter 11
    E verybody still here, pitch in for the dragon wedding!” shouted