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

Mordred.
    â€œA real dragon wedding?” exclaimed Queen Barb.
    â€œWe must stay!” said Queen Marge.
    â€œI say!” said King Ken and King Homer together.
    â€œAw, blisters!” said Prince Rex. “I want to go home!”
    Molwena helped Lady Lobelia cover the graduation platform with white silk. Daisy draped it with greenery that she’d gathered nearby and made a ring of flowers for Shirley’s head.
    Once more, the royals took their places on the front-row benches. Wiglaf thought Erica looked none too happy to be sitting next to Rex. Frypot and the few remaining students and parents sat behind them.
    The DSA bell began to chime, and Brother Dave stepped onto the platform.
    A large man in a black robe appeared at the castle door. A black, mushroom-shaped hat hid his face. He walked across the castle yard and up onto the platform to stand behind Brother Dave. He pushed back his hat and smiled at the wedding guests. His gold front tooth glinted in the sunlight.
    Wiglaf gasped. It was Mordred! What was he doing up there? He had no time to figure it out for now. Worm bounced over and stood in front of the platform. Wiglaf and Angus hurried over to stand beside him.
    Brother Dave gave a nod to Lobelia, and she began to sing “Here comes the bride!”
    Shirley Dragon appeared from behind the castle where she’d been waiting. Wearing the wreath of flowers on her head, she walked between the benches to stand next to Worm.
    After a few well-chosen words wishing the dragons a long and happy life together, Brother Dave said, “I now pronounceth thee dragon husband and dragon wife. Thou may kisseth!”
    SMACK!
    Then Worm and Shirley spread their wings and took to the air. They hovered above the wedding guests in the sky and bent their heads toward each other with their tails pointing down, touching at the tip.
    â€œLook!” cried Queen Barb. “They’ve made a heart!”
    â€œIsn’t love grand?” said Queen Marge.
    â€œGross!” cried Rex. He stuck his finger down his throat and made loud, gagging sounds.
    â€œStop it, Rex!” cried Queen Marge. “I hate it when you do that!”
    â€œMe too!” said Erica.
    â€œGood-bye, Worm! Good-bye, Shirley!” Wiglaf called to the dragons as they flew off and disappeared into the clouds. How happy he was for them! And happy to know that Worm could always find him, even back in Pinwick.
    â€œAwright, wedding’s over!” shouted Mordred. “Student teachers? Get to work on that new sign!”
    The young men picked up their ladders, paint pots, and brushes and rushed over to the castle gate.
    â€œI’ll spell the words for you,” Mordred barked at his hapless crew.
    â€œM-A-R-R-Y-I-N M-O-R-D-I-E-S W-E-D-D-I-N-G C-A-S-T-L-E. Got that?”
    Now Wiglaf understood Mordred’s getup for the wedding. He was planning to become Marryin’ Mordie!
    â€œAnd paint this!” Mordred bellowed at his workers. “D-R-A-G-O-N-S W-E-L-C-O-M-E!”

    â€œWhat a fine wedding, Wiggie!” Molwena dabbed at her eyes with a lacy handkerchief.
    â€œMother!” cried Wiglaf. “You must give back Queen Marge’s hanky!”
    â€œWhy should I?” said Molwena. “She gave it to me, didn’t she? You and Dudwin tell your friends good-bye. I’ll wait by the drawbridge.”
    â€œWe’ll park beside the moat, poppet!” Queen Barb called to Erica. “Don’t be long!” The royals climbed into their enormous, golden carriage and it rolled toward the castle gate.
    â€œHow I shall miss you all,” said Erica. “And dear, old DSA.”
    â€œI shall miss this school more than I can say,” said Wiglaf. For what awaited him at home? Cabbage soup and eleven brutish brothers. At least Dudwin would be there with him. That was a comfort.
    â€œE-may oo-tay,”
added Daisy.
    â€œMe three,” said Dudwin.
    â€œDefinitely!”