The Awfully Angry Ogre by Suzanne Williams Page A

time difference. It’s two hours earlier where you live, isn’t it?”
    â€œThat’s okay,” said Tansy. She hoped Lysandra couldn’t tell how faded her robe was. She didn’t like to ask her parents for a new one with the royal treasury at an all-timelow. “What’s up?”

    â€œI’m bored out of my skull,” Lysandra said with a sigh. “Things are so dull around here that I almost wish Gabriella hadn’t gotten married and moved away. Even listening to her nag was something to do.”
    Tansy laughed. Gabriella was Lysandra’s older sister. If given the choice, Tansy would take one nagging sister over six annoying brothers any day, but she didn’t say so. Instead, she said, “We need to get together again soon.”
    Lysandra’s face brightened. “Exactly what I was thinking. In fact, I already talked to Elena and Fatima, and we’d like to come visit you, if that’s all right. We could even be there in a few days. Fatima’s offered to fly all three of us on her carpet.”
    â€œFantastic!” Tansy exclaimed, panicking at the same time. Her family’s small castle was an embarrassment compared with the grand castles and palaces of the other princesses. What would the girls think of the way Tansy lived? Still, she couldn’t very well tell them not to come. That would be rude! Besides, she really wanted to see her friends. Tansy bit her lip. “I’d love for you to visit.”
    â€œGreat,” said Lysandra. “I’ll contact the others. See you soon!”
    As she sat in the Crystal Ball Room, Tansy hoped having everyone come wouldn’t turn out to be a mistake.

2
The Ogre
    W HEN HER PARENTS CAME DOWNSTAIRS FOR breakfast, Tansy joined them at the long oak table. “My friends want to visit in a few days,” she said. “I told them it was okay, but if you don’t think this is a good time, that’s fine.” Tansy paused, half hoping her parents would say they couldn’t possibly host anyone right now. Then she could suggest that the princesses meet somewhere else. Maybe theycould all go to Elena’s home instead. They’d never been there either.
    But Queen Charlotte, a cheerful, plump woman with dimpled cheeks, just smiled. “I think that sounds like a lovely idea,” she said, pouring herself a cup of tea. “Your father and I would enjoy meeting your friends, wouldn’t we, dear?”
    King Albert glanced up from his copy of The Majesta Daily . Though his long, crooked nose and dark, shaggy eyebrows gave him a rather stern appearance, he was quite reasonable most of the time. “Sure. Why not? The more the merrier, I suppose.” He turned back to his paper.
    Well, that’s that, thought Tansy. She hoped her friends wouldn’t be too disappointed when they saw what her house was like.
    Shouts and heavy boots sounded on the stairs, and Tansy’s brothers Edward and Jamesclomped into the room. “Scoot over, squirt,” growled Edward. He jabbed her with his elbow as he plopped onto the bench beside her.
    â€œWatch it!” Tansy jabbed him back.
    Edward only laughed and reached across the table to grab a platter of sausages. At nineteen, he was strong and muscular, with the same dark, shaggy eyebrows as King Albert but a much straighter nose. Edward was very interested in girls, and it puzzled Tansy that they seemed to like him, too. She found him hotheaded and rude.
    James sat down heavily on Tansy’s other side, squishing her between himself and Edward. Short and compact, with their mother’s sandy hair and freckles, James was two years younger than Edward. When Edward wasn’t around to influence him, he could be good-natured. But if Edward waspresent, James followed his lead.
    James grabbed a large plum from the fruit bowl, stuffed the whole thing in his mouth, and started chewing. Juice spurted from the corners of his mouth