School's Out...Forever! by Kate McMullan Read Free Book Online

skinny and redheaded. No one would ever guess that he was kin to the beefy, yellow-haired water-balloon bombers.
    When the balloons ran out, all the brothers shouted out together, “Happy graduation, Wiggie and Dudwin!”
    Wiglaf slumped down on the bench. His cover was blown!
    Frypot hurried onto the platform with a towel for Mordred.
    â€œJust a little graduation fun!” said Mordred,patting himself dry. “Brother Dave?” he called. “The diplomas!”
    The little monk hurried up the steps with a big burlap sack clasped in his ink-stained fingers. He looked as if he’d been up all night.
    Brother Dave handed Mordred a rolled parchment from the sack.
    The headmaster called out the name on the diploma: “Knockworm!”
    A Class III lad stood. He turned, smiled, and waved to his family.
    â€œNo waving!” called Mordred. “Graduation will take forever if you wave.”
    Knockworm walked up to the platform.
    â€œHere!” said Mordred, handing him his diploma.
    â€œThank you, sir!” said Knockworm.
    â€œNo thanking!” boomed Mordred. “Takes too long. Next!”
    Brother Dave held out another diploma, but the headmaster shoved the little monk aside, plunged his arm into the sack, and grabbed a fistful of diplomas.
    â€œLiverlot! Blogwit! Chadbroth! Meechum!Pernickel!” Mordred shouted. “Fleabane! Hockbit! Fopslippers! Up here, NOW!”
    Wiglaf watched groups of lads and lasses bound up to the platform. Mordred flung diplomas at them.
    â€œThis diploma says Peawallow!” cried one student. “But I’m Leekswort!”
    â€œDoesn’t matter!” roared Mordred. “Worthless scraps of paper,” he muttered. “Sort them out yourselves!”
    â€œAngus! Torblad! Baldrick! Janice!” barked the headmaster. “Erica! Bragwort! Gwendolyn! Wiglaf!”
    Wiglaf rose with the others from Class II.
    â€œHere, here, here!” Mordred tossed diplomas every which way.
    As Wiglaf unrolled his diploma, the sky began to darken.
    â€œFizzjelly!” Mordred called. “Coldspur! Stopgargle!”
    The sky turned darker still and the wind picked up. Students held onto their graduation caps lest they blow away.
    â€œBeltslinger!” Mordred cried.
    The wind began to howl.
    â€œIt’s like the minstrel’s song,” Angus shouted over the wind. “A sudden change of weather. Remember?”
    â€œThe sky is black as night, Wiggie!” yelled Dudwin.
    â€œIt’s all coming true!” cried Janice.
    Wiglaf looked up. In the sky he made out two dark clouds shaped like dragons. He stared. No, not clouds. They
were
dragons. Huge dragons! Big enough to blot out the sun! And they were heading straight for DSA!
    Now everyone saw the dragons. Everyone began running around the castle yard like frightened chickens looking for places to hide.
    â€œThe world is ending!” they shrieked. “Woe is us!”
    â€œNow Prince Rex will stand his ground!” shouted Dudwin.
    â€œWhy do you think so?” Wiglaf shouted back.
    â€œBecause the minstrel’s song said so, Wiggie!” yelled Dudwin. “And Rex is the only prince around!”
    But Prince Rex was running for the stables, shoving people aside and shouting, “Make way for the royals!”
    Wiglaf heard his mother cry, “The sky is falling!” as she ran for shelter.
    â€œCome on, Wiggie!” cried Dudwin. “We have to hide!”
    But Wiglaf stood where he was, looking up.
    The dragons winged closer to DSA.
    Count Moneypots, Lady Drippingwealth, and Sir Fuzzydice raced out through the castle gate. Wiglaf heard a splash as they leaped into the moat to save themselves.
    â€œDraw your swords, dragon slayers!” cried Mordred, running for the castle. “I order you to slay these dragons!” He zoomed up the steps and inside to safety. “Send word when you’ve won the battle!” he called, and he