In Enchancia Castle, Sofia, Lucinda, and Amber were getting ready for their latest adventure with the Buttercups. The three of them were excited, for this was a special weekend where friends and even family who weren't in the troop could accompany them.
Sofia was especially happy that Lucinda would be with them for this. She had been sick during the school blood drive, and their adventure in Orillia Castle a few weeks ago, so she was happy she and her sisters were doing something together again. Lucinda was also surprised to learn that Amber, and one of their friends, Princess Sandra of Orillia, had been given amulets like the ones she and Sofia wore.
"I've got a great idea about who should go with us," Lucinda interrupted her thoughts.
"I've got the same idea," Amber nodded, remembering something she and James had once discussed.
The three girls made their way to James' room. On the way, they met two of the castle maids, Dorrie and Candice Cooper, daughters of the head maid, Violet. Candice was the most recent person from the castle to join the Buttercups, and she was excited about her first scouting event. Dorrie and Amber were both excited about this weekend; they only needed a few more badges until they each received a sunflower pin like the one Sofia had.
The five paused outside James' door, which was open, but they saw him working on a huge stack of papers, and he was singing a song they all liked.
I remember when rock was young
Me and Suzie had so much fun
Holding hands and skimming stones
Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
Was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock
We were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock
"We warned him about doing this," Amber sighed.
Well Crocodile Rocking is something shocking
When your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will
Oh Lawdy mama those Friday nights
When Suzie wore her dresses tight
And the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight
La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la
Dorrie nodded. She knew that James used to work nonstop around the castle, but she still sometimes saw him helping with paperwork, and not taking any breaks.
But the years went by and the rock just died
Suzie went and left us for some foreign guy
Long nights crying by the record machine
Dreaming of my Chevy and my old blue jeans
But they'll never kill the thrills we've got
Burning up to the Crocodile Rock
Learning fast as the weeks went past
We really thought the Crocodile Rock would last
"Shall we, ladies?" Amber asked, a little smile on her lips.
"Yes we shall!" Lucinda smiled back as they sneaked into James' room.
Well Crocodile Rocking is something shocking
When your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will
Oh Lawdy mama those Friday nights
When Suzie wore her dresses tight
And the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight
"I'll do it," Candice whispered, raising her wand. When the girls nodded, Candice aimed her wand at James, who was unaware of anything but writing and the music, and whispered, "Rictusempra!"
La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la
As Candice's spell took effect and James started laughing when he felt something hit him in the side, the girls pinned him down and tickled him as he tried to keep singing. At the same time, Dorrie levitated the papers to the desk, and organized the edited and original drafts.
I remember when rock was young
Me and Suzie had so much fun
Holding hands and skimming stones
Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
Was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock
We were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock
"Five against one!" James laughed under their fingers.
"Four hours with no break and working through lunch again means we get to do this," Amber countered as she and Candice attacked his ribs.
Well Crocodile Rocking is something shocking
When your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will
Oh Lawdy mama those Friday nights
When Suzie wore her dresses tight
And the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight
La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la
La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la
La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la
Hearing the noise, Roland and Miranda entered. They smiled at the scene, and were tempted to join in the girls' game, but James fell off the bed as Candice saw them and lifted the spell.
"Are you all right?" Roland asked as he and Miranda helped him up.
"I'm fine," James gasped for breath. "I'm just trying to help you with all this paperwork, and the girls started attacking me! And Dad, I had my door open!"
Roland mussed his hair. "I know, but I heard something about four hours with no break and working through lunch again."
"Time flies when you're having fun?" James asked innocently. He picked up a small book. "And for all you know, I could have been taking a break to do a word game or crossword puzzle!"
"Maybe so, but four hours still means four hours, and I have an idea for a punishment," Roland smirked. He noticed the girls in their Buttercup outfits, then turned back to James. "You're going to go with the girls this weekend."
Miranda nodded in agreement. "I heard that it's the Buttercups' Friends Weekend trip in the Peppertree Forest," James started to protest, but she continued. "You need to get out more. Besides, you know grounding you and sentencing you to work around the castle doesn't work, since you spend your extra time in your room and you're always helping the staff!" She looked at the book as well. "I'm also familiar with your talent for word games! They might do something like that."
"Well, I did help win a few vocabulary games at Royal Prep," James smiled at Sofia, who had been on his team at school.
"And this is what we get for having Mother read you the dictionary or thesaurus before bed!" Amber repeated an old joke of their father's. She then turned serious, remembering how James had often felt left out whenever she and Sofia had gone on adventures without him. "But come on, James, it'll be fun! And I promised not to make you feel left out."
"And besides, everyone gets to earn badges, not just Buttercups," Dorrie added.
"But I'm a junior Groundhog Aide," James protested, recalling how happy Baileywick had been with his offer to help the Groundhogs.
"Some badges you earn might transfer over to the Groundhogs," Lucinda reasoned.
"But—" James started to protest, however, Candice cut him off.
"No buts! We're all going, and you're going to go with us as a friend, so let's go, friend!"
"Well, with wordplay like that, Candice, how can I refuse?" James joked.
As the girls helped him up, James gathered up his Junior Groundhog Aide vest, and a few other supplies he thought he might need, as well as a few crossword puzzle books. Then when everyone was ready, they set out on a new adventure.
Author's Notes
Dorrie and Candice are characters of Niagara14301, and are used with their permission.
Elton John's Crocodile Rock is not mine, and was also used in Niagara14301's Red Nose Day story.
Amber not wanting James to feel left out is from AquaTurquoise's story Amber's Gift Giving Extravaganza.
Rictusempra is from Harry Potter
Sofia's memories about the blood drive and adventure in Orillia Castle are from my story Royal Blood.