Saturday the 22nd of December

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me; Ten Lords-a-Leaping,

Nine Ladies Dancing,

Eight Maids-a-Milking,

Seven Swans-a-Swimming,

Six Geese-a-Laying,

Five Gold Rings,

Four Calling Birds,

Three French Hens,

Two Turtle Doves,

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

"I followed them to the park, their dance was getting faster and faster, and it got too fast for me, and I fell. I think it wore me out, dancing like that." explained Rose. Lenny nodded, looking up from his notebook.

"Well, the scans didn't show any damage, so we'd better get back upstairs, it's the dress rehearsal!" Lenny told them. They all went into the lift, and it went up.

"Ah, Rose, there you are. These gentlemen are lords, and have come to look at investing in the school," said Miss Templeman "Half of them are going to watch the dress rehearsal, and the other half are going to go to the science fair, you know, the one that Miss Edelsten organised, you know, the new science teacher? We were wondering if you could help her with the science fair?"

"Yes, miss." Rose replied.

"Brilliant, you will show Lord Unus, Lord Bini, Lord Tris, Lord Quattuor, and Lord Pinnule upstairs. Miss Edelsten is waiting for you. You will be showcasing something to do with frogs." She looked around for someone else, "Daisy, could you please show Lord Hexode, Lord Hepta, Lord Octoni, Lord Novem and Lord Decim to the auditorium?" Daisy agreed, and she and Rose set off in opposite directions.

"So, how did you come to hear about Saint Hope's?" asked Rose.

"Oh, we heard about that thing with the flood, so unfortunate. Also, my friend has a daughter who goes here, Bernard Millar. I think that was his daughter that we saw earlier, Daisy, I think her name was?" replied Lord Tris.

"Ah, yes, Bernard. Earl of Trenchkeith." added Lord Pinnule. Rose raised her eyebrow, Daisy, the daughter of an Earl? It couldn't be.

"I'll wait outside the classroom for you." said Rose to the Lords.

"Ah, hello everyone. We are here today to show you an exhibition on frogs," began Miss Edelsten. "Frogs are very intelligent creatures, and very influential. We can get them to perform some tricks for you. I'll just release this gas, and the frogs will start somersaulting." Miss Edelsten opened a jar, and turquoise smoke drifted out. "Oh, hold on, I've forgotten the hoops, I'll just go get them." she said, exiting the classroom. Rose watched her retreat down the corridor, and into the science base. Rose looked into the classroom again, to find that the lords were behaving like frogs, leaping up and down.

"Holy smoke." muttered Rose.

Miss Edelsten hurried downstairs, and found the other five Lords waiting outside the auditorium. They hadn't seen her, so she retreated behind a corner, and opened up another jar of gas, this time magenta. She then turned around the corridor and struck up a conversation with the Lords.

"I love the nativity play, don't you?" she remarked to Lord Octoni.

"Um, yes, I suppose so, who's you're favourite character?" he replied.

"I like the Magi. I feel like they're really influential," she said, "Oh, look at the time, best be off." she added, hurrying out the door.

The men stood around for a few more minutes, waiting to be called into the auditorium so that the play could start. They suddenly changed their facial expressions. The became sullen, serious, even more than they were before.

"How much longer before we reach the star?" asked Lord Hexode.

"Ribbit. Ribbit." said Lord Bini.

"Guys. You are NOT frogs." stated Rose. They weren't listening. She rushed to a work station, and started mixing an antidote. She had seen that type of smoke before. The turquoise type was called ingnis animalus influncious. It made people think that they were animals. Depending on the last animal they had seen, that would be the animal they think they become. Luckily, the antidote is to be subjected to a really hot or cold temperature, and Rose knew where the ice was kept. She found a bucket of ice, and chucked over the heads of all the Lords, who now looked incredibly bewildered.

"I can explain," she tried to explain, "You got brainwashed into thinking you were frogs. The cure for the means by which you were brainwashed is to be subjected to an extreme temperature, hot or cold."

"What does that mean in English?" asked Lord Unus.

"Right, you can come in now." said Daisy to the waiting gentlemen.

"How dare you address me, I am a stargazer, the noblest and the wisest." exclaimed Lord Hepta.

"You mean I am." protested Lord Decim.

"Anyhow," interrupted Lord Novem, "We are the Magi, and we seek the star that shall rest over Bethlehem."

"You are NOT the Magi, the Magi are Ring Tone, Stuart and Blane." said a very confused Daisy.

At that point, Rose came running down the stairs with a bucket of ice. She threw it over the heads of the Lords. They were now soaking wet.

"How dare you, we are Lords!" said Lord Novem. Daisy and Rose exchanged looks.

"RUN!"

"Some children are too smart for their own good, Flopsy."

Some good old girl power at the end there, hopefully two more chapters coming today.

Carrie: So excited, it's Christmas eve.

Me: Gotta go now, off to see a pantomime, bye : )