This drabble concerns SPLAT celebrating their win over the Headmaster after the Great School Quiz.

A SPLAT! WIN

Striding away in victory from their school, their gunge-drenched former Headmaster fleeing from the scene, SPLAT took up the entire pavement, the six children buzzing within despite the bitter wind chill. Their unspoken plan was to go back to the shed, situated within the nearby field, to celebrate their win. Their safe haven, away from the prying eyes and ears of the hypnotised, would be overflooding with emotions. Joy, Fear, Relief. No mortal danger left to contend with. The country was safe.

Approaching the high street, Ingrid demanded for everyone to empty their pockets for any loose change, snatching the coins off gloved palms. The change gathered consisted of three pounds fifty-two pence and Ingrid grinned cheerily, darting off into the supermarket, dragging Harvey along behind her. The four older children huddled together in a circle to allow a few stragglers dressed in office attire, cross the road to head into the local pub, to celebrate their own win of surviving the working week to have a well-earned pint on Friday night.

Ingrid and Harvey rushed out five minutes later, the former strapping a cheap party hat onto her head, pinging the rubber band under her chin. She pulled out a plastic coloured party horn and blew loudly, as Harvey's cheeks reddened slightly upon putting his hat on.

"Let's have a SPLAT party! Come on, I got you all one and I bought sweets and chocolate!" She rattled the plastic bag and pulled a face. "We wanted to get cake, but we didn't have enough money. What?" She became side-tracked at the sight of Lloyd's facial expression. "We're celebrating."

A sneer curled his lips and he jabbed a finger in the direction of her head. "Did you have to buy that? They're for-"

"Kids?" Mandy drawled and gestured for Ingrid to open the bag. "We are kids, Lloyd, and I think Ingrid has been creative celebrating, on a budget." She snapped on the hat and indicated to Dinah. "Di, you won't look silly, I promise."

"Are you sure?" Dinah skimmed her fingers over the plastic material. "I know we're celebrating, but-"

"Put the hat on, Dinah!" Lloyd abruptly snapped, pulling his own one onto his head. Ian elbowed the older boy in the ribs. "Thought you weren't a child, L."

"Can we get moving?" Harvey moaned, interlinking arms with Ingrid. "It's freezing."

The six children hurried off to the shed and once there, sunk into their deck chairs and adjusted their party hats. Sweet packets and bars of chocolate were split open and Mandy took charge, ensuring that everyone had an equal amount. Dinah hinted that she was content with having less and to give some of her sweets to someone else, but Mandy refused to consider it and silently shook her head.

Once the sweets and chocolate had been devoured and Ingrid had tired of blowing on the party horn, Lloyd raised his fist up into the air, looking round at his observant friends with a determined look on his face.

"I'm proud of all of you. We persevered, even in the face of defeat. We kept strong and Dinah, you were the one to figure all this out, so well done." As she ducked her head to divert the attention, he continued on: "We stuck together despite the years of hell and most importantly, we stopped the Headmaster and now, St Champions is free from his reign. I think we deserve… a SPLAT! Cheer!"

Cheers and stamps of feet erupted, with Dinah caught up in the triumph of defeating the Headmaster. Lloyd grinned amidst the noise and yelled:

"SPLAT sleepover!"

The cheers almost became deafening, only quietening when they left the shed a short while later, to head back to the Hunter home. Knocking on the front door, Lloyd beamed as the door opened to reveal his mother, who seemed to have a visitor judging by the unfamiliar looking coat hanging on the coat stand.

"Hi, Mum. Can you get the sleeping bags out? We'll be staying in the den tonight."

Mrs Hunter, nerves churning due to the upcoming conversation regarding Dinah's future place within the household, could not help but smile back.

"Of course. Ian, Mandy, Ingrid, you're more than welcome to use the phone to let your parents know you're here. Come on in, we have a guest with us, but this won't take long."