Sorry for the delay but thanks for tuning in. next update *might* be the 14th or possible another midweek one, see you then and thank you too for all the reviews kudos etc!
"It's going to be so fun," The curly haired witch was saying ahead of them, all in a twitter. "Although I'm still annoyed you two wouldn't let me and Marigold have a speak peek! We've only seen her in pieces!"
As though to emphasis the point she tried to lift a corner of the sheet. But much to her (and the girl's) disappointment the two other adults stopped her an "Oi!"
"It's a surprise Ing! For everyone! Wait two minutes and you'll see it in action." Miss Drill laughed lightly smacking away the other woman's hand. "Beside you had your sneak peek flying around to get the footage."
"That does not count, at all." The witch huffed. And might have rolled her eyes too, it was hard to tell they were so dark. But she let it go. And go of the something heavy to flitter up the short flight of stairs and open a door.
"oh good you got our little memo!" she said holding the staff room door open and Announcing to the gathered teachers. "I'm glad you could make it, we've got so-o-mething for yoo-ou!"
Mildred checked the coast was clear. Then tapped Maud on the shoulder and beckoned the troupe forward. Jadu brought up the rear, on her paws for extra slinking.
"Now. Wait. Close your eyes." The heard Mr blossom say, as the door swung shut. "And you'll get a big surprise!"
Not wanting to miss out the four students snuck up as quickly as they could to the staff room door. They had their ears pressed to it and turns to peeking at the gap in key hole as Miss Drill said:
"On the Count of three. Ready? three!"
And all was revealed…
x
Unlike the rest of staff Constance didn't close her eyes. She certainly didn't put her hands over eyes ether like some of the staff. There had been a note on the staff room about a meeting this break time. one she hadn't authorised and Miss Cackle couldn't remember doing so etier. She had shown up as asked. (in fact she and most of the staff were normally in the staffroom that time anyway, but HB considered today she was doing someone a great favour in doing so!) but was kept waiting. To the point she'd almost been ready to give up and go prepare for her next lesson, when Ingra Nightingale swept in to the room announcing "We've got something for you!"
The other two had lugged the hulk of a thing into the room.
"Now. Wait. Close your eyes, and you'll get a big surprise!"
"On the Count of three. Ready? three!" Then Miss Drill whipped off the sheet with a "Ta dah!"
Which was Pretty daft seeing as everyone else's eyes were closed? Constance looked. But so far she was not impressed.
"…I don't see what why you called a staff meeting for an 'Art Project'." She frowned.
But what else she said was lost to the noises of surprise and confusion that arose with Mr Blossom, realising the error he'd made, said "Yoou can look now!"
Although some members of staff might have just been squealing for no reason as they were prone too. it was a good thing they were, because it covered the first year's own comments.
"It looks- well- !" Ingra started. The art department had painted the base after all and helped with the extras so she felt she had to be positive.
"Very modern. And trust me Miss Hardbroom this is more than Just an Art Project!"
Perhaps the overall reaction a little anti climatic then Frank Imogen and Ingra had hoped for. But in good form the other teachers gave the surprise a sporting chance, got up from their seats and putting down their cups of tea. Not all of them polite mind.
"It's certainly a piece of work. Belongs in the tate. Modern art stuff." Mr Casper DeBloom criticised.
"What's holding it together? Staples or prayers?" Miss Hardbroom sneered.
"Hey giveover now!" Frank protested. But Mr DeBloom had a point... and Jadu had been sort of right.
It was indeed a new Franken monster… of sorts. More a Junkenstien then a Frankenstein though. The Something Heavy Surprise was a cobbled together contraption.
It looked to the girls and teachers alike like a shortened broom stick. A shawn off broomstick that was strapped to a steel bar. which then fed into a box with cogs, pistons and a Car battery. A tea Box formed the base that was painted with lightening bolts, go faster stripes and hot-rod flames and…flowers. a hodgepodge of switches and pressure gauges at the other end of the besom seemed to be the controls. A welding Visor, attached to the main body of the thing with wires, sat on the panel.
"A finale version would be more streamlined an' fancy." Frank continued. "She's only a prototype at the minute."
"A prototype what?" Constance asked, suspiciously.
"It looks fun! I'm sure I had one of these when I was a girl." Davina Bat giggled.
"They had soldering back then?" Lavina asked and got an elbow in the wing.
Unperturbed Davina was already hitching up her skirt and clambering to sit on the broom section. Outside Mildred had to bite her tie not to laugh. Miss Bat Her stockings were showing!
"It does look like fun!" Ameila agreed heartily. "but…what exactly is it?"
"It is," Frank started with a flourish , Ingra rapping out an impromptu drumroll on the table;
"T' Blossom & Drill Portable and Virtual Reality Broomstick Flight Simulator!"
Mildred looked at Maud. Maud looked at Mildred, (tugging her friend's tie out of her mouth). A broomstick flight simulator…
Constance meanwhile looked aghast. "A What!?"
"This here is our Marrk Three version! Ooh she's a real cracker!" Frank continued. He was so excited he was sheading petals.
"Hardly portable if it took three of you to move it." Miss Gullet commented before HB could rip into him.
"Just wait till you see it in action!" Imogen beamed.
"I would rather not thanks. It doesn't look safe." Miss Gullet said.
"I'm sure it is perfectly safe or we wouldn't have brought to show you all." Ms Nightingale frowned. "Would we?"
"I tested it myself." Imogen said in back up, flushing a little.
"That, does not count. What exactly happened to mark's one and two?" Miss Gullet replied. But was ignored. Unfortunately, at the one time where the other staff should have really listened to the snarky health and safety obsessed skeleton.
"The Mark three is just a vast improvement. And it responds to commands, just like a real broomstick-look!" Imogen said. And fired it up.
The Blossom & Drill Portable and Virtual Reality Broomstick Flight Simulator hissed. then slowly, the broom shaft begun to bounce and bob, it's pistons huffing and shunting. Everyone bar Drill and Mr Blossom stepped or slid away sharply from it. Had she not been sat on it Miss Bat might have done too. Instead she Squeaked and clung on to the little broom.
"Only you press buttons instead of speaking!" Mr Blossom explained loudly.
"I told you it was a robot!" Ruby grinned and was shushed. Not that anyone would have heard them outside over the racquet the Mack Three was marking. It wasn't as horrid as the noise that they'd heard when the adults had carried and dropped it up the stairs. but it was LOUD.
Mildred heard Miss Drill say something about "And this is the best bit-!" and turned back to the keyhole.
What the best bit was Mildred missed completely. But apparently, it involved the welding visor and something about "Feels like you're really flying!"
So thats what the surprise was! Well, I was surprised I dunno about you folks. Love it hate it found a spelling error let me know!