Fred's Bedtime Story
George had been tossing and turning all night, and it was keeping Fred awake as well. Of course, he dealt with it, but he didn't want to be tired in the morning. Especially considering they had moved into their little flat recently and were opening the shop next morning.
Eventually, Fred just got up and walked over to George's bed. "Can you please take a Sleeping Draught or something? It's 11 o'clock and I don't want to be tired in the morning."
"A Sleeping Draught won't last me the whole night." Came the muffled reply from under the blanket. "But, um, there is one thing that would help…" "What?" asked Fred, quickly and eagerly.
George sighed. "Never mind, Fred. I'd sound stupid and sappy." Please, George, I'll do anything, you're keeping me awake too…" Fred begged. George chuckled. "Alright, fine. But promise you won't laugh at me or call me soppy?" "Promise." Fred whined desperately.
George mumbled something into the sheets and turned away from Fred. "What was that?" asked Fred. George sighed. "I want you to tell me a bedtime story."
Fred sat there, on George's bed, not saying anything. George sighed again. "I know it sounds stupid. Go ahead and say no if that's what you want." "No…I'll do it." "You'll tell me a…bedtime story?" "Yeah." Fred half laughed.
Fred didn't even know where to start, so he tried to draw from personal experience. "Okay, sooooo…uhh…once upon a time, there were these twins who were devilishly clever and handsome, although the older was better-looking than the younger." "In your dreams." Laughed George. Fred continued. "And the twins' names were…Gred and Forge."
"And…um…one day they went into school and got into trouble on their first day. They discovered a magic map written by four gods in order to help future prankster who would follow in their footsteps. Gred and Forge never found out who the gods were, but they idolized them all the same and hoped to meet them one day.
They got away with many pranks during school, but their biggest fear was facing their mother for their crimes. Their mother was a banshee who would shriek at them, but they still loved her. And they had other worries. Like the monster that patrolled the school and his evil cat. There were rumours that the monster was in love with its cate and ate misbehaving children, and it probably did. But Gred and Forge always managed to escape being the monster's next meal. They were a lot smarter than people gave them credit for."
Fred looked at George, who actually seemed to be getting tired. Encouraged by this, Fred continued with his bedtime story.
"Then one year, their older brother who was tragically robbed of the ability to laugh when he was ten, deserted them for a gang of evil, pompous, stuck-up creatures who didn't like it when people told the truth. And to top it off, an evil pink toad took over the school and banned all fun.
One day, the twins decided enough was enough. They'd had a dream of opening a shop that would help them pass on their legacy to other aspiring pranksters for a while, and yet the pink toad was holding them back. The evil pink toad didn't care for the wishes or thought of anyone but its own disgusting slimy self. And it was holding a bunch of innocent kittens prisoner in plates in its office.
The twins decided to do the toad a favour still, and set up a swamp in a school corridor so the toad would have somewhere to live. However, the toad didn't like it and ordered the child-eating monster to whip them, not appreciating their gift. It was probably in denial of the fact that it was a toad. It wasn't very intelligent.
So Gred and Forge decide their talents and generosity were being wasted on this awful toad, and left the school for good. The pink toad had turned some students into its henchtoads, calling them the 'Inquisitorial Squad.' It tried to get the henchtoads to stop them, but the twins were too quick for it. The toad was fat and slow, and all it could do was hop around clumsily.
The twins did end up starting the shop they'd dream of, and now they can only hope that their older brother regains his ability to laugh. Still, the twins lived happily ever after, and sincerely hope they continue to live happily ever after."
Fred finished his bedtime story and gazed at George, who was, miraculously, asleep. A lazy smile was evident on his face.
"Goodnight." Whispered Fred, before creeping back to his own bed, still thinking of his bedtime story, and hoping their older brother regained his ability to laugh.
