Chapter 5: Bad Manners
A servant rang a bell. Other servants began carrying in large silver bowls, platters, and trays.
"It is time for dinner now," said Nan. "We must go, Wolfie," she said. "We have to find Papa," she said. She helped her little brother put on his wig.
"But I want to stay with Lincoln and his 10 sisters," whined Wolfie. "I want to play with them in the garden," he said.
"Not now," said Nan. She grabbed Wolfie's hand. "It was nice to talk to you," she said to Lincoln and his 10 sisters. "And I hope we can see you perform again someday, Lincoln," said Nan.
Lincoln forced a smile. "Uh . . . yeah, thanks," said Lincoln. "Hey, let us know what your dad-I mean, your papa-says about the brilliant artists living in the palace," said Lynn. "Maybe you can meet us later by those double doors?" said Luan. "Yes, after dinner, we will meet you," said Nan.
"And then we will play in the garden!" said Wolfie. "No, you and I will have other things to do, Wolfie, remember?" said Nan. "Come along now," she said as she pulled her little brother away. "But I want to play with Lincoln the Clown!" Wolfie wailed.
Lincoln and his sisters watched Wolfie and Nan disappear into the crowd.
"I am not a clown," said Lincoln darkly. "Don't worry about him, bro," said Luna. "He really admires you," said Lucy. "Lucky me," said Lincoln.
The bell sounded again. People started moving toward the dinner tables.
"Where should we like sit?" asked Leni. "Anywhere," said Lori. "As long as we're out of the way," said Lincoln. He still wanted to hide from the imperial children. "What about the table at the end of the room, near the door," said Lisa. "Sure," said Lori.
Lori led the way to the table at the far end of the room. "Let's grab seats while we can," Lori said to her brother and sisters.
As grown-ups hovered near the table talking and laughing, Lincoln and his 10 sisters sat down in eleven chairs. Steaming platters of food lined the middle of the table: beef stew, mashed potatoes, sausages, dumplings, cabbage, spiced apples, and gingerbread. Lincoln's mouth watered. He hadn't realized how hungry he was.
"Okay, here's our plan," he said to his 10 sisters. "We'll eat first, then Nan will tell us where all the artists live, and we'll get to work," said Lincoln.
"Excuse me, young man and young ladies," someone said in a snippy tone. Lincoln and his 10 sisters turned around their chairs. An elderly couple stood glaring at them. "The empress herself designed the seating plan," the man said. "And I can assure you these are not your seats," he said. "Furthermore," said the woman. "No one sits until Her Imperial Majesty is seated," she said.
Lincoln and his 10 sisters jumped from their chairs. "Oops!" said Luan. "Sorry!" said Lori. "Our mistake," said Lincoln. "Like excuse us," said Leni.
Lincoln and his sisters walked away from the table. "That was bad manners," said Lori to her brother and sisters. "Who, us or them?" said Lana. "Us," said Lori. "I wonder where our seats are," said Lola. "I have a feeling we're not a part of the empress's seating plan," said Lincoln. His face felt hot again. His wig itched like crazy.
Suddenly a hush fell over the room. The harp and violin music stopped. Everyone stopped talking. Her Imperial Majesty had entered through the main doors. The imperial children followed her. Her Majesty led them to the table in the middle of the room. Everyone else stood silently, waiting for the imperial family to sit down.
"We have to get out of here now," Lincoln whispered to his sisters. "Soon we'll be the only ones left standing," he whispered. "Like musical chairs," said Lana. "Right," said Lori. "Forget dinner, let's go look for where the artists are staying," said Lucy. "We can't wait for Nan to ask her dad," said Lola.
As all the guests sat down, Lincoln and his 10 sisters hurried toward the door.
"Lincoln the Clown!" came a high voice. Lincoln looked over his shoulder. Wolfie was waving from one of the tables. Lola waved back. "Don't wave, keep going," said Lincoln. He grabbed Lola's hand and pulled her out of the party room.
They hurried into yet another elegant room with red velvet furniture and gold-trimmed walls.
"Keep going," said Lincoln. He led the way into another fancy room.
"Lincoln and your sisters, wait!" came a cry. "I hear Wolfie!" said Luan. "Darn!" said Lincoln as he quickly closed the door behind them. "Keep moving!" he said. "We can't," said Lynn. "That's mean, we should wait for him," said Lola. "But he'll slow down our mission!" said Lori. "When are we going to get started?" asked Lana. "Like, calm down," said Leni. "We'll just tell him we can't hang out with him now because we have something important that we have to do," said Lisa. "Sigh," said Lucy. "Okay," said Lincoln.
"Lincoln and your sisters!" called Wolfie. Lincoln opened the door. Wolfie ran right into him. "There you are!" the little boy said, smiling. "I was looking for you!" he said. "No kidding," said Lincoln. "Yes!" said Wolfie. "Are you leaving?" asked Wolfie. "Not yet, we have to do something important," said Lori. "And you can't come with us," said Luan.
Wolfie's smile vanished. "Sorry," said Lincoln. "But I want you to come to the garden with me," said Wolfie. "Not now," said Lola. "Wolfie, listen to me carefully, I and my 10 sisters have to do something really, really, important and we have to do it all by ourselves," said Lincoln.
Wolfie's bottom lip started to quiver. Oh, no, thought Lincoln. He's going to cry. A tear ran down the little boy's cheek. "Aww, Wolfie, don't cry," said Lola.
"Wolfie, Wolfie!" someone called. Nan burst into the room. "Wolfie, what are you doing?" she asked. "Papa is very upset!" she said. "I want to play with Lincoln and his 10 sisters," said Wolfie. Another big tear ran down his cheek. "Please, Wolfie," Nan begged. "You know you have a big responsibility tonight," she said. "You have to-" "No!" wailed Wolfie, stamping his foot. "No, no, no, I never get to play," he said. "He kinda sounds like you two when you two are upset," Lincoln whispered to Lola and Lana. "Wolfie, stop!" said Nan. "Please do not be this way," she said. "Not now, of all times," said Nan. "You will kill Papa!" she said. "Wolfie, Wolfie!" came a deep voice. "He's in here, Papa!" Nan called. "Come Wolfie," she said as she took Wolfie's hand, but he pulled away from her. "No, I want to play!" shouted Wolfie. And he charged out of the room.
"Wolfie?" said a portly man in a wig bursting through another door. "Where is he, where is my son?" he asked. "Oh, Papa!" said Nan. "Wolfie ran away!" she said. "Ran away?" he said. The man threw his hands in the air. "We must find him!" he cried. "Papa, calm down!" said Nan. "We will fail utterly without him!" cried her papa. And he rushed out of the room. "Papa, Papa!" yelled Nan. And she hurried after her father.