Early the next morning Ginger sipped her coffee at the table waiting for her two daughters to skip down the stairs for cratilion classes with Miranda, what she got were two walking zombies stumbling into the kitchen.
"Look who it is the morning of the living dead, all right ladies now hurry along Miranda is a very on the dot person and I would hate to have you two late on your first day of class" Ginger said as Noel just waved her hand but Heather wasn't so easy.
"This just in slave driving mother losing her daughters to police detective, police detective has no idea what's going on, and this is Noel Foutley with the early morning news back to you Heather" Noel commented as Heather slapped Noel across the face.
"Don't you know when to shut it for two seconds Noel, I mean it's your mouth that got us into this mess in the first place" Noel said as Heather slowly rubbed her face a red handprint on it.
"Hit me like that again youngest sister and so help me God I'll make sure it's the last thing you do, I mean have you forgotten that your mouth got us into this too, you're the one who called Mrs. Grippling dirty money".
"Actually I'm older by twenty three hours youngest sib, and as for my mouth well it was you who taught me how to use it youngest sib"
"Oh please you were born twenty three hours before me and now it's like I'm younger when I act older than you do".
"Well to tell you the truth the both of you have been acting childish this week, beating on a poor girl, making fun of the headmaster, and getting this close to expelled" Ginger said as Heather stared down at the floor like a puppy that has been yelled at and Noel stared into Ginger's eyes smiling.
"If you think for one second this is the worst you can do to me you're dead wrong mommy dearest, just look at what I did to poor Hope, poor, poor, Hope and her retarded ways I hope she leaves me alone for now on".
Ginger grabbed Noel by the shoulders as she angrily glared at her mother and Ginger glared back her stare harder than Noel's.
"I won't slap you like Heather did Noel even though God knows you need it, I have no idea why you have to play the villain to me, Heather, Karen, Your dad, and Hope but let me tell you it will stop because if it doesn't I'll slap you silly next time".
"Fine with me come on older by twenty three hours little sister we have a date with a police detective and her smiling puppets".
"She's the police chief not police detective you twit, she can bring us in whenever she wants so I suggest we sit in her class and play dead, roll over, fetch, speak, and lay down like good little doggies until this cratilion thing is over with" Heather said as Noel just shook her head no.
"Screw that I'm not anybody's dog, if she tries giving me orders I'll show her my mike and my backup mike and see what she thinks of them".
"Fine just don't count on me saving you Noel, I'm not sticking my neck out for you because you have never stuck so much as a toe out of line for me but all for yourself".
"Fine be a good doggie who knows maybe she'll give you a treat, kibble, and water too, man you are so last month anyway Heather Louise Foutley".
"Good because you and I differ in many ways Noel, way one I have a conscience you don't, way two I have feelings whereas you well you just love people walking all over your feelings, and way three I'm older and have learned to not let my ragtag little sister talk me into her harebrained schemes".
"Get your coats girls I'll drive you in, it seems one of my girls have learned to not let the other one talk her into being a puppet, and the puppet master is going to have to find a new puppet" Ginger said as Heather felt an inner strength flowing through her as Noel just stared at her.
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At the Radison hotel we see Ginger's van stop in the parking lot as we also see Courtney with her daughter waiting at the doors.
"All right you two try to stay out of trouble and remember if you do get in trouble Miranda's the police chief and the jail is on the outskirts of town, and don't waste a phone call calling me because I won't come".
The girl's opened their doors as Ginger walked up to Courtney and her daughter and Courtney beamed down at Noel and Heather.
"If anybody needs these classes ladies it's you, Carmela is only here because Miranda and I are such good friends and Carmela thought going to Cratilion classes would be fun" Courtney said as Noel tried opening the doors to the dance hall but they wouldn't budge.
"Mrs. Grippling I once again would like to say I'm very sorry for not being the best student in Masterson Prep and I'd also like to say that Noel and I are no longer attached at the hip" Heather said as Courtney smiled down at her.
"Good because it's your sister that's getting you into all the trouble that went on in Masterson, she's the puppet master and you used to be a puppet before you broke the strings that held you and now you're a girl with nobody controlling you".
"Yea just the headmaster of the fine establishment called Masterson Academy, now listen up Pinocchio you had a chance to be controlled by me and you lost it, maybe Hope will be my puppet next that would rock seeing I could never be expelled.
As if she was called Hope Masterson walked up and her parents followed her to the dance hall doors where Heather winked and smiled at Hope as she smiled back and her parents walked over to her.
"Mr. and Mrs. Masterson I'd like you to know if there is anything I can do to make up for what I did to Hope I'd do it, she's not as bad as my sister turned her out to be" Heather said as Mr. and Mrs. Masterson looked down at Heather and smiled as Hope looked up at her smiling also.
"Well our Hope is having a shindig tonight with a couple of girl's coming for a sleepover, I'm sure she'd really like it if you came too Heather was It?" Mrs. Masterson asked as Heather nodded and Hope giggled hoping Heather would say yes..
"What time should I be there and is there anything you'd like me to bring with me when I come?, I mean I couldn't very well come empty handed now could I?"
Hope beamed as she dug in her purse and brought out a friendship bracelet with Heather's name on it made from thread as Heather cried and Ginger saw a friendship brewing before her very eyes.
"I made this for you Heather, I learned to make them at day camp last year and I never had anyone good enough to give one too so I thought you would like one" Hope said as Heather placed her wrist out and Hope tied the bracelet around it as Miranda's heels were heard clicking down the lobby.
"Morning ladies and mothers and fathers of ladies please crowd around the dance hall door while I open it and donuts and other pastries and coffee will be served during class and to the students this is a right not a privilege so you'll have to earn your breakfast" Miranda said.
"Quick question host with the most are we going to be here all day or is there a time limit given to us before we can ditch I mean leave" Noel asked as Miranda shot her an angry glance and Noel gave her version of what she thought were angel eyes.
"Foutley's you've gained the honor or should I say the privilege of sitting front row center so I'll bring two chairs up front if I were you".
Hope's hand waved in the air as Miranda grinned down liking Hope with all that was left in her for not speaking out.
"Yes Hope and please make this quick I have a lot to get through today and not enough time to do it if I'm going to be interrupted every five seconds".
"Well Chief Kilgallen I was just wondering if maybe you'd make an exception with Heather, I mean she apologized and everything, plus she's coming to a sleepover at my house later on and I think I'd feel more comfortable if she sat near me" Hope said as Miranda pointed to Heather then next to Hope.
"Thanks Hope you're a true friend, again if there is anything I can do for you just name it and I'm going to do it anything you want".
"All right ladies I am Miranda Kilgallen, I am your worst nightmare for twelve weeks, and I am going to make you reach inside and pull out the lady within you".
"Uhh yea there's a little teensy, tiny, miniscule problem with that, I'm not a lady and I'll never be one so here I'll make it easy and walk out now" Noel said as Ginger and Courtney guarded the only door out.
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"Does anybody want me to blow chunks because I'm getting close to it and if I hear one more thing about being ladylike I'm going to haul off an punch the person who mentions it, I mean hasn't anyone hear heard of a tomboy?".
"Noel if you would join us we could continue with the lesson, if not then there's a cold cell in Sheltered Shrubs Jail with your name on it" Miranda said as Noel slumped into her seat and Miranda pointed to a table.
"First ladies I'd like you to learn manners, now what I mean is if you burp or do the other nasty thing say excuse me, if you need to leave ask to be excused, always say please and thank you I mean it's simple Backyardigans teaching people please and thank you are the secret to the Nile and to being a lady ".
Noel waved her hand in the air as Miranda clicked her tongue angrily and pointed to her.
"Well what if we don't want to be a lady rent a cop?, I mean what if we like our tomboyish ways and never want to change?" Noel asked as Miranda stared Noel down.
"Well then I guess you'll be taking this class until you want to be a lady won't you?, and I'd be more than glad to teach you".
"So is you favorite Backyardigan Pablo because I like him and Enuiqua but Tyrone's not too bad either, I mean we can all like who we want can't we?".
Miranda pulled a tree branch from her pocket and Ginger winced knowing at once what the stick was because Miranda used it on other people before she met Noel.
"Noel Foutley since you like being a smartalleck I want you to be the first girl to sit at the table, now march young lady and let's see what I have to work with" Miranda said as Noel skipped up to the table.
"All right Mrs. Foutley I'll be the master of ceremonies of this little shindig so show me what you do first smarty pants.".
Noel sat down with her elbows on the table as Heather shook her head and Hope knew Noel was doing something wrong.
"Good Mrs. Foutley now there is tea please show me how you'll go about drinking it, and just to tell you you're off to a really bad start".
Noel grabbed her teacup and slurped it as Miranda grinned placing ten forks in front of her.
"Noel please locate the salad fork and then I'll reprimand you and you'll hate me into the depths of your soul".
Noel picked the last fork as the class shook their heads and Noel's hands were turned out and slapped five times as she winced and ran back to her mom.
"Mommy can't save you in this class princess, you made the mistakes now let's see if Heather the puppet can correct them?" Miranda said as Hope whispered good luck to Heather and she faced the towering figure that was Miranda.
"Right Mrs. Foutley I'm the master of ceremony's of this little shindig so show me what you do first smarty pants".
"Mrs. Kilgallen nice of you to invite me to this lovely tea party, and I hope you enjoy the pleasure of my company" Heather said curtseying as Miranda nodded and beamed at her.
"Very nice Mrs. Foutley mistake one fixed you thank the person who invited you to the function then curtsey if you're a girl and bow if you're a boy".
"Right now I'm all a flutter that you thanked me we're at the table for tea so please show me what manners you have at the table.
Heather crossed her hands and sat down her elbows resting on her knees as Miranda once again beamed and nodded.
"Mistake number two fixed there shall be no elbows on the table during tea time or any other time for that matter is shows everybody that you have poor posture".
"All right tea is served there were three mistakes here hence the five lashes, Mrs. Foutley you seem pretty confident so please show your sister what those mistakes were".
"Please Mrs. Kilgallen serve yourself before me after all I'm the guest but you're the master of the house, and to my little sister who never watched season one of Spongebob Squarepants when in doubt pinky out, and we do not slurp the tea we sip the tea and carry on a conversation" Heather said as Miranda smiled.
"Excellent Job Mrs. Foutley you passed today's lesson, Mrs. Noel Foutley same time same place tomorrow, I will not be made a fool of young lady" Miranda exclaimed as Hope applauded and screamed yay Heather from the top of her lungs.
"Well pardon me for not showing off Mrs. Kilgallen, I'm not the showoff of the kids, or the brain, or the scaredy cat, I'm the tomboy and I intend to stay that way" Noel said as Miranda opened the doors.
"The rest of you may join Mrs. Noel Foutley here bright and early tomorrow, for homework memorize the rules you were taught today and use them in tomorrow's lesson".
Noel glared at a smiling Heather as Hope skipped up to Ginger begging her to let her come over and help Heather pack for the sleepover and Noel saw her sister slipping through her fingers,
Well that's it for now I'll write more tomorrow and thanks for your replies, Especially since JD is the only one who replied, I really like that you can see the personality of the characters like that because I want to make them seem as real as possible, I'm thinking of making a Hey Arnold ff about life after College called Growing Up Pataki and the characters in that are pretty much like this with different personalities, keep it real Cindy'sboy93