Read Online The Problem Child (The Sisters Grimm, Book 3) by Michael Buckley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michael Buckley
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or Everafter, will learn in a school named after the most famous Everafter of all time. Ladies and gentleman I proudly present to you Ferryport Landing's answer to the call of the future…"
Mr. Seven tugged on a large curtain behind the mayor. It fell to the floor, revealing a banner that read WILLIAM CHARMING ELEMENTARY. Below it was a huge bronze statue of the mayor standing with his chest puffed out and a wide grin on his face. Several frightened-looking children crouched at his feet, gazing up at him as if he were their only hope for survival.
The room was silent; then the grumbling began. Only Mr. Seven clapped, and he did it desperately, as if he feared for his job.
Suddenly, Sabrina was shoved from behind. A group of people were forcing their way through the crowd and up to the podium. A chubby woman wearing a long red dress and a golden crown climbed up on the stage and snatched the microphone out of the mayor's hand. Her face was covered in white powder and a little black birthmark had been drawn on her right cheek. Beside her was a small army of men in colorful uniforms. When Sabrina examined them more closely, she was shocked to discover their bodies were actually playing cards. The Queen of Hearts had arrived.
"I don't see any cause to celebrate," the queen said. "Having to rebuild this school is an unacceptable waste of taxpayer money and you, Mayor Charming, are to blame!"
Charming was startled but quickly recovered, and smiled widely at the irate woman. "Mrs. Heart, we're not here to debate policy. We're here to dedicate this wonderful new school to the youth of this town."
Mr. Seven clapped again, alone.
"The school wouldn't have had to be rebuilt if it weren't for you," the queen said as she turned to the crowd. "Everafters of Ferryport Landing, this sorry excuse for a mayor has let us down once again. In the last month we've had a giant run amok and cause property damage that has yet to be repaired. Our police force has been reduced to one pig, and public services, utilities, and infrastructure have fallen to the wayside. Four days ago, a perfectly good elementary school was blown to smithereens, and you are footing the bill. This man is completely incompetent."
"What's incompetent mean?" Daphne asked.
"It means he's not good at his job," Sabrina replied.
"Ferryport Landing has been in a bit of a budget crisis of late," the mayor said, looking defensive. "I have done the best I could with the resources at hand."
"Is that good enough for us?" the queen cried. Several people in the audience grumbled. A few even shouted "No!"
"No, it's not good enough!" the queen shouted. "But people, you don't even know the worst of it. Mayor Charming laid off two thirds of the police force so he could deputize the Grimms!"
A gasp went through the crowd.
"That's not exactly what happened," Charming said, smiling with gritted teeth. "So you didn't deputize the Grimms?"
"Well, yes I did," the mayor said, as another gasp ran through the audience. "We were having an emergency. Rumpelstiltskin was going to… he built tunnels… the Grimms have special talents…" Charming was obviously rattled.
"So, now the only people who can solve Everafter problems are humans? You heard it yourself, folks. Your elected leader thinks that we can't govern ourselves, that we need help from humans, and not just any humans," the queen raged, "but the family that is responsible for our imprisonment!" She turned and pointed an ugly finger right at Granny Relda and the girls, "The Grimms!"
Sabrina gasped. Never had she had so much rage aimed at her and her family. She'd gotten used to knowing that most people in the town disliked them, but the queen's anger was rabid, and worse, it was infecting the crowd. Everywhere she looked furious eyes stared back at them. Instinctively, Sabrina stepped forward, putting herself between the crowd and her family.
"Mrs. Heart, I won't have you stand up here and tell this crowd that I'm a fan of the
Mr. Seven tugged on a large curtain behind the mayor. It fell to the floor, revealing a banner that read WILLIAM CHARMING ELEMENTARY. Below it was a huge bronze statue of the mayor standing with his chest puffed out and a wide grin on his face. Several frightened-looking children crouched at his feet, gazing up at him as if he were their only hope for survival.
The room was silent; then the grumbling began. Only Mr. Seven clapped, and he did it desperately, as if he feared for his job.
Suddenly, Sabrina was shoved from behind. A group of people were forcing their way through the crowd and up to the podium. A chubby woman wearing a long red dress and a golden crown climbed up on the stage and snatched the microphone out of the mayor's hand. Her face was covered in white powder and a little black birthmark had been drawn on her right cheek. Beside her was a small army of men in colorful uniforms. When Sabrina examined them more closely, she was shocked to discover their bodies were actually playing cards. The Queen of Hearts had arrived.
"I don't see any cause to celebrate," the queen said. "Having to rebuild this school is an unacceptable waste of taxpayer money and you, Mayor Charming, are to blame!"
Charming was startled but quickly recovered, and smiled widely at the irate woman. "Mrs. Heart, we're not here to debate policy. We're here to dedicate this wonderful new school to the youth of this town."
Mr. Seven clapped again, alone.
"The school wouldn't have had to be rebuilt if it weren't for you," the queen said as she turned to the crowd. "Everafters of Ferryport Landing, this sorry excuse for a mayor has let us down once again. In the last month we've had a giant run amok and cause property damage that has yet to be repaired. Our police force has been reduced to one pig, and public services, utilities, and infrastructure have fallen to the wayside. Four days ago, a perfectly good elementary school was blown to smithereens, and you are footing the bill. This man is completely incompetent."
"What's incompetent mean?" Daphne asked.
"It means he's not good at his job," Sabrina replied.
"Ferryport Landing has been in a bit of a budget crisis of late," the mayor said, looking defensive. "I have done the best I could with the resources at hand."
"Is that good enough for us?" the queen cried. Several people in the audience grumbled. A few even shouted "No!"
"No, it's not good enough!" the queen shouted. "But people, you don't even know the worst of it. Mayor Charming laid off two thirds of the police force so he could deputize the Grimms!"
A gasp went through the crowd.
"That's not exactly what happened," Charming said, smiling with gritted teeth. "So you didn't deputize the Grimms?"
"Well, yes I did," the mayor said, as another gasp ran through the audience. "We were having an emergency. Rumpelstiltskin was going to… he built tunnels… the Grimms have special talents…" Charming was obviously rattled.
"So, now the only people who can solve Everafter problems are humans? You heard it yourself, folks. Your elected leader thinks that we can't govern ourselves, that we need help from humans, and not just any humans," the queen raged, "but the family that is responsible for our imprisonment!" She turned and pointed an ugly finger right at Granny Relda and the girls, "The Grimms!"
Sabrina gasped. Never had she had so much rage aimed at her and her family. She'd gotten used to knowing that most people in the town disliked them, but the queen's anger was rabid, and worse, it was infecting the crowd. Everywhere she looked furious eyes stared back at them. Instinctively, Sabrina stepped forward, putting herself between the crowd and her family.
"Mrs. Heart, I won't have you stand up here and tell this crowd that I'm a fan of the
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