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gold, came razzmatazzing in. Rufus was with them. He waved his hands just so, and the eggs split open to reveal twelve golden dragons, fizzing and spritzing like sparklers.
    â€œBehold the Dragons of the Realm,” said Ferlin, as the creatures swelled, bigger and bigger. “They will protect you from anything, my king—and provide fine fireworks for your coronation.”
    â€œThey’re good at that.” Marthur laughed. “But I can’t be king,” she whispered, embarrassed by the fuss. “All I did was pull out a spoon.”
    â€œAh! But you acted out of mercy and kindness,” said Ferlin. “Just what a good monarch needs. You could have let the griffin gobble Klunk.”
    â€œI can’t be king,” Marthur insisted. “I’m only ten. I don’t know anything.”
    Ferlin said gently, “The rules for kinging are pretty much like the rules for teaching.”
    Marthur was amazed. She finally said, “Except for homework?”
    â€œThat’s up to you, King Marthur.”
    And so (Hold fast!) Marthur’s dream came true. Though she was not a teacher, she was a king—which was more or less the same.

XXV
    What a magnificent time for the Snapdragon family! For everybody!
    One week later, amid a great hubbub of excitement (with X-Cauliflower beside her), King Marthur took charge of Horace E. Bloggins School.

    Immediately, King Marthur made some changes:
    She gave illuminated textbooks to every single kid at Bloggins. She asked the woodshop class to make a round table, so there would be no special seats at meetings. She made Dr. Klunk the janitor. Her adored father became principal. (Not many schools had a principal
and
a king, but the Snapdragons were a team.) Of course, Ferlin remained Marthur’s dear adviser.
    What about Rufus Turk? He was named the Bloggins Dragon Keeper, in charge of all school special effects. For “gallantly bearing witness under no duress whatsoever,” Ferlin presented Rufus with his own personal dragon. (That really wowed his father!)
    Last, so that no kid would ever go hungry, King Marthur proclaimed:
    Â 
    The cafeteria will forever serve
—
    FREE BACON!

About the Author
    T ONY J OHNSTON ’s numerous books for children include
It’s About Dogs,
illustrated by Ted Rand,
Very Scary,
illustrated by Douglas Florian, and
The Day of the Dead,
illustrated by Jeanette Winter. She lives with her family in California.