Wood Sprites

By measuring the effects, the twins had determined that the caster then used additional hand movements to enter the spell’s area of effect in terms of direction and distance from the caster, and the amount of damage they wanted to inflict. Jillian demonstrated the queen casting a flame strike directly on top of Elle strong enough to probably reduce the entire school to ashes.

Louise turned her startled laugh into a cough. “We needed to analyze the spell-casting so we could draw it. We wanted to get it right.”

Elle looked confused. “It would have been easier to just make it up. Nobody would know.”

“We would know,” Jillian said.

“Finding out how they do it is half the fun,” Louise said.

“Être assis.” Their French teacher, Mr. Newton, commanded as he walked into the classroom. He waved at their chairs in case any of them still didn’t understand the phrase. And thus started yet another period where Louise hadn’t been able to slip away to the art room.

* * *

The play meeting was the last period of the day. They filed into the auditorium to find that the other fifth-grade class was already sitting in the front row.

With broad shoulders, square jaw, and a buzz cut, Mr. Howe looked exactly like what he was: a retired Marine master sergeant. He stood at parade rest, hands clasped behind his back, eyeing the twins’ class as if they were unruly invaders. Miss Hamilton was laughing as usual as she gently but firmly herded them in.

She saluted Mr. Howe. “Class 501, reporting for duty, sir!”

Mr. Howe grinned and returned the salute. “Thank you, Miss Hamilton. All right, listen up, today’s mission is the joint fifth-grade class play. Today, we’re going to vote on a play. .”

Elle’s hand shot up. “I think we should do The Little Mermaid this year. MTI has a junior version of the script for middle school students. The cast has been enlarged to ensure parts for an entire class, and all the music has been simplified so it’s easier for kids to sing. Not that that would be a problem for me, since I take voice lessons. We can get a director’s show kit from MTI that has budgets, press releases, sample programs, cue sheets, glossary, and audition sides.”

“We would call that jumping the gun, Elle,” Mr. Howe said coldly. “I haven’t finished.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Howe. I just wanted to point out that we could get everything we needed already polished and tested.”

Louise realized that everyone was looking at her and Jillian. They hadn’t prepared a pitch for the teachers. Nor did she have any clue where to find press releases or sample programs. Every other year, teachers took care of getting what was needed after the class voted. Under the stare of their classmates, Louise put up her hand.

“Yes, Louise?” Miss Hamilton said.

“I have a play, too — when we get to nominating.”

Miss Hamilton turned to Mr. Howe. “I think we should jump to nominating, since Elle has opened the floor. We can cover the changes to how we’re doing the play this year after the vote.”

Mr. Howe considered and linked his tablet to the theater’s screen. “Okay, we have The Little Mermaid as play number one.” He wrote the title in small letters on the far left. “Louise, what’s your play?”

“Peter Pan.”

Mr. Howe grunted slightly as if surprised by the choice. He wrote it close beside The Little Mermaid. “And who else has an idea for a play?”

There was silence as everyone waited.

“Anyone?” Mr. Howe eyed his class as if disappointed that none of his students had a suggestion. “Iggy? I thought you had a play you wanted to do.”

“I want to be Captain Hook!” Iggy stated firmly.

There was a sudden chorus of “Arrrrr” and “Aye, matey!” from Iggy’s class.

“Lost Boys live forever!” one of the boys in the twins’ class shouted.

Mr. Howe and Miss Hamilton exchanged looks.

“So some of you already discussed this?” Miss Hamilton said.

“We want to do Peter Pan,” Zahara said.

“The Little Mermaid,” Elle and Giselle cried.

“Let’s vote. All for The Little Mermaid?”

All the other girls except Zahara and Nina from Mr. Howe’s class put up their hands. It was a depressing show of hands. Mr. Howe and Miss Hamilton both counted, and once they were sure, Mr. Howe wrote the total on the board.

“Hands up: Who wants to do Peter Pan?”

They counted and then counted again.

“All right. It’s Peter Pan.”

A cheer went up, and Elle visibly struggled not to pout. Somehow, though, Louise felt like they hadn’t won.

“Settle down. We have lots to go over yet. Louise, do you have a scene and cast list for the play?”

“I do.” Jillian raised her hand but started to talk before either teacher called on her. “There are five acts, the first and last are both in the nursery, so we would need to build four sets. For the nursery, we only need three beds and a window. It can be very Our Town-like. The second set is the forest of Neverland, the third is the mermaid lagoon, and the fourth is Hook’s pirate ship.”