Page 2 - June Winner 2017

“It is 8:32am. The book club usually starts at eight. She’s half an hour late,” Gerald
grunted, flapping his wings in annoyance. Curling his tail, he sat erect on the tiled floor, tapping
one of his paws impatiently. “You know, I don’t see why we should wait for her before
beginning. She may probably not show up. Tardiness is her greatest and only forte. I say we
vote to throw her out of the book club.”

Mr. Kerry shook his head, “She’s a woman. Women like to be fashionably late.”

Gerald grumbled and swore under his breath.

Princess Judith had been eavesdropping from her position behind the door. Deciding
she has heard enough, she pushed the door open. In slow elegant strides, the princess walked
in, clad in a red ball gown. Her blonde hair flowed down her shoulder, seeming to glow like gold
under the rays of sunlight streaming in through the window on the left wall. Her tiara sparkled
like her tresses.

“Look at who decided to show up.”

Judith glared at the dragon, Gerald, who had uttered those words ever so vilely. She
rolled her eyes and took a seat on the armchair next to Mr. Kerry. Of everyone here, the jolly
man was the person she preferred most. She believed Mr. Kerry and his wife were more
tolerable than the dragon.

“Well, I’m here now. Good morning to everyone.”

“Good morning,”

“Good morning,”

Mr. and Mrs. Kerry answered in unison.

Gerald huffed. “Let’s just get to work.” He reached out under his legs and retrieved a
book. An enthusiastic smile spread up over his face.

Judith looked at the cover of her own book with distaste. Her hand traced over the
illustration of a tall white castle. There was a tiny window at the very top through which you
could see a frustrated girl. On one side of the castle, there was a menacing-looking red dragon
and on the other side, a man was astride on a beautiful white stallion with a sword in his hand.
‘Saving the princess’ was written on the top in bold fiery-colored cursive writing.

“This week we were reading this,” Mrs. Kerry raised her hand holding the paperback.
She turned to Judith. “What do you think, your Highness?”

“I didn’t read it,” Princess Judith proclaimed, looking away. “I failed to complete the
story. The first chapter was enough to make me lose all interest.”