Page 132 - Nuts to You - The Nutcracker Retold

Shocks Seem to Come in Threes
The shock of having Franz look back at her was big enough – but a bigger and more horrifying shock was running straight at her – and that’s often how life goes. One shock, two shocks, three.
At that very moment, the boys, who’d been a major source of irritation to everyone at this party, had honed-in on the Nutcracker in Clara’s arms. In that split second, when she almost dropped it out of shock, they swept up, grabbed it by its wooden leg,
and rushed away.
A general hubbub arose among all the guests, who had been watching what they thought was a very touching scene between godfather and godchild. The guests joined in the chase to catch the scoundrels who had stolen the gift – however odd it might be – given by godfather to godchild, on her coming-out night.
At first, it seemed like a silly prank – boys being boys. Then it became very clear that the boys were bent on destruction. You could tell by the way they frothed at the
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