Boxed Set: Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood: [The 12 book 1st adventure + the series prequel]

by Robert Iannone

  An atomic alligator ate an apple in a bar;

  And a bouncing baby bear bought bananas by a star;

  Clocks and cards and crayons and cans and canes all in a car;

  Crazy things are everywhere, everywhere they are.

  Dark dancing deer dream of dreary December days;

  Of elder emu eggs eating éclairs in the rays;

  And floppy flying fish falling fast into a daze;

  Crazy things are everywhere, reason never stays.

  Giant green gophers grow gardens in the night;

  And happy heated hippos hide in holes and write;

  Interesting isolated ice is cold in light;

  Crazy things are everywhere, do not carry fright.

  Jumping justice juice jests about the weather;

  And kiddy kangaroos kick koala’s feathers;

  Still lost lemurs like little lakes and leather;

  Crazy things are everywhere, make sure to stick together.

  Many months may pass, mice may start to mock;

  Nocturnal nose nippers that nest in the dock;

  That open ocean octopus with a rap and knock;

  Crazy things are everywhere; the world has them in stock.

  Pretty palace penguins perch on playful pipes;

  And quick quads of quails quarrel among types;

  Still righteous red-nosed reindeer replace flashing stripes;

  Crazy things are everywhere, please do not gripe.

  Silly singing slippers sip some sick tea;

  Three thinking turkeys try to tell a bee;

  That ultimate unicorns use umbrellas by the sea;

  Crazy things are everywhere, that you must agree.

  Vicious valley vampires have a variety of capes;

  And weather-bound websites wed white weary apes;

  While xenophobic xylophones exist in x-ray tapes;

  Crazy things are everywhere, craziness escapes.

  Young yellow yaks yank on yard rings;

  Zero zany zebras zigzag to get wings;

  The alphabet has ended, it’s time for you to swing;

  Don’t forget to be cautious, yet admire the crazy things.

  The girls had started with scrunched faces when the song began but by the end, they wore ear-to-ear smiles. It was a completely nonsensical tune that for some reason was irresistible not to like. They both applauded very loudly while the boys took little bows.

  “I love it. Really,” said Sylvia very sincerely.

  “Yeah, me too.” Egg was very impressed. She never thought boys could be clever or creative.

  “Zelda, your boys are amazing.”

  “Yes, they are. But thank you for saying it.”

  The two ladies were ahead of the four kids by a few yards. Grammy took the opportunity to say, “I’m actually surprised that your sons wanted to hike with my two girls (Grammy thought of Sylvia as another granddaughter). At the party they spent most of the time with the other two.”

  “Truthfully, I was surprised also. When I asked them who they wanted to hike with, they didn’t hesitate. I guess they could tell that these two young women are something special.”

  “You don’t know the half of it.”

  “Oh? Like what.”

  “Sorry” said Grammy, trying to hide her mistake “it was just an expression.”

  *****

  They hiked the rest of the way sharing friendly conversation with a little good-natured teasing and contented silence thrown in. Finally, they came around the last bend and saw the lake . . .

  “It’s magnificent,” proclaimed Mrs. Z.

  “Awesome,” chimed in the twins.

  “Oh, Grammy, it’s lovely,” added Sylvia who thought of the older Eloise as her grandmother.

  “It was my favorite spot in the whole world when I was growing up.”

  “Well, let’s go find a nice spot to lay out our blankets. I’m sure the boys are starving from all that exercise. Besides, it’s been almost twenty-four minutes since they ate,” teased their mother.

  The boys ran ahead to scout out the area and headed for the highest point. It was the exact spot that Egg, as Flying Girl, had talked to Grazy. They laid out the blanket, upended both backpacks and out came all of the treats they had packed. There were all of the essentials . . . cookies, chips, candy, trail mix, Ho-Ho’s, Twinkies, soda, water, and two apples.

  “Who gets the apples?”

  “It’s old people’s food,” said Zeke.

  “Hey . . . I resemble that remark,” said his mother.

  They all plopped down and shared the bounty. Zelda and Eloise did eat the apples while the kids ate all the junk food. Between bites, they continued their conversations (there was more than one) about this and that and nothing at all.

  Afterwards Zeke pulled out a sketchpad and some colored pencils.

  “What are you doing?” asked Egg who was feeling a lot more comfortable talking to the boy.

  “I’m going sketch the lake.”

  Egg sat right behind him as he moved his hand over the paper with quick, sure strokes. To her amazement, he was very good. And within just a few minutes, he had finished . . .

  “Wow.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No, really. It’s fantastic.”

  “Do you want it?”

  “Oh, can I?”

  “Sure” and he gave it to her.

  Without thinking, she was just about to give him a kiss on the cheek but caught herself just in time. Instead she said, “I’ll hang it in my room.”

  *****

  As they drove home, the girls were all giggly. They kept looking at the sketch then at each other — then they would break out into giggles again. Grammy kept glancing at them in the rear view mirror. She smiled and shook her head. “First loves” she thought to herself “are always the best.”

  *****

  That night, Egg wrote an entry into her diary . . .

  Dear Diary: I can’t tell anyone in the whole world, but today I was with a boy that I think I like. His name is Zeke. He gave me a sketch of Grammy’s lake and it’s the most beautiful thing I ever got. I’m going to hang it over my desk. Maybe someday I can take him flying. Wouldn’t that impress him?

  She fell asleep and dreamt of the hike and the lake and Zeke and the sketch he had made. Then the scene began to fade away and in its place was a city she didn’t recognized filled with strange looking buildings. She was flying around not looking for anything in particular when an artist easel on a balcony caught her eye. It was the only thing that wasn’t in shades of grey. She flew down to investigate . . .

  On the easel was a painting of an egg with wings.

  *****

  The next morning Egg called her grandmother. “Get ready, we’re going to Aerianna.”

  She then called Sylvia. “Syl, tell your mom you’re going on a little trip with me and Grammy.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Some place out of this world.”

  Chapter 9 – An EGG with Wings

  “Where are we going?” asked Grammy.

  “The city Egg described can only be River’s Edge.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Grammy was nervous and talking helped keep her distracted. “And who are we looking for?”

  “Unlike Egg’s first dream, this one appears less confusing. I believe we are looking for an artist.”

  “That seems too obvious.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Well, I’m not so . . .,” but her granddaughter interrupted her.

  “Grammy, do you want to go back home?” Egg could sense her grandmother’s nervousness.

  Eloise took a deep breath to calm herself. She knew that the young were so much more fearless than the old. And kids Egg’s age felt pretty much invincible. “I’m sorry, dear. Forgive me, Dazzle; I’ll just be quiet.”

  “Fear not, Eloise. Enjoy Aerianna for the wonders it has to offer.” Dazzle almost never addressed the older woman by her first name. For some
reason, it made Grammy feel a lot better . . . like she was not just an unwanted guest but a member of the team. And, besides, it was a beautiful bright purple day . . . just the thing to make someone feel good.

  They were flying to Dazzle’s castle first. Egg had wanted to go see K’ssss and Soo’, but the princess said, “No. Three humans visiting Nau’tika would attract attention. It was not so in my day, but now it seems that Mobius does not approve of such behavior.”

  “That’s why we need some way to contact them . . . so they could meet us at the Sisterhood.”

  “I agree.”

  “So . . . ?”

  “Serpents have communication crystals . . . though very few can afford them.”

  “How do we get some?”

  “I do not know. Perhaps your new Sisters can help.”

  Egg made a face like, “Yikes, I doubt it,” but said nothing.

  “What about the Shades of Night?”

  “Feminion — that is a very interesting question. It may be a way for them to prove their worth to our cause.”

  “They said to leave a sign of the Egg. But what would that look like exactly and where would we put it?”

  “I will leave that to you, my sister.”

  “You’re always saying that,” said a slightly annoyed Egg.

  Dazzle did not respond.

  *****

  They were inside the castle but not in the big main room. Instead, Dazzle took them up a look winding staircase that led to the tallest tower . . . and her royal bedroom.

  As you might expect, it was a bedroom fit for a queen . . . or at least a princess. There was a big four-poster bed with a canopy, beautiful rugs, and a ceiling laced with delicate designs. All three girls were impressed.

  “Dazzle, how can everything be so . . . um . . . fresh and clean? It’s been a thousand years.” Grammy was always the practical one.

  “I must apologize for that.”

  “Apologize? Why?”

  “Back then I was a silly girl, spoiled by my father. I asked him to use the power of the Crystal Egg to keep my little hideaway (she was referring to this not-so-little castle) clean and well maintained. I didn’t want servants – I wanted my privacy. And, of course, I was not about to clean and mop.” That was the first time the Princess sounded like a princess.

  “Ahhh,” responded Grammy, understanding how Dazzle must have felt.

  “Dazzle, it’s all very beautiful. But why did you want to come here? We really need to find whoever it is we’re supposed to find.” Egg was impatient to recruit another member.

  “Two young girls in outlandish costumes would not serve to raise anyone’s suspicions. But an elder dressed as such would.”

  The girls looked at each other’s clothes and didn’t understand. So Grammy explained, “The three of us are dressed like twenty-first century earthlings and not like whatever year this is on Aerianna.”

  “This is the year 1177 A.E.”

  “And A.E. means?”

  “After the Egg. It refers to the year the Crystal Egg was awarded to my father. It was the beginning of a new era on this planet.”

  “So tell me again why we’re here?” asked Egg.

  “To find Eloise some proper clothes. My closet is behind that curtain over there. Please choose something to your taste.”

  “But aren’t they one thousand years out of style?”

  “Royal clothes are timeless. They never go out of style . . . unless I choose it to be so.”

  So Grammy and the girls rummaged through all of Dazzle’s clothes trying on everything and admiring themselves in the giant mirror that stood in the closet. Dazzle didn’t seem to mind . . . in fact she enjoyed watching the girls and making comments and suggestions.

  Eventually Grammy settled on a simple peasant skirt and loose blouse accented with colorful scarves. Of course a princess’ skirt . . . peasant or otherwise . . . is always made from the best fabric money can buy.

  Sylvia and Egg also borrowed some headscarves to give themselves a less earth-like look.

  “What do you think?” Egg asked Dazzle.

  “Your taste in clothes is second to none.”

  *****

  “Sassi.”

  “What, Aunt Fl’emm?”

  “Don’t use that tone of voice with me, missy.”

  The girl looked up from her easel. “All I said was ‘what’.”

  “I don’t know why I ever took you in. You’ve been nothing but trouble,” whined the older woman. “Now stop playing around with your paints and finish making your jewelry. The street fair is tomorrow and I expect you to have at least two dozen pieces to sell.”

  “Yes, Aunt Fl’emm.”

  The girl dropped her brush in a pot then stood up and untied her smock. Hanging it on the chair, she went to her bathroom and washed her hands. She took a moment to study her reflection in the mirror. She had a lovely almond-shaped face framed with reddish hair. Her skin was a wonderful shade of light green. She would be considered beautiful on any planet. But in her own eyes, she was just plain old Sassi.

  Well, not exactly old. In a week, she would turn the earth equivalent of eighteen. And almost to the day it would be seven years since her parents had disappeared. No one could tell her exactly what happened to them, but in her heart she knew. They hated Mobius. They must have done something to make him mad and he in turn did something to them. But she refused to consider what that something might be. She missed them terribly and held out hope that one day they would return.

  In the meantime, she lived with her spinster aunt. Fl’emm was her father’s older sister — a mean-spirited witch of a woman who found no pleasure in anything life had to offer. She resented having to take care of her niece. And she resented the girl’s beauty, talent and youth. Sassi would have gladly left the woman’s house . . . if she only had some place else to go.

  She walked out onto her balcony to get a breath of fresh air and to collect herself. The only thing good about living with her aunt was this balcony and the view of the city it offered.

  As she stood there, Sassi felt the heavy weight of despair trying to drag down her spirits. She had no friends, no parents, an aunt that hated her, a physical beauty that she couldn’t see and artistic talent that she wouldn’t express.

  But she did have one thing that even she couldn’t suppress . . . an unconquerable spirit. She took a deep breath, stuck her tongue out at the city and its inhabitants and laughed. That’s what her mother would have wanted her to do . . . and so she did it.

  She went back inside and down to her little studio behind the kitchen. This was where she made her jewelry. Whistling as she set about her task, she was soon lost in her work . . . making silly jewelry that they would sell to townspeople and visitors. It wasn’t her best work. That was still locked inside her . . . waiting for the key to set it free.

  *****

  They flew towards a river and followed it as it made its way to the ocean. Eventually they came to the city and Egg flew over it, looking for the exact spot she had seen in her dreams. It took awhile but she finally found it.

  “That’s the place,” she said pointing to the balcony where Sassi had stood the day before. “Now what?”

  “Land some place out of view and we shall walk into town,” instructed Dazzle.

  So Egg found a vacant alley and landed. “Which way?”

  “I leave that to you.”

  “DAZZLE . . .,” she said loudly, but didn’t finish the thought. “Oh, never mind. Come on, let’s go this way.”

  So they walked to the end of the alley and turned right on the main street. They tried not to stare but didn’t succeed very well. They passed a rainbow of people . . . green, red, orange and purple. Grammy’s eyes were as big as saucers . . . flying saucers. “Oh, my,” she kept repeating.

  But when they saw a dragon land just down the street from them, the older woman couldn’t stop a not so quiet “OH” from escaping her lips. A few people passing by looked at her
but continued on.

  “You must not express such emotions, Eloise. These are common sights for this world.”

  “Sorry. I’ll do better.”

  “I wish we had some money.”

  “Why?” Egg asked of her friend.

  “I’d like to buy a souvenir. Look over there.”

  Egg followed her friend’s finger to where she was pointing. “Hey, they’re selling jewelry. Let’s go see.”

  “Egg, dear, do you think this is the time to go shopping?”

  “We must follow your granddaughter’s instincts,” warned Dazzle. “And where better to find an artist than at a street fair?”

  “Sorry” the older woman said again.

  They walked over to a booth and started to admire the jewelry and some pieces of art.

  “Can I help you?”

  Sassi was talking to Grammy who, of course, didn’t understand a word she said. Egg came to her rescue.

  “Hi. We’re just looking, thanks.”

  “Well, if you need help, just ask. My name’s Sassi.”

  “Mine’s Egg.”

  “Egg?”

  “Yeah, my mom was a chicken.” Egg didn’t know what made her say that. She wasn’t even sure that there were chickens on Aerianna.

  Sassi looked at her to make sure she wasn’t being made fun of. But she knew immediately by Egg’s expression that she was joking. So Sassi laughed. “That’s very funny.”

  “More like goofy than funny. But thank you.”

  “You’re not from around here are you?”

  “Why do you say that?” asked an alarmed Egg.

  “I don’t recognize you or your family.” She looked at Grammy and Sylvia who looked back without a thread of understanding.

  “This is my friend Sylvia and this is my grandmother.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Dazzle translated for them.

  They both smiled back at the girl.

  “Anyway, if you need help, just ask.”

  “Thanks.”

  So they continued to look at the jewelry until Egg came across a pair of very pretty gold heart earrings. “Oh, these are nice.”

  Sylvia and Grammy came over to admire them . . . and so did Sassi.