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

by Robert Iannone

  *****

  “We have to go home now,” Egg told her new sisters.

  “When will you be back?”

  “Where is she going?”

  “Earth.”

  ”Urp? Where’s Urp?” K’ssss, as usual, was confused.

  “No you seasick cucumber, she said Earth. That’s the planet where she lives.”

  “Oh.”

  Egg smiled at the exchange between serpents. She just loved them . . . which struck her as incredible. She only knew them for a short time and they were . . . well, they were giant sea serpents. Yet she thought of them as friends and as Sisters. Who would ever had believed such a thing was possible?

  She turned to answer Sassi’s question. “I don’t know when we’ll be back. But the next thing I have to do is get two more sisters. And at least one of them should probably be a dragon.”

  “I don’t like dragons. They eat baby serpents.”

  “That was more than a thousand years ago . . . until the Old Ones made them stop. Now they just eat fat teenage sea slugs like you.”

  “Really?” asked the wide-eyed, very gullible, modestly overweight sea serpent.

  “She’s just kidding you, K’ssss,” comforted Sassi.

  “Why do you want dragons in the Sisterhood anyway? They may not eat us precious sea critters but they’re just grumpy.”

  “The Tree said we needed five from Aerianna plus Syl and me. Dazzle thinks that dragons need to be on the team.”

  At the mention of the Princess, Soo’ immediately accepted the decision.

  “If you have to recruit two more, why are you leaving? Why don’t you stay and do it now?” Sassi really didn’t want Egg to leave.

  “Because . . .” she hesitated searching for a way to say it without sounding stupid. “I have to dream. I only know who to look for because it comes to me in my dreams. Does that make sense?”

  “Yes. Everyone knows how important dreams are.”

  Soo’ asked, “But why can’t you dream here? Didn’t you dream about that red hooded girl last night?”

  That question surprised Egg. The only answer she could give was “You’re right . . . but I just know that I have to go back for this next dream.”

  No one was willing to question that statement. After all, Egg was created by Dazzle and this was her quest.

  “What do you want us to do while you’re gone?” Sassi spent her whole life working and just hated the thought of doing nothing but waiting.

  Now that was a very good question, for which Egg didn’t have an answer. So she said, “Dazzle, can you think of anything they can do while we’re gone?”

  “Yes. K’ssss and Soo . . . you must try to obtain a translation crystal for Sylvia. Take some aryas with you. But be careful . . . Mobius’ spies might wonder why two young serpents need a crystal.”

  Egg told Sylvia and Grammy what Dazzle just said. Syl’s response was predictable, “Oh, that would be absolutely fantastic. Thank you.”

  “You will be more effective if you can communicate directly with your Sisters and they with you.”

  “What about me? What can I do?”

  This time Egg answered, “We need communications crystals for all of us. Once we have them, I would like you to create jewelry to hold them – something that each of us can wear.”

  Sassi fairly lit up at her task. “I can do that,” she said enthusiastically. “But I will need some tools and materials.”

  “Take the boat and sail back to your home. Obtain what you need from your own possessions. If you require other materials, buy them. But, Sassi, you must be very careful. Your aunt might find your return unsettling.”

  “I understand, trust me.” But when she said that, she flashed back to her mistake earlier in the day and blushed.

  “You have our trust. You need not ask for it again.”

  “Thank you,” the girl answered in a very small voice.

  *****

  They were back in Grammy’s house and could see the little red light on the phone answering machine blinking. They had been away for five or six hours and the lady of the house said, “I bet that’s one of your mom’s.”

  “What are you going to tell them?”

  “Ummm . . . that we went and had lunch with some friends.”

  She pressed the replay button and sure enough, it was Egg’s mom calling for Sylvia’s mom. “I don’t know where you guys are, but when you get this message have Sylvia call home. Bye.”

  So Sylvia called home, explained they had been out with friends and would be leaving for home soon.

  “If you’d like to go now, dear, I’ll be very happy to drive you.”

  “Would it be alright if I stayed a little longer? I would really like to talk about all the stuff that just happened to us.”

  “Well, I would too. How about you, Egg?”

  “Oh, yes.” The girl sounded relieved.

  “I’ll just make some lemonade for you two and a lovely hot cup of coffee for me. Oh, and Egg, next time you go back to Aerianna, take a pound of coffee with you just in case I come to visit again.”

  “That sounds like a great idea. Not the coffee, but bringing our own food.”

  “We should make a list,” added Sylvia.

  “Okay how about pop tarts and cheerio’s?”

  “Ummm . . . we should bring Nestlé’s chocolate and lemonade mix.”

  “How about a couple of bottles of coke and maybe marshmallows?”

  “We absolutely need chocolate chip cookie mix and stuff to make pancakes.”

  “Good . . . that’s good. And marmalade, and peanut butter.”

  “Don’t forget spaghetti and mac and cheese.”

  “Oreo cookies and popcorn.”

  “Do you think they have potato chips? Maybe we should take a few bags just in case.”

  “Don’t forget hot dogs and pickles and relish and buns and . . .”

  “Whoa, you guys. That all sounds delicious if not exactly well balanced. But you can only carry so much.”

  “We’ll just make a bunch of trips. Can you get us this stuff, Grammy?”

  “Of course dear. I probably have a lot of it already. In the meantime here’s your lemonade.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Me too,” added Egg.

  The older Eloise sat down with her steaming mug of coffee, took a sip then said to her two companions, “Wow. I dove down into the depths of Loch Ness, been to a planet billions of miles away, talked to sea serpents and been captured by an wicked minion of an evil king. Not bad for one day’s work.”

  “Grammy . . .” Egg was afraid to ask the question, but did anyway. “You haven’t changed your mind about me helping Dazzle, have you?”

  “I should. Those Mo’beyes are scary fellows. And they’re just small potatoes compared to the really evil characters on that planet. But, you and your Feminion handled yourselves so well. And your three sisters are just terrific. It’s dangerous business . . . but there’s a whole planet that needs you. I won’t stop you dearest one. If you feel you can do it, I’ll support your decision.”

  “Oh, thank you Grammy. I want to do it . . . I can do it. I just know I can.”

  “But I can’t give Sylvia permission to go back.”

  “WHAT?” cried Egg.

  “Why not?” asked a very upset Sylvia.

  “Because I have no right to put you in danger. Egg has special powers that you don’t have. Without them, you are much more likely to get hurt. I can’t give you permission to do that.”

  Even though what Grammy said was true, Sylvia wasn’t about to accept it. “You can’t stop me either. You wouldn’t stop me, would you?” She was trying very hard not to be rude . . . and only barely succeeded.

  “You are like a granddaughter to me,” replied the older woman overlooking Sylvia’s lack of respect. “But only emotionally. I am not your grandmother in the eyes of the law. I can’t give you permission . . . it’s not mine to give. I am sorry dear.”

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nbsp; At that moment, Dazzle chose to appear. “Perhaps I can offer a solution.”

  “Oh Dazzle that would be great.”

  “What solution, Princess?” asked Grammy very formally.

  “It will take some time . . . but I can give her ring a special power.”

  “REALLY?” said all three ladies at once.

  Then Grammy asked, “What power would that be?”

  “She will be able to return to her place of origin instantaneously.”

  The smile on the faces of the two girls dissolved into frowns. “What the heck does that mean?” asked Egg.

  “Once activated, the ring will send her back to Earth . . . to the place of your choosing . . . without the help of Egg.”

  “What good is that?”

  “I believe it means that if your Feminion gets into trouble, she’ll be able to escape at the push of a button.”

  “Escape to where exactly?” asked Sylvia.

  Dazzle thought about that for a moment and said “May I suggest the attic.” She of course was referring to the original home of the Hameggattic Sisterhood in Sylvia’s attic.

  “Grammy?” Both girls looked at the older woman.

  “If the Princess can do it . . . then I would be happy for my granddaughter to have her very bright, and I might add very pretty, Feminion accompany her on her quest.

  Both girls squealed in delight, jumped up, and hugged their grandmother.

  “Thank you, Dazzle. And, Grammy, I’m so sorry I was rude.”

  “Apology accepted, sweetheart. Don’t give it another thought.” Turning to Dazzle she asked, “How long will it take you to do whatever it is you need to do?”

  “I cannot say. I will work as quickly as I can. However, I must take the ring back to Aerianna.”

  “I have to give up my ring? Won’t I forget everything about . . . everything?” When Sylvia was made Feminion, it was on the agreement that she always wear the ring that Egg had made for her. If she should take it off, she would lose her memory of everything concerning Flying Girl and her quest.

  “I am sorry, Feminion. There is no other way.”

  Trying unsuccessfully to hold back her tears, Sylvia slipped off the ring and handed it to her best friend. In one hour, all of her memories would be lost . . . until she got her ring back.

  “Grammy, please take me home. And, Dazzle . . . hurry.”

  *****

  They were back at Grammy’s because Egg asked if she could spend the night. It was late afternoon and time to start thinking about dinner. Normally she would make Egg her favorite meal . . . hot dogs. But tonight, she felt like cooking something more elaborate.

  So into a big pot she put carrots, potatoes, onions, and meat. Egg added some salt and pepper and a touch of garlic. On went the cover and in about an hour they would have a delicious stew.

  To pass the time they played gin rummy and talked about Aerianna and the Sisters and the quest and poor Sylvia. But what Egg really wanted to talk about was jell-o.

  “Grammy, did you ever feel like jell-o?”

  “I’m sorry dear . . . did you say Jell-O?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I’m not quite sure what you mean.”

  “When I saw that Mo’beye guy and when I heard you were captured, I felt like jell-o.”

  Now Grammy understood. “Are you saying you felt weak in the knees? Like your legs were made of jello and you might fall down?”

  “How come you always understand me?”

  “I believe you once said we shared the same brain . . . only in different bodies.”

  “You remembered. Well, I think it’s true, don’t you?”

  “Absolutely, sweetheart. I have no doubt.”

  “So did you ever feel that way?”

  “Every time I’m scared.”

  “Were you scared when the Mo’beye captured you?”

  “I was very, very scared when he tried to capture Sylvia and Sassi. And when I woke up in that house, I was scared because I didn’t know if they had gotten away. And, yes, I was scared for myself.”

  “What do you do when you’re scared?”

  “Do you really mean ‘What do YOU’ do when you find yourself scared?”

  “Dragons and Myst Trees and Mo’beyes and Mobius and . . . and . . . all of that stuff scares me.”

  “You didn’t say serpents. How come?”

  “They don’t scare me.”

  “But they did before you met one, didn’t they?”

  “Well, maybe just a little.”

  “Maybe a lot?”

  “Maybe a lot” she answered with a grin.

  “So . . . how did you feel before you met one?”

  “When I was flying into Nau’tika I was frightened and I kept looking for Sylvia’s hand to hold. But she wasn’t with me.”

  “What exactly were you frightened of?”

  “Ummm . . .” Egg was trying to remember. “Well, I was afraid that they would be so scary looking that I wouldn’t be able to talk to them.”

  “I think most people would have felt the same way. We don’t have sea serpents on earth and they are a lot different from you and me. What changed your mind about them?”

  “S’eeee-sik was the first one I met and she was pretty silly looking and very polite.”

  “What about the time you met that dragon?”

  “He was ugly and loud and rude. If Sylvia wasn’t holding me up, I would’ve fallen down.”

  “And when you heard I was captured?”

  “I was scared that they would hurt you.”

  “What did you do in each instance?”

  “Ummm . . . I’m not sure exactly.”

  “I am. You did what needed to be done. You asked the dragon about Storm, you talked to the serpent and ended up with two new sisters and you came and found me. And rescued me, I might add.”

  “I did, didn’t I,” said the girl smiling at her own bravery.

  “Yes, you did. And why? Because even though you felt fear, you didn’t let it stop you. Sometimes the only way to take control over our fears is to face them head-on through actions. And that’s what you did.”

  Egg gave this all a lot of thought then said, “So, everyone has fears. As long as you don’t let them stop you from doing what you need to do, it’s okay to be afraid.”

  “Very, very good. And if you admit to yourself that you have a fear, you can try to figure out why. If you can’t do it by yourself, then you can ask someone you trust.”

  “Like you and Dazzle and Sylvia.”

  “Exactly.”

  Chapter 4 – Dangerous Curves

  A couple of days later, the phone rang and Egg answered it. “Hello.”

  “It’s me.

  “Morning. What’s going on?”

  “I’m so excited that I could hardly sleep last night. I’ve been up for hours. My mom threatened to lock me in my room if I didn’t calm down. So . . . what are you going to wear?”

  “What are you talking about?” Egg hadn’t seen her best friend since they returned from Aerianna a few days earlier. Sylvia’s ring was still on her right hand where she had put it for safekeeping . . . impatiently waiting to get back to the other world so Dazzle could fix it. But obviously, Sylvia was talking about something else.

  “Oh, really, Egg. Sometimes your sense of humor is . . . out of this world.”

  Egg still didn’t know what her friend was talking about until she happened to glance at the calendar on her desk. “OH . . . the concert.”

  “Like you really forgot.”

  Egg really had forgotten. She walked over to her CD holder and picked out her newest addition.

  “It slipped my mind just for a minute. Anyway, what are you wearing?”

  “I thought I’d wear the jeans-skirt . . . the one with the pink ruffles. And I’ll wear one of my Fandango Sally Tank tops. You know . . . the dark pink one.

  What do you think?”

  “Oh, that’ll be perfect. You’ll look so cute.�
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  “Too bad Zack won’t see me.”

  “SYLVIA!”

  “Just kidding,” which of course she wasn’t. “What about you?”

  “Umm . . . how about my bell bottom jeans? And I’ll wear my pink top with the flower. You don’t think it will be too lame if we both wore pink, do you?”

  “No. I think being color co-coordinated with your best friend is simply the height of good fashion,” and she giggled at her own goofiness.

  “Be sure to wear your pink tennis shoes.”

  “Well, of course, silly. And you wear yours, too. What time are you guys picking me up?”

  “Ashley said she wanted to take us to dinner first; you know . . . a girls night out. Anyway, she said to be ready by five.”

  “Ha . . . I’m ready now.”

  *****

  Not ten minutes after they hung up, Sylvia called back. “Oh Egg, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m soooooo sorry.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I lost your ring . . . the one you gave me at camp. I was about to try on some jewelry for tonight when I realized the ring was missing. I looked all over my room but I can’t find it.” Sylvia was starting to cry. “I promised you I’d never take it off, and I didn’t . . . so it must have fallen off . . . maybe it’s in the bathroom and fell off in the tub . . . or maybe when I washed my hands it fell off and went down the drain or . . . ” Obviously, Sylvia was so upset that she didn’t realize that she was rambling on.

  “SYL,” yelled Egg to get her friend’s attention. “You didn’t lose it.”

  “What do you mean . . . ?”

  “I have it. You gave it to me.”

  “I did?” Of course, she didn’t remember doing it . . . or anything about her adventures with Flying Girl.

  “Yes. I have it right here.”

  “Why did I give it back?” She was very confused.

  “Ummm . . .,” naturally Egg couldn’t tell her the real reason, “so I could make it a little nicer. There’s a sharp pointy thing sticking out and we . . . I mean, you . . . could cut yourself. So I said I would have my dad fix it.”

  “Gee . . . I don’t remember any of that. Isn’t that too weird?”