Jillian demonstrated the finger positions on the first command. “It’s the combination of both the position of the hand and a spoken word.” She held her right hand within an inch of her mouth. The queen always used the same first command but Windwolf varied between two, depending on which type of spell he was about to cast, Fire or Wind.
As Jillian spoke the Fire command, Louise explained the rest.
“After the queen activates ‘the toolbar,’ she changes her hand position and uses another command word to chose which spell she’s actually going to cast from the toolbar. Each spell has a different hand position and word.”
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,” Mr. Newton waved at their chairs in case any of them still didn’t understand the command. 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 what he was: a retired Marine Master Sergeant. He stood at parade rest, hands clasped behind his back, as he eyed the twins’ class like unruly invaders. Miss Hamilton was laughing as usual as she gently but firmly herded them in.
She saluted to 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 it 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 have already discussed this?” Miss Hamilton said.
“We want to do Peter Pan,” Zahara said.
“Little Mermaid,” Elle and Giselle cried.