Bobo, Monster Girl’s green bear, took Debbie off the trampoline and lifted her above his head so he could carry her inside. He brought her back to the classroom and set her in front of Monster Girl, who was standing in a boss-like position.
“I’ll say this now,” she said in her elegant voice, “I don’t like you.”
“Well, maybe you will if we get to know each other,” Debbie giggled. To be honest, she felt a little scared, but that fear turned into laughter for some odd reason.
“I don’t like anyone who wears an absurd amount of ribbon.” Monster Girl took a moment to walk around Debbie and observe her from every angle. “My, you do look ridiculous.”
Debbie didn’t know what that meant. “My grandma bought me a new dress so I could look pretty for my first day of school.”
“Is your grandma, perhaps, Ernest?” Debbie nodded and Monster Girl sighed. “That explains a lot… My name is Zinaida Mundthly. I am ‘Monster Girl’ as you put it.”
“You’re very pretty for a monster,” Debbie smiled.
Zinaida sighed. “I am not a monster. I merely create monsters. One of which I’ll give you if you’re not careful.”
“Ooo, my own monster,” Debbie thought. “Could he be green like your bear?”
“Leave Bobo out of this,” Zinaida hissed. “This is between you and me and whoever gave you the impression that I’m a monster. Who was it?” she spat.
“Well, some teenagers told me your name was Monster Girl and that you had horns,” Debbie admitted. “They must not have seen you for a while. I know I forget what my grandma looks like when I don’t see her for a few days.
Zinaida sighed and put her head in her hand. “You are a silly girl.”
“Hey, Sigmund said you had presents,” Debbie remembered. The class, who was quietly watching from the corner, began shivering and whimpering. “Is that true?”
Zinaida looked at her classmates for a quick second and then turned to Debbie with a smile. “Of course.” Debbie smiled too. She loved getting presents. “Sigmund,” Zinaida said and turned to the boy the other kids pushed into her sights. “You’re a smart boy, but we find ourselves in the same position every week.” She walked over to her desk and pulled something out of the doctor’s bag. It was a blue egg about the size of a baseball. “This is yours now. Take care of it.” She tossed it over and to Sigmund’s surprise, he actually caught it.
“I caught it,” he mumbled and held it firmly in his hands.
Crack!
The shell of the egg began to crack open. Out came a little fluffy black bird. Debbie rushed over to awe in its adorable face. “It’s so cute,” Debbie laughed.
The little bird flapped its wings and shortly hovered in the air. It floated up and landed on top of Sigmund’s head. It started to peck his scalp and make an awful sound, “ACK! ACK!”
“Ow,” Sigmund moaned. “Ow!” he yelped when it yanked at his hair.
Debbie let out a small giggle. “It thinks your hair is his nest.”
“Yes,” Zinaida sighed with glee. “Cute. Now who’s next?” Zinaida looked to the corner to see every child scattering like a dropped bag of marbles or bugs when the lights were turned on. “No one volunteers?” She gasped sarcastically. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to pick someone.” She looked around causing everyone who wasn’t Debbie or Sigmund to hide behind chairs and under tables. “Matilda.”
The chubby girl banged her head on the table as she heard her name called. “Come now,” Zinaida guided her into the open. “I have a pet you’ll really enjoy.” She grabbed her bag and opened it up. She pulled out a slimey, green slug and held it in front of Matilda’s plump face by its tail. It squirmed and it wiggled. Then it latched onto Matilda’s nose. Matilda immediately screamed, feeling gross, slimy gunk on her face. She ran in circles, trying to get it off but to no avail, for it was made of some sticky substances.
“I concocted this out of taffy and lightly chewed gum,” Zinaida said proudly, “courtesy of Bobo.”
“Ew, ew, ew!” Matilda shouted. “Get it off!” The two other boys split the work....