Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN
GROUNDED
copyright 2007 Brian Clopper

His father’s voice was thunderous. “Graham Wilson Groodle, get in here right now!”

Graham stopped playing with his Flying Mummy action figure and bolted to the door. His father had evidently come home and was not too happy. Graham realized he had forgotten to remove his grandfather’s empty soup bowl from the bedroom. That must be why his father was upset.

He entered the living room, his Flying Mummy toy dangling at his side. “I’m sorry, Father. I forgot to take his dishes to the—-” Graham stopped. His father was not holding the empty soup bowl, but rather a large towel covered in black grit.

“Do I look like I’m holding a bowl in my hands?” His father was the only one standing. His mother was seated on the couch, while Flenn was nowhere to be seen, probably pressed against her bedroom door, dying to catch a hint of what her older brother had done this time. Graham took this as a bad sign. The crime was serious if he couldn’t be punished in front of his sister.

“No.” Graham, upon closer inspection, realized the towel was covered in pepper.

“I ran into Blord’s father tonight. Actually, that’s not true. He stormed into our council meeting, waving this all about.” He thrust the towel at his son.

“Uh,…” Graham was uncertain what he had done wrong.

“Blord never went to school today, and you’re to blame.”

His mom spoke faintly, “Now Dear, don’t rush to conclusions. We haven’t heard Graham’s side.”

His father continued, choosing to ignore his wife’s comment. “Do you have any idea of the embarrassment you’ve caused me?”

“Dad, I don’t know what’s wrong. I didn’t do anything!”

“I hardly call ambushing a classmate on his way to school nothing. What were you thinking, dumping pepper onto Blord from a tree? He’s bigger than you. If anything, he’s supposed to be the one bullying you around.”

Graham clenched his tiny fists. “That’s not true!! Blord’s lying! He covered himself in pepper!”

“Why on earth would he do that?”

Graham hesitated. He didn’t want to tell his father what had happened on Parsons’ Plateau. His grandfather may find it okay to visit it, but his father, the chairman of the council, would not. He was a man who upheld tradition, no exceptions. Graham didn’t know how to explain his innocence without further angering his father. He wrinkled his face awkwardly, knowing a lie now would only make matters worse. “He wouldn’t. I did it. He was teasing Ot and…”

“You defended a troll over your own kind?” His father didn’t dislike Graham’s friendship with Ot, but he didn’t encourage it either.

“Dad…?”

“Regardless of whether or not Blord was teasing your friend, your actions were wrong. You are grounded for the parade and banquet tomorrow. If you can’t do the right thing, I see no reason why you should meet a hero who does.”

Graham felt his heart crumble. He let the doll fall out of his hands. The First Flight celebration was more important to him than his actual first flight. The council had invited The Eternity Guard’s coolest member, The Flying Mummy, to attend, and the pharaoh had accepted. His father had even arranged for Graham to sit next to the mummy at the banquet after the parade. Meeting his idol meant the world to the young gargoyle.

“Dad, you can’t!”

“You will also write a letter of apology to Blord and his father.” His father paused, uncertain what to say next. He finally blurted out, “Now, go to your room. And no dessert tonight.”

Graham raced to his room, shut the door and wrapped himself in his covers. Tears flowed from his tightly shut eyes.

In the living room, his mother picked up his fallen toy and gingerly placed it on the kitchen table.
His father tossed the soiled towel in the trash and went about warming up his dinner.