“Ouch! Never mind.” Georgia handed over the frog. “He’ll need soft dirt to burrow in, and lots of bugs to eat.”
Kitty stroked the frog’s glistening head. “I knew he’d come back to me. As for you two.” Kitty stared imperviously at them.
Sylvie swallowed hard.This is it.They’d failed to finish cleaning. Maybe they’d be permanently relegated to dishwashing duty.
“You’re both free to leave.”
Georgia looked around. “But what about the rest of this mess?” She seemed just as surprised.
Kitty pulled out her Blade and a bit of Mayhem Managing serum. She squeezed it onto the knife and rapped it against a workstation. The last of the mixing bowls flew toward the dishwasher.
“This wasn’t really about cleaning. The point was for you two to learn to work together. You’ve not only shown me you can, you’ve given me back my Jingles.” Kitty smiled at the frog in her hands. “Now, off with you both. I expect things to go smoothly from now on. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Georgia.
Sylvie nodded obediently.
“Oh, and one more thing.” Kitty tucked the frog into her pocket. “Boris told me you two won the bake-off. Congratulations! It’ll be a great opportunity. So, keep your noses clean and dress to impress.”
Sylvie got the feeling this last bit was directed at her; after all, Georgia always dressed to impress. Though, Sylvie didn’t understand why they needed toimpressanyone at the Commis Contest.We’re not competing.“Sorry. But I don’t understand.”
“That’s right! You two missed the news scroll… . Jack Bass has decided to spend the entire day of the Commis Contest here,” said Kitty.
Sylvie stared at the frog squirming its way out of Kitty’s pocket. “Bass is coming here … intwo days?”
“Yes. He normally only stops by the contest for a few hours, then makes his way to the other schools… . I wonder what’s so special about this year?”
Sylvie’s legs suddenly turned as weak as strands of limp spaghetti. She had a terrible feeling she knew the answer.
The Clarity Consommé
SYLVIE SLIPPED INTO THE DINING HALL JUST BEFORE DINNER. The tables were still empty, except for a few teachers in a corner, munching on tortilla chips and sipping agua fresca.
Kitty’s stunning announcement was still running through Sylvie’s mind.Bass is coming to Brindille for the Commis Contest. This isn’t a coincidence. He wants Mom to lose All-Stars. Maybe a shady commis is the key to making that happen?
A cart stacked with dinner plates rolled past, pushed by an invisible force. Sylvie stared as it wedged itself firmly into a corner, readying for the line of hungry students that would soon swarm around it like locusts.
What is Bass up to?Sylvie racked her brain, trying to come up with an answer.
The wanted picture of August zipped across the scroll in the dining hall like a loose fly. The CCS was obviously getting desperate. They’d increased the reward to fifteen gallons liquid gold. Sylvie hoped that wouldn’t be enough to tip the scales in their favor. The picture faded as a new announcement shimmered to life.
2 DAYS 6 HOURS AND 5 SECONDS UNTIL BRINDILLE’S COMMIS CONTEST!
3 DAYS 1 HOUR AND 5 SECONDS UNTIL THE GOLDENWHISK!
Sylvie was running out of time. She had to figure out Bass’s next move, fast.
Platters of fragrant tamales floated out of the kitchen, swaddled in corn husks and banana leaves. She eyed them with curiosity. Every chef had their own style of cooking. Sylvie had only known Agnes for a few days, but this didn’t seem like hers.
She grabbed a tamale and gave it a whiff.Chicken in mole? Maybe it’s a Mexican theme night,thought Sylvie, taking a bite.
Sylvie peeled back more of the husk as she contemplated what to do next. Digging up information on Fabre would have to wait. First, she needed to get more information about Bass’s visit.But how and from who?
“He actually asked her to make a full Texas barbecue for lunch,” said one of the teachers.
“But that’ll take nearly a whole day of smoking brisket,” said the other instructor, shaking his head. “I suppose she could add some magic ironwood … speed things up. Still, with everything going on for the Commis Contest, it’s too much.”
Sylvie ignored them.As a mentor, maybe Flora would have some information?But could she trust Flora? Sylvie wasn’t sure anymore. Besides, it was unlikely that they’d give a student a detailed timeline of the president’s visit, even a mentor.
