"Oh my goshness!" Mikayla exclaimed, leaning against the door. "I can not believe we just did that!"
"Did what?" asked Queen Hayley, coming down the stairs with a... huh?
Quack! said the duck that Queen Hayley had on a leash. Quack quack!
"What.." Jenny started.
"The.." Aidan continued.
"Duck?!" Rosie finished. "Why do you have a duck on a leash, Queen Hayley?"
"He's my pet, Jok," the Queen answered joyfully.
They all hesitated.
Mikayla finally broke the silence. "Okay?" she agreed hesitantly.
"You know, he's kind of cute," Rosie commented, tipping her head and smiling.
Matt, Olivia, and Neva all let out deep breaths.
"Isn't he just?" Queen Hayley gushed. "Go ahead, say hello."
"Hi there, Jok!" Rosie cooed. "How are you, sweetie?"
Quack! Jok honked. Rosie looked up, startled. Quack quack, quack?
"Did he just -" she started.
"No way," Matt interrupted.
"But then how-" she started again.
"No way," Matt repeated.
"Well, maybe-" Neva started.
"No way!" Matt interrupted.
"I don't-" Olivia tried.
"No way!"
"Maybe-" Rosie was cut off again.
"No way!" Matt said with a finality.
"Actually, Mathias," Queen Hayley interrupted. "Jok is very intelligent."
"Mother!" Matt complained, as the others laughed.
"Yes, Philip?" Queen Hayley said coldly.
"I-I love you," he stammered.
"That's what I thought," Queen Hayley said triumphantly.
"Oooh, I have to remember that!" Rosie put in, grinning evilly. "Thank you, Queen Hayley."
"Oh, look what you've done, mother!" Matt groaned.
"You're welcome, my dear," Queen Hayley ignored Matt completely.
"Rosie.." Matt pleaded.
"Yes, Philip?" she said coldly, imitating Queen Hayley perfectly.
"I love you!" he responded quickly.
"Yay!" Rosie cheered, jumping and grinning wildly. "It does work!"
"Like a charm," Queen Hayley added. "Now, what were you kids doing outside?"
"Nothing!" chorused Rosie, Aidan, and Olivia.
"You kids don't have siblings, do you?" Queen Hayley asked them.
"No, we don't, Your Majesty," Aidan said, bowing humbly.
"Please, stop!" Queen Hayley chided. "No more bowing! It's much to formal! So, what did you kids do?"
"Well..." Matt trailed off. "Nothing too terrible, but you may not want to go out to the courtyard."
"Stop right there, Mathias," Queen Hayley cut off. "I'm going to see what you kids did."
"No!" they all chorused as Queen Hayley opened the door.
