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Chapter Four: Basil's point of view

  *Ten Years Previously*

I spun out of my house. "Bye, Mom! See you later!" I ran down the street excited to see my new friend: Vidya.

I approached the palace gates nervously. They were golden, Reagan liked the color, and two burly gaurds stood in my way.

"Um, excuse me," I said. I felt really nervous: I had never spoken to the guards before!

"What do you need, little one?" Asked the one on my right.

I gathered up all my courage, which wasn't very much considering the fact I was only nine. "I want to see Vidya."

They smiled and looked at each other. "Got a pass?" Asked the one on my left.

"Uh, no," I said.

"Sorry, Maryo. No entry." Smiled the one on my right. "Run along," He said. "Go on then."

"Basil!" A voice cried out. "Basil, there you are." It was Vidya. She stormed up to the gate, her red hair swinging from side to side. "Let her in." She snapped at the guards. They obeyed immediately. She sighed and led me into the palace. "You're just in time for a game of Duck, Duck, Goose."

I looked at her. Duck, Duck, Goose? Seriously? I was nine, and there were only two of us. She seemed to guess my thoughts because she turned and grinned crazily at me. "Royal will play too. And Joslyn. She just got here." Suddenly a thought hit Vidya. "Oh shoot, I left Joslyn all alone up there with Royal. You'll go crazy if you're left alone in the same room as Royal for too long." She said seriously. We sped up.

We got to the top room very quickly. It was a beautiful playroom, very spacious and purple. A white balcony framed by billowy, purple curtains was on the back wall. It over looked the kitchen garden. A spicy smell came up to my nose.

"And I'll be the queen. Okay?" A girl who looked to be just a little older than me was talking to a another girl who also looked older.

"Royal, what are you telling Joslyn?" Vidya demanded of the girl who had just proclaimed herself queen.

"Nothing, Viddy." She looked over at me. "Who's this you've brought? Another playmate?" Her golden eyes critically examined me.

"Yes. Joslyn, Royal, this is Basil. Basil," She turned to me. "This is Joslyn and Royal."

I curtsied slightly. "Good day," I said politely.

Joslyn, I assumed it was Joslyn she didn't have golden eyes, smiled. "Come sit down, Basil. Royal was just telling me that I was a servant. Is that right?" She asked me, patting the carpet beside of her.

"Royal!" Vidya cried sitting down next to the golden eyed girl. "That's not nice! Just because you're eleven and older than the rest of us doesn't mean you can boss us around." She said.

"I wasn't bossing anyone. She wanted me to be queen." Royal said.

"Uh-huh," Vidya replied.

I looked over at Joslyn curious to see what her reaction would be to the two of them fighting. Joslyn simply sighed. "Come on, guys. We're playing a game. House. Or Duck, Duck, Goose."

Vidya smiled. "Let's play hide and go seek."

"Oh my gosh, Viddy. I hate that game," Royal sighed. "Can't we play-"

"Queen of the castle? Come on, Royal. That's all we play!" Vidya said.

"Oh, yes. We play chase the duck. That's your game, Vidya. I hate it so mu-"

"Guys! Please!" Joslyn said. "Let's ask Basil." They all three turned to me.

"Well?" Royal asked. An annoyed look was on her face.

"What do you want to play, Basil?" Vidya asked.

"Don't be shy, speak your mind." Said Joslyn.

I really didn't feel like contradicting any of them. They were all so much older. And fancier. "I like..." My voice trailed off. "I like hide-and-go-seek." I said.

Vidya gave a woop, Royal a groan. "You can be it first, Royal!" Vidya teased.

Royal closed her eyes and covered them with her hand. "1...2...3...4...5...6.."

We all ran and hid throughout the room. Vidya hid beneath the desk. It hung down low enough for her to hid unseen. I should've done that.

"34...35...36...37...38...39..."

Joslyn climbed on top of the toy closest. It was close to the ceiling and well hidden. She was so brave for going up there! It looked so hard. I should've done that.

"67...68...69...70...Ten more numbers everyone. 71...72..."

I needed a hiding spot. 

"89...90! Ready or not, here I come." Royal uncovered her eyes and looked straight at me. "That's not a hiding place." she walked over to me, but I was no longer looking at her. I was watching Joslyn who was still on her perch atop the toy closet.

She grinned like crazy when she saw me looking. "Hey, Basil." She said.

Royal looked up and gasped. "Josy! How did you do that?"

Joslyn shrugged and gracefully leaped down. "I just climbed up." She said upon landing.

"What? Where was she?" Vidya demanded coming out from her hiding place under the desk.

"On top of the toy closet," Joslyn told her. "You can see everything in the playroom. I'll show you lat-"

She was cut off by Royal impatient sigh. "The point of the game is to hide. Not come out of hiding."

A lady carrying a tray of sandwiches came up. "Lunch," she said simply setting the tray on a table and walking off.

I trailed slowly behind the other three to the table. Vidya and Royal were still arguing, with Joslyn adding in her comments. I had never felt more out of place in my life.