The Crazy Life on Maskuline

Episode Two: Junior Miss London 2.0

It was a chilly Friday night on the third week of August when Oliver, Karan, Manex and I walked into the penthouse's dining room for dinner... and found no dinner.

“I was thinking we could go down to the ship's dining hall for dinner instead." Maddie explained. “I mean, we are all each supposed to get a free dinner there once a week as part of our deal but we never go there. Let's go tonight!"

“I think that's a great idea." Karan exclaimed.

“Actually—" Manex started.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhh." we all groaned.

He ignored us. “We have a functioning dinner timetable and according to the penthouse demeanor it can only be changed by a vote preceded by a notion."

The penthouse demeanor was a contract Manex had created and made us all sign the day the twins arrived on the ship. It was either that or having to listen to Manex rant about how we were doing this wrong and that wrong — it was easier to just sign and then let him tell us what to do.

“I vote we burn that contract." Oliver dared. “All those in favour?"

Maddie, Karan and I joined Oliver and raised our hands.

“Great I'm going to get the matches—"

“Stooooop." I said whilst grabbing her arm and pulling her back.

Maddie clasped her hands together. “Okay, let's vote and get it over with."

“You can't vote, the notion hasn't been passed." Manex said pompously.

“What?" Maddie asked.

“He means we can't vote unless he lets us." I explained.

“Oh, that's nonsense." Oliver said irritably. “Stay here and starve."

“According to the penthouse demeanor—"

“Oh, shut up." Oliver snapped at Manex.

“Manex, I'll let you have ice cream for dessert." Maddie said sweetly.

“That's not going to work, he has an ice cream maker in his room." I said casually.

“How do you know that?" Oliver asked incredulously. “He doesn't let anyone in his room, not even Maddie."

“I helped him build it, in the lab."

“I'm hungry." Karan complained.

“Is there anything that could change your mind?" Maddie asked Manex helplessly.

“Nope."

“Skylar, you try something." Karan suggested.

I shrugged at Manex. “They've got cheeseburgers and orangeade."

“Okay, let's go."

The Maskuline dining hall was the biggest room I'd ever seen with sparkling chandeliers dangling from the ceiling and a silver shiny floor.
All around were neat circular tables of different sizes with a white cloth on each of them, silver cutlery and polished wooden chairs with a comfortable red seat.

At the very end of the hall was a small stage where Maddie sometimes sang for dining guests, mostly on weekends.

“Babe alert." Oliver whispered in my ear as we walked into the hall.  “Oooooooh, cute boy on the table we just passed."

“I've got two words for you Oliver— the first is big, the second is whoop."

“He was checking you out."