Sisters (On Pause)

Hilda - Ice Cream Solves Everything, Doesn't It?

"Hi... Anna?" Hilda muttered uncertainly. Was she supposed to her her Elizabeth? Eliza? Liz? Beth? Bess? Betty? Or perhaps Liza?

"Elle." She replied coldly. She waited three seconds for dramatic effect, then sighed. Extra loud. "You really don't know anything about fashion, don't you? It's a french fashion mag that isn't as good as Vogue, but Lauren likes it." 

Hilda thought Elle was a very stupid name. But she was a peace-maker, so she didn't voice her thoughts. "Hi, Elle."

"Hello, Caveman."

Hilda was tired of this nonsense. "It's Hilda and you know it, Anna."

"Oh, pish-pash, Hilda's a name for grannies."

"My cousin's called Matilda, and we all call her Hilda, and she certainly isn't a granny." A intelligent voice quipped. It was Hannah, and she was untying her bunches while reading The Arts; A Tip Top Guide by Amelia Yaxley. When she caught Hilda looking quizzically at it, she mouthed, "It's by my auntie Mia. The other Hilda's mum."

Anna looked at Hannah menacingly, and growled. She turned to Hilda, and hissed, "You've set up a army against me, haven't you? Huang, Waters, and now Yaxley. Who's left? The janitor? The science substitute? The super-fake owner of the Dress Emporium? That look she gave me definitely was a dirty one."

"You've forgotten the train driver." Hannah spat sarcastically.

"Oh, yeah, Yaxley? Well, Caveman and her posse of ninnies better watch out and make sure they keep their fat heads screwed on."

"Don't worry about us, Willows. You're the one you should be worried about. With a brain like yours, I'd be surprised if you're not walking backwards by tomorrow." 

Hilda sighed. "There's only one solution to this." She walked over to a free desk, grabbed two deck cards, and wrote ICE CARD on both of them. 

"Whenever you say a compliment to each other, you will receive a card. Fifteen cards can trade to a bucketful of ice cream."

"What flavour?" Anna said immediately. 

"Vanilla."

"Nope." Hannah said, crossing her arms. 

"Pink Vanilla."

"And..." Anna urged. 

"Thick fudge swirls."

"Anything else?" 

"Broken cream-filled cookie pieces."

"Deal." Anna and Hannah said. 

"Oh, I just realised your names rhyme. Anyway... compliments?"

Anna sighed. "Your very creative and have a great family."

Hilda smiled. "Here you go." she said, passing Anna a Ice Card. "Your turn, Hannah."

"Your-very-pretty-and-you-have-a-great-sense-of-fashion-can-I-have-my-card-now-Hilda?" Hannah gabbled. 

"Here you go, Hannah."

As the three left the dorms to go to dinner, Anna whispered, "Because of the ice-cream you're safe until I get my first bucket. After that, war's on."

Hilda gulped. 

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Dinner was a ride. 

First of all, a waiter or waitress would come to every table and ask what the kids wanted. They could have anything (within what was reasonable, of course). It was Sunday, and Hilda was used to a big roast during this time of the day.