Hilda and the Pride of Sparrow Scouts

Chapter 5- The Pride of Sparrow Scouts

As the parents, including Hilda's Mum, settled themselves down in front of the stage. Looking through the tiny gap between the curtains, Hilda sighed.

' Guess your plan went unexpected, Hilda. ' Frida said as she patted her friend's shoulder. ' Then the city is going to get burnt into ashes and we'll have to live in houses made of ashes... '

Hilda didn't want to talk about it, but a part of her was also wondering why she took all this so seriously. 

' Now, ladies and gentlemen! I present to you... Sparrow Scouts Forever! ' Hilda heard Raven Leader's voice.

' I heard my daughter Hilda is taking the lead this year. ' said Mum as she waited for the scouts to appear.

' Yes, me too. Last year the lead was my son, David!... y- you're Johanna, right? '

' That's right. ' Mum said as the two mothers smiled and looked back at the stage. The scouts were ready. 

Just at that moment when the pianist started playing, a whole army of men barged in.

' There! That's the boy who has the troll rock! Don't let him get away! ' one of the men yelled as he pointed at David. David gasped, ' How do they know I have a troll rock?! Am I going to jail? Again? '

' David you've never been to jail! '

' Nearly! ' 

The men gathered everyone, including Hilda, Frida, David... everyone. 

' Now... where is the troll rock? ' Hilda saw a man step up. Immediately she knew that was who the other men called " Boss ".

' You! ' Hilda wanted to yell, but Frida nudged her at the shoulder and shook her head. Hilda knew she wanted her to keep quiet, and did so. One of the men lit up a match and nodded at the others, they nodded at Gray. 

' You had better tell me where this troll rock is, or I'll burn this city immediately! ' he said threateningly. 

' You were going to burn this city down anyway even if we did tell you where the troll rock is! ' Hilda yelled out automatically. The parents and Sparrow Scouts turned to look at her, Frida slapped her forehead as David gave a scared but really soft scream. Gray laughed a high, cold laugh. He looked down at Hilda.

' You're very wise. ' he said blankly. ' I will burn this city down no matter what you do. You can never stop us all alone! '

Gray indicated his gang as they all laughed. Hilda scowled and said sternly, ' You're right. I can't do it alone! Not even if Frida and David are by my side! And trust me they believe in me that you are a terrible... ' the men laughed even harder, Hilda tried to yell even louder, ' ... selfish... ' yet the men laughed ten times harder than her yelling. So, without thinking, Hilda screamed, ' YOU'RE JUST A BUNCH OF TERRIBLE, SELFISH PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT NOTHING BUT YOURSELVES!!! ' 

The men stopped laughing, and, instead of a cunning smile, their looks on their faces were more menacing than ever.

' Who would believe in you? ' Gray sneered. ' When you're just a little helpless, idiotic, lost puppy? '

Hilda saw Mum scowl at Gray as David's Mum held her back out of the corner of her eye. Hilda gasped. She thought, out of all the things she did. Almost killing her Mum and David, nearly lost Frida as a friend forever... it was all her doing... most of it. She turned to the scouts and softly said, ' I think he's right. You guys don't believe in me at all, I always come up with stupid ideas that only make things worse, that will do nothing but risk your lives, I'm a terrible student at school, I don't even listen... ' Ms. Hallgrim looked as if she were about to run up and hug her, but tried to look firm and stayed where she was. 

' Hilda... ' Frida said softly. But Hilda continued, ' ... I know sometimes I'm just doing what's best, but I'm just messing things up... as usual. '

Gray turned to the men who smirked and signalled the man with the lighted match to burn the place down, but just when he was about to throw the match, David yelled out, ' I believe in Hilda! '

The whole crowd stared at him, he gulped, ' I know, Hilda may be a bit strange, very strange, sometimes... but she's also naive, and she always comes up with these crazy, exhausting ideas.... but she's not doing it to make us risk our lives. She's doing it for the best of us. '

Hilda smiled at him, she was deeply moved. David smiled back at her.

' Like the time when we lost Frida as a friend...? When we tried to get her book back by wrestling ghosts. And the other time she helped me with my nightmares. And tried to boost my confidence in singing... but actually got her Mum and me into mortal danger. '

A few people nodded while the gang scoffed.

' But that's not the point. ' David continued, ' Hilda... is the most determined, big- hearted person I've ever met, she's someone who would never give up on her best friends... and I'm proud to be one of them. '

There was a long pause when...

' I believe in Hilda. ' Frida said proudly as she walked up and put a hand on Hilda's shoulder.

' I believe in Hilda! '

' I believe in Hilda! '

' I believe in Hilda! '

' I believe in Hilda! '

Hilda watched as the whole of Sparrow Scouts stepped up. The parents watched in amazement. David seemed proud of his little speech he had given. Hilda looked as if she were about to cry, and she did... a little. The gang were all scowling by now, they threw the match at the wall and it burst into flames, everyone screamed but Frida quickly found a bucket of water and threw it at the fire, and the fire luckily died down just before it was going to spread. The parents heaved a huge, long sigh of relief as the Sparrow Scouts blocked the gangs exit. David stood in front, he was standing straight up as though he had gained complete confidence. 

' You're not going anywhere but jail. ' he said. ' Wow, jeez! I've always wanted to say that! '

As Raven Leader called the cops, Hilda, Frida and David gave a group hug.

' Well all that went really fast! ' Frida said happily.

' Yeah, it did... right Hilda?... Hilda? ' David looked at Hilda who was still crying softly.

' Is it just me or is it that I've never seen her cry before? ' David whispered to Frida.

' Hilda... are you okay? ' Frida asked as she stepped closer to her friend. Hilda wiped her tears and smiled.

' Okay... so you're not sad...? '

' Thanks a lot guys... ' Hilda sniffed. ' It meant a lot to me. Especially you, David. '

' Aww, thanks, Hilda! ' David grinned at his friend.

' Yeah... oh! And also... ' Frida said suddenly, ' ... I made a badge for all three of us. It's meant to be for our victory of stopping those men, but it turned out I had to make loads for the whole of Sparrow Scouts, but meh... I'd rather do it for my two best friends. '

She held out a dark blue badge with a golden " V " in the middle, and three small trolls rock beneath. Hilda knew those indicated her group.

' Wow, how did you do it? You're just as great as Mum! ' Hilda said as she admired the badge.

' Yeah, actually, your Mum did make these badges, I just told her not to tell you and pretend she never did it. '

The three laughed together as everyone enjoyed the rest of the night and they were having so much fun that they " partied " till the peak hours of the morning.

Hilda and Mum got home yawning. Twig was snoozing as usual on the sofa. Hilda slowly dragged herself up the stairs and plopped herself into bed. Though she was so sleepy that no one could wake her up, her mind was still running around wildly, thinking about what had happened.

' It turned out to be easy. ' Hilda thought simply, and drifted off to sleep, as the woffs called out far away deep in the forest.