Chapter 24 - Troops

Logan arrived back in the dorm. Alex was alone, snuggling Berna closely and quietly crying.
“I WASN’T MOURNING ASHLEY!” Alex screamed upon seeing Logan standing there, throwing Berna into the trash can and jumping up.
“Guess what,” Logan said. “Ashley’s not coming back. None of the teachers even like her!”
“WHAT? NOO!” Alex wailed. “This is all my fault! We can’t let her get eaten by an evil witch lady. THE GUILT IS TOO STRONG!”
He grabbed Logan, shaking him violently.
“It’s boqay!” Logan said. “Conrad has a plan!”
Conrad was organizing a meeting. Maria, Logan, and Alex entered the room, joining him, George, and Vito.
Conrad stepped up to the podium, clearing his throat.
“Excuse me,” he said into a microphone. “May I have everyone’s attention?”
The small audience quieted down.
“I don’t need to explain the reason for this meeting. All of us are here as proud members of the newly-founded Proud Enchanted Egrets Protecting Every EvictedAshley, or PEEPEE for short,” he spoke.
“Umm,” Vito raised his hand. Conrad called on him. “I don’t see any egrets here.”
“Yeah well I do!” Conrad snapped.
There was a short pause in the conversation.
“We should think of something better,” George said.
“Impossible!” Conrad cried.
“How about Witch Lady Nemeses?” Alex asked.
“Farm Girl Rescue Squad??” Logan asked.
“Ashley Avengers!” Maria offered.
“QUIET!” Conrad screamed. “I did not come here to be interviewed. I came here to collect troops for PEEPEE. Is everyone in?”
Conrad passed out the permanent PEEPEE people pamphlet of purple perfection. Maria, Logan, Alex, George, and Vito all signed under Conrad’s name.
“Hmm. We need more troops,” George said.
“Maria, go see if Vicky and Sara want to join,” Logan said.
“Ew boqay fine whatever ok??” Maria left.
Both Vicky and Sara were in the dorm when Maria arrived.
“Hey wanna PEEPEE?” Maria asked.
Vicky instantly replied ‘most definitely!’ at the same time Sara screamed ‘WHAT??’
“Umm whatever do you want to save Ashley by joining a very dangerous group of soldiers or what yes or no,” Maria said.
“Sure,” Sara said.
“OK,” Vicky replied.
“Boqay,” Maria said, and led the way to the meeting room.
“I got 17 more troops,” Maria said, entering the room with Sara, Vicky, and 15 others behind her. “I put on an alluring perfume to attract the others.”
“We don’t need them. SHOO. OUT,” Conrad demanded.
They left silently.
“You know they never did talk or say anything,” Maria recalled.
“Subject change do we have our PEEPEE?” Logan asked.
Everyone nodded. Vicky and Sara signed the paper.
“Very good,” Conrad approved. “PEEPEE, ASSEMBLE!”