The Fantastical Blog: The fantastical Miss Kinderfoot...

"Please, have a seat, Mrs. Kinderfoot," said Mr.Cameron.

Alice knew her mum never liked being called in for school meetings.

"What incident was Alice involved in today?" asked Mrs.Kinderfoot.

Mr.Cameron folded his hands and took a deep breath.

"Not incident, but incidents, Mrs.Kinderfoot," replied Mr.Cameron.

"We all know Alice is a very special girl with a very active imagination. The school likes to

encourage imagination amongst all our students..."

Mr.Cameron glared at Alice.

"Sometimes Alice's imagination goes a bit too far."

"What happened today?" asked Mrs.Kinderfoot, dreading the response.

"I'll explain, mum!" interrupted Alice.

"I was sitting in Ms.Murphy's class, when Miguel got hungry."

"Miguel?" asked Mr.Cameron.

"Yes, Miguel - he's a griffin!" replied Alice, rather cheerfully.

Mrs.Kinderfoot shook her head and let out a big sigh.

Taking no notice of her mum's dismay, Alice continued to explain what happened.

"You can't come out yet."

"I don't care if you're hungry - eat some paper then!"

Alice looked up to see Ms.Murphy looking quite annoyed.

"Is there any reason why you are talking to your school bag?"

Alice could see Ms.Murphy's nostrils flaring - this was bad.

"Well, it was lonely, Miss," chirped Alice.

The class burst into laughter.

"I see," replied Ms.Murphy, with the tightest of grins.

She slowly walked around to the front of her desk.

"Miss Kinderfoot,since you're holding court, you can be the first to bring up your home work."

"Yes, Miss," replied Alice.

She started to rifle through her school bag - the most disorganised bag in the world according to
Alice's best friend, Eric.

Alice began to pull out bits of paper, lint, sweets wrappers and something that either looked like
dried fruit or a mummified insect.

"Just a minute, Ms.Murphy," Alice said, waving her hand in the air.

Alice held up a piece of soggy chewed up paper. Ms.Murphy gazed down at the soggy, torn paper.

"What.On.EARTH.Is.That?" she said, horrified.

"My home work, Miss," grinned Alice.

Ms.Murphy pursed her lips and crossed her arms.

"Up front now, Miss Kinderfoot!" she shouted.

Alice could hear muffled laughter as she slowly made her way to the front.

"Is this some sort of joke?"

"No, Miss," replied Alice, shaking her head.

"Then explain... this,"said Mrs.Murphy, holding the soggy paper by two fingers.

"It was eaten, Miss," Alice said.

"Oh really?" said Ms.Murphy "Let me guess, by a dog?"

"Oh no, Miss, that would be ridiculous!" laughed Alice. "It was Miguel, the griffin!"

Laughter broke out around the class.

"He's a bit scruffy looking and sometimes smells a bit like cheese, but he's very funny!"

Ms.Murphy's eyes became wide like saucers.

"Griffin?" she replied, "You mean, like the mythical creature?"

"Yes, Miss, although, they're very real," said Alice. "They like eating anything - kind of like a goat!"

"You expect me to believe a SCRUFFY, SMELLY GRIFFIN ate your homework last night?" asked Ms.Murphy, incredulously.

"No, Miss, not last night," said Alice, shaking her head. "Just right now in my school bag."

The class was in hysterics.

"It's commonly known that griffins love eating paper above anything else. I mean, only a complete
idiot wouldn't know that! Isn't that right, Miss?"

"Get out," whispered Ms.Murphy, who was slightly trembling.

"What was that, Miss?" asked Alice.

"OUT OF MY CLASS!" snarled Ms.Murphy.

"But.." pleaded Alice.

"So, that's what happened, mum," said Alice, "Just a complete misunderstanding."

"Then explain why Damien Waddle ended up in a tree at break?" asked Mr.Cameron.

"What?" said Mrs.Kinderfoot, shocked.

"That was Abner," sighed Alice.

"Another griffin?" asked Mr.Cameron.

"Oh no, he's a Bigfoot, but I think they prefer to be called sasquatch," replied Alice.

"Of course they do," said Mr.Cameron, rolling his eyes. "And let me guess, he smells of CHEESE, too?"

"Oh no, Sir," Alice laughed, "He smells of MAPLE SYRUP!"

Mr.Cameron buried his head in his hands.

"Now, about Damien. He was throwing food at me and calling me names..."

"...And Abner doesn't like bullies, so he picked up Damien and put him in a tree!"

"Yes, Alice, next time tell a teacher if he bothers you," said Mr.Cameron, clearly annoyed. "But for
heavens sake, don't CHASE children into TREES!"

Mr.Cameron then turned to Mrs.Kinderfoot

"Blaming imaginary creatures on bad behaviour is not acceptable."

"But they're real, Sir!" cried Alice. "I found them in an old tea box in a antique shop a few

weeks ago - Isn't that right, mum?"

Mrs.Kinderfoot dropped her head and let out a big sigh.

"And there's MORE creatures, too! You should meet my sprite, Marigold..."

"THANK YOU, Alice," interrupted Mr.Cameron, pointing to the front door. "Could you kindly wait
outside while I talk to your mum?"

Alice sulked out of the office and sat on a bench.

She blew out her cheeks and said, "Well, looks like you got me in real trouble this time."

Two furry heads popped out from the back of the bench.

"Sorry, Alice," said Miguel, sheepishly.

"It's okay," replied Alice.

"I'm not," grunted Abner.

Alice laughed, "Thanks!"

She then heard a soft voice from above her head say, "Excuse me, Miss..."

It was Marigold.

"Well, you guys better find her - remember PE on Monday?"

"Right away, Miss," said Marigold, "We wouldn't want that AGAIN!"
_

"There is to be NO MORE Miguel or Abner in school!" cried Mrs.Kinderfoot,"You're very lucky you
haven't been kicked out! I already had to ban Gretchen after Monday's incident - I can't BELIEVE
I'm talking like she's REAL!"

"Okay, mum,"replied Alice.