Knight for a Day Read Free Page A

the messenger said.
    “But... but... but...” Erica sputtered. She was so undone she could hardly speak. “I saw what Wiglaf wrote. It was one sentence long!”
    “That is true,” Wiglaf put in. He hoped this matter would get straightened out quickly. He did not like the look on Erica’s face.
    “I deserve to win,” Erica growled. “My essay was twenty-six pages long!”
    “Well, Sir Lancelot isn’t much of a reader,” the messenger said. “Doesn’t have the time, being a man of action and all. He likes a short essay. And Wiglaf of Pinwick’s was short. Plus it was on top of the pile. So that’s the one Sir Lancelot picked.”

    Erica glared at Wiglaf. “This is so unfair!”
    “Sir Lancelot will arrive before lunch tomorrow,” the messenger went on. “Here is the schedule he likes for his visits.”
    The messenger handed a sheet of parchment to Wiglaf. Then he remounted his horse and galloped away.
    Dazed, Wiglaf looked at the parchment:
    Schedule for a Sir Lancelot School Visit
    12:00 to 12:30: Welcoming Ceremony
    12:30 to 2:00: Luncheon for Sir Lancelot (boarburger, potatoes fried in duck fat, garlic milk shake). After lunch, Sir Lancelot will speak for an hour.
    2:00 to 4:00: Afternoon classes
    4:00 to 5:00: Rest hour (students only)
    5:00 to 6:00: All-school Sir Lancelot Fair Bring your pennies, lads! When you see all the fine wares for sale, you’ll say, “Gadzooks!” Sir Lancelot will sell and sign copies of his best-selling memoir, A KNIGHT LIKE I!
    6:00 to 8:00: Big Feast for Sir Lancelot (boarburger with cheese, onion rings fried in goose fat, garlic milk shake)
    8:00 to Way After Midnight: Wild Party! Jesters! Minstrels! Barrels of mead! Fetching damsels from neighboring castles! (no students allowed)
    Mordred snatched the schedule.
    “I must plan,” he muttered as he read it. “And quickly!” He eyed the students, still gathered in the castle yard. “All right, boys!” he shouted. “Classes are canceled for the rest of the day! Report to the kitchen. On the double! Frypot will give out cleaning supplies. I want this castle scrubbed from top to bottom! I want DSA to shine like gold!”
    Angus groaned. “What did I tell you?”
    Wiglaf nodded. He had no love for scrubbing. But he was more worried about spending a day with Sir Lancelot. What would he and the great knight do? Well, he might amaze Sir Lancelot with Daisy. After all, a talking pig is something special. But what if Sir Lancelot wanted to joust with him? Or do some other knightly activity? Wiglaf frowned. It might be a very long day indeed.
    “Move!” Mordred shouted. “Move!”
    Wiglaf, Angus, and Erica began jogging toward the kitchen with the other students.
    “I smell a rat!” Erica grumbled as they went. “A rat named Wiglaf!”
    “Oh, come on, Eric!” Angus said. “You heard the messenger. Wiglaf’s essay was on top of the pile. That’s why Lancelot picked it.”
    “Only a goosewit would call it an essay,” Erica hissed.
    “I call it a big mistake,” Wiglaf said quickly. “But look at the bright side. We three are best friends. So Sir Lancelot shall spend the day with all three of us.”
    “Humph!” Erica snorted. She seemed to want Sir Lancelot all to herself.
    Frypot stood by the kitchen door, handing out cleaning supplies.
    “Sir Lancelot will be staying in the Rose Chamber, North Tower,” Frypot said. “You’re to wash the chamber floor, Eric.” He thrust a mop at her. “And Angus? Here are some brushes and lye. Mordred asked that you personally clean Lancelot’s privy.”
    “What did I tell you?” Angus said again.
    “Let me see.... Wiglaf?” Frypot squinted at his list. “Oh, you’re excused from clean-up.”
    Excused? Wiglaf’s mouth dropped open in surprise. Then he smiled. Maybe winning a knight for a day was not such a bad thing after all.

Chapter 4
    “L ook!” Wiglaf cried the next day as the castle bell rang noon. He pointed down Huntsman’s Path. “A cloud of