15 The Apology After-Party

The Apology After-Party No one showed up; no one called to tell me they weren't coming. I prepared all this food for nothing, and I feel like a flipping idiot. Even Geoffrey…," said Bethany as she crossly brushed the tears from her eyes. Ebenezer looked around at the slowly ruining sandwiches, the jugs of fizzy orange that were losing their sparkle, and the seagull napkins that would all have to be unfolded and put away. He was distracted from his Claudette concerns because he couldn't

believe that anyone could do this to Bethany, let alone a whole neighborhood. "Claudette said they definitely all got their invitations. She's gone now to see what flipping happened," said Bethany. "She thinks that—" The phone rang, and Bethany leaped over—answering before the first ring had rung. "Claudette? Oh, hey—it's you. My bad, I was expecting someone else." Miss Muddle was on the line. Bethany wiped her eyes with her sleeves and tried to put on a cheery voice, even though she was feeling about as poopy as a lamppost that's been attacked by a dog with diarrhea. "What time do you want me there for the first shift? I have a LOT of questions about the book, 'cause I barely understood a word of

it.… You what?… That wasn't me! I wasn't trying to get you into trouble with the health inspector, I promise!… No, really, seriously, I haven't been out of the house today.… I wouldn't even know where to get that many frogs from.… Hello? HELLO?!" Bethany looked at the phone receiver as if it had just tried to bite her ear off. Then she smashed it against the wall. "Miss Muddle says I'm never allowed in the sweetshop again," she said, smashing and smashing until there was nothing left but a wire in her hand. "Someone broke in and unleashed an army of frogs in her laboratory, spoiling all her picnic baskets. She thinks I did it!" "You didn't, did you?" asked Ebenezer. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he

wished he could take them back again. "Of course you didn't," he said, way too late. "I know you didn't. It's just that you used to be rather fond of putting frogs in unexpected—" "You're just like all the others," said Bethany. "If even you don't believe me, then how am I ever gonna—what's the point in—" Claudette flew back into the house. She swooped into the grand sitting room and wrapped Bethany in a feathery hug. She was much better at comforting Bethany, and Ebenezer felt foolish for having suspected her of being anything other than a loyal friend. "I'm so sorry, poppet," said Claudette. She tried using her wings to dry Bethany's tears, but Bethany wasn't having any of it. She wriggled out of Claudette's grasp and

demanded to be told what everyone had said about her. "Oh, poppet, you really don't want to know," said Claudette. "Tell me NOW!" said Bethany. Claudette looked at Ebenezer, as if pleading with him to help her out. Ebenezer didn't know what he should do. "Well, poppet," said Claudette with a resigned sigh, "the reason no one came is because… no one likes you. The bird-keeper, the Cussocks, the zoo, all the children at the orphanage—they dislike you because of the pranks you've pulled in the past. None of them trust you, and they thought that this party was just an excuse for some fresh horridness."

Bethany collapsed into a nearby chair, looking as though she'd been slapped across the face by a large and extremely unfriendly fish. Ebenezer watched Claudette closely as she hobbled around the room and seemed to grow angrier and angrier about what had happened. "It just makes me so cross that they won't give you a chance," said Claudette. "This neighborhood needs to be taught a lesson.…" "This neighborhood does need to be taught a lesson…," said Bethany. The fish look vanished from her face and was replaced with a more determined kind of expression. "I mean, this whole thing makes me question why anyone should bother trying to be good in the first place," said Claudette,