Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14 "OKAY, JUNIOR MONSTER SCOUTS," SAID Frankenstein. "Time for tonight's scout meeting. We have a little time before the sun is up." Franky, Wolfy, and Vampyra gathered around the table in the castle dungeon. It was a big table in the middle of a very big dungeon. Dracula and the Wolf Man sat down too. "I know you were only helping," said Frankenstein, "but that was a very dangerous laboratory. You could have been hurt!" "We were very careful," said Vampyra. "Yeah, we used a broom to touch the lever instead of our hands," said Wolfy.

"That was good thinking," said Wolf Man. "Which is why we think you three earned your Safety Merit Badges." "For being smart in how you handled a dangerous situation," said Dracula. Franky, Wolfy, and Vampyra smiled. "You also earned your Loyalty Merit Badge," said Dracula. "For sticking by Igor Junior and not letting him take all the blame," Frankenstein said. "And helping him clean up his mess," said Wolf Man.

Franky, Vampyra, and Wolfy all high-fived. "Okay, scouts," said Wolf Man. "Line up." Franky, Vampyra, and Wolfy lined up, proudly wearing their Junior Monster Scout sashes. Wolf Man stopped before each of them and pinned on their Safety Merit Badges. Dracula stopped before each of them and pinned on their Loyalty Merit Badges. Then Frankenstein cleared his throat. "Ahem," he said. "We have one more badge to present." "You do?" said Franky. "I heard that the mayor gave you a first- place ribbon," said Frankenstein. "And a very fine, hand-carved cuckoo clock," said Dracula. "Franky won those in the first ever Monster Mash competition!" said Wolfy. "He made the coolest, craziest, most wonderful windup monster!" Vampyra said.

Frankenstein arched one eyebrow and winked at Franky. "Why don't we wind it up and see how it does?" Franky gave the winding key one, two, three, four, five big turns and let go. His mechanical monster hopped up and down and back and forth, clapping its claws and waving its tentacles while the music box inside played a haunted tune. Franky, Wolfy, and Vampyra danced along with it. "Great job, Franky," said Dracula. "You earned your Gadget Merit Badge for your creation." Frankenstein pinned the badge on Franky's sash and patted his shoulder. "Good job, Franky. Good job, all three of you!" "You know what time it is!" said Wolf Man. He leaped up on the table and howled. "Time to say the Scout oath!" said Dracula. "And get to bed before the sun

rises." Franky, Vampyra, and Wolfy all held hands and said, "I promise to be nice, not scary. To help, not harm. To always try to do my best. I am a monster, but I am not mean. I am a Junior Monster Scout!" And so this particular tale comes to an end. Almost...