Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5 IF YOU WERE STANDING OUTSIDE Baron Von Grump's windmill at this particular moment, you would have heard an unusual sound. Well, unusual for the windmill. The kind of sound that one would not expect to hear coming from inside Baron Von Grump's windmill: whistling. Yes, you heard me correctly. Whistling. A cheerful, high-pitched tune being whistled. Of course, we know it was not Baron Von Grump. He was in the village buying cheese. That must mean that it was none other than Baroness Von Grumpier. Baroness Von Grumpier whistling? A cheerful whistling? That can't be right. She's

supposed to be even grumpier than the baron. And that's a LOT of grump. But that's exactly who it was, and that's exactly what she was doing. However, it wasn't exactly because she was cheerful. No, her whistling was because she was doing something awful, something she knew would annoy her cousin so much that he would grit his teeth, and flare his nostrils, and maybe even tug on his beard. That made Baroness Von Grumpier smile, and that was why she whistled. "Croak," said Wilma. The large, warty toad sat on Baron Von Grump's pillow, watching Baroness Von Grumpier as she flitted about the windmill, whistling. That doesn't sound very awful, does it? Well, that is because I haven't told you the rest of what she was doing. Baroness Von Grumpier was gathering all of Baron

Von Grump's things and putting them in one big pile. "I quite agree, Wilma," said Baroness Von Grumpier. "Good riddance to all this rubbish." "Croak," said Wilma. "Oh yes, I nearly forgot," said Baroness Von Grumpier. She snatched Baron Von Grump's favorite picture off the wall, the picture of a young (happy) Baron Von Grump playing his violin, and threw it into the pile. But that's so mean, you might say. See? I told you that she was doing something awful, and that she was a very grumpy, very miserable person. Don't let her whistling fool you. But then she did something even more awful than throwing the picture into the pile.

"Croak," said Wilma. "Of course! Ah, what would I do without you, Wilma?" Baroness Von Grumpier picked up Baron Von Grump's most prized possession. His favorite thing in the whole world. The only thing that ever gave him any joy. You guessed it. She picked up Baron Von Grump's violin, and without a second thought, she tossed it right over her shoulder. It landed atop the pile with a loud KER-SPLOING! as two of the strings snapped.

"Well, that's about everything," said Baroness Von Grumpier. "Croak," said Wilma. "Yes, my dear," said Baroness Von Grumpier. "I really am doing him a favor, aren't I? This place was so… cluttered. Now then, let's be rid of it all." Do you remember when I said that it was a mistake that Baron Von Grump and Edgar did not take the horse and cart to reach the village? Baroness Von Grumpier loaded the entire pile of Baron Von Grump's things, including his favorite picture and prized violin, into the cart. And then she and Wilma started off, away from the windmill. "Let's find a place to dump this garbage," said Baroness Von Grumpier. "I simply cannot stand clutter." And off they went, clattering down the road with a cartful of Baron Von Grump's possessions.