Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6 BARON VON GRUMP STRODE INTO the village, much to the surprise of everyone. Villagers closed their doors and shuttered their windows. Anyone who saw him coming went the other way. And can you blame them? The last time Baron Von Grump was in the village, he had hypnotized everyone with his HypnoMirror and Fun House of Fun. Before that, he'd almost flooded the entire village. And then there was the time he cut all of the village power so that they could not celebrate the village's 150th birthday. Oh, and that time he paid Boris and the rats with cheese to scare the villagers away. As you can see, the villagers were not very fond of Baron Von Grump. But, to be fair, he

was not very fond of them either. Obviously. Unlike Baron Von Grump, however, the villagers were friendly, good-natured people, and so the mayor could not help but tip his hat and say, "Good afternoon, Baron Von Grump. How do you do this fine day?" "What's so fine about it?" asked Baron Von Grump. "Caw?" said Edgar. He settled onto Baron Von Grump's shoulder. "Yes," said Baron Von Grump. "And why should I tell you how I am doing today?"

"Well, what brings you to our village on this fine… on this day?" "Cheese," said Baron Von Grump. "But you never come here for cheese," said the mayor. "You only come here when you have a plot, or a plan, or a scheme to ruin our fun." Baron Von Grump sighed. This was entirely too much talking. Baron Von Grump did not like to talk a lot, or to hear other people talking. Especially not to hear other people talking. It was exhausting, and it gave him a headache all the way down to his toes. Which, come to think about it, might be called a "toe ache." Yes, listening to people talking gave him a toe ache, and now the mayor was saying too many words. Baron Von Grump wiggled his toes and wished the mayor would just be quiet. "Cheese," he said. "Three wheels of cheese."

"That's a lot of cheese," said the mayor. Baron Von Grump groaned. More talking. "I have a visitor," he said. "My cousin. And if she doesn't get cheese…" Baron Von Grump did not want to think about what she would do if he did not return with cheese. He did not want to even try to imagine her reaction. And so he closed his eyes, opened his mouth, and tried to say a certain word. It was a word he never said. It was a word Baron Von Grump had forgotten how to say. He tried to form the word, but his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. He tried again, but his lips stuck together. He tried once more, but he could not quite form the letter p, and then… Then, with a wheezing, pained expression on his face, he said one single word. A word that echoed through the village. A word that made people stick their heads out their windows

and open their doors. A word that shocked the mayor's hat right off his head. He said… "Please?"