Of Prisons and Palaces-Chpt 16

Lacy and Tracy looked at me blankly, utterly lost. Over the years I had learned to recognize when I was being made fool of, or lied to. Well, most of the time, but these two, no matter how inept Mindy might think they are, weren't fooling around; at least not today. Something was going on, but I had no idea what...yet anyway.

"OK, just take it from the beginning, and tell me what you remember." I asked concerned and cautiously. Still, I leaned over them to add a bit of intimidation. It was something I learned from Mandy as the years went by. Tracy answered first, "The last thing I remember was being in the attic with Lacy here!"

Lacy nodded in earnest to emphasize that.

Lacy jumped in, "Yeah, we were looking for the palace decorations for the Morale Monday holiday."

Today was Sunday, and if they were telling the truth, then they had a time lapse of well over a day. I remember when they left for the attic, and it was definately Saturday.

Tracy continued, "...and then we're here talking to you about washing the cars and wondering where Grim was. We haven't seen him since Saturday morning if you must know."

Lacy nodded again.

I thought Grim could be responsible, it surely wouldn't be the first time given his erratic track record. Interesting that the last time he was seen was when Tracy and Lacy allegedly vanished. Still, it was only circumstantial at this point, but if Tracy and Lacy were telling the truth, then who was with Grim earlier? Was Grim in on it, or was he being made a fool of here as well? No need to alarm Mindy, at least yet. If I was wrong, Mindy would have my butt in a sling! I'd question Grim and put him under surveilleance, and not necessarily in that order either.

"OK, ladies, I'm satisfied for now. Still, you'd better wash these cars or her Majesty will not be pleased." I saw the objections in their faces and gave them a stern glare. It was something else I picked up from Mandy as well. "I know you think it stinks, but it'll be worse if you don't."

They frowned together, then resignedly turned and walked over to the where the hoses were. They weren't happy, but they were working and that's what Mindy wanted.

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"I'm surrounded by LOSERS, why can't people see that my needs come first? Needs, hah! Irwin's a joke, so much for THAT urban legend!"

Queen Mindy was in the midst of a first class Stress Fest! It had been triggered when she was channel surfing the local news sites. The Endsville PBS feed had been the first channel she found and it was running historical footage of the annual hula contests at the Endsville Beach. The current contest was just a few days away and the local stations were ramping up the media to increase public anticipation. Mindy had caught the one part that she utterly detested, her losing to a blonde, mugly doo-doo head that Mindy would not name. She was loathe to even mention her, having decided that 'She who shall not be named' would suffice. That memory triggered another, an internet brouhaha that had featured several nude girls in her senior gym glass.

All the other girls had been objects of adoration and desire, all but Mindy that is. Someone had cut and pasted a broomstick over her and ever since then, Mindy's figure was an object of laughter and derision...from both sexes. As a child, Mindy had been an insecure, self centered girl that never outgrew her childhood. The hula dance loss and internet fiasco had embarrassed her terribly and inside her, something snapped. Afterwards, she wasn't the same. She was prone to violent and unpredictable fits of psychotic rage justifed by intense megalomania.

"HOW DARE THEY SHOW THAT?!"  

In a red haze, Queen Mindy flung a ceramic statue into her television! It exploded with a crash and a shower of sparks. Panting heavily, she managed to pull the television over, but not before getting her robes caught as it fell. Truth be told, she normally was far too light and weak to move such a heavy piece of furniture by herself.  An adrenelyn rush was one thing, but now that it was actually tipping over, she didn't have the strength to stop it!

KERASSSH!

The television's momentum effortlessly flung her several feet. She landed with a screech on her bony rump, and completely ignoring the concerned poundings at her throne room door, and the ringing telephones, began to broken heartedly sob at the utter injustice of it all.