Page 54 of The Beauty and the Griffin

Remembering the Gamekeeper’s advice, I grabbed a soft blanket from a conveniently placed stack of bedclothes, flung it to her, and plugged my ears. “Cover his head!” I shouted between screeches. As soon as she threw the cloth over Dodger’s head and wrapped him up, the noise stopped. Like magic.

“See? It works.” Yes, I sounded smug and didn’t care. “Now, wrap this blanket around your arm. No, no, like this.”

Win was unusually quiet while I arranged the second blanket to protect her from the griflet’s claws and then gently lifted him, cocooned in his blanket, to rest on her forearm. He snuggled in against her.

“Okay now?” I asked, eager to check on my own griflet.

Win looked up at me. “Isn’t he just the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? This is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me!”

I did a double-take. Her face was transformed with delight. I scarcely recognized the girl! “Cute” was hardly the first adjective to enter my mind when I looked at Dodger, but I couldn’t help smiling in response.

Before I could think what to say, Chicky demanded,Beeetrice, I hatch now! Hold me.

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BEATRICE

“Oh! Chicky’s hatching!” Iexclaimed.

Win was too preoccupied with Dodger to acknowledge me. “You’re gonna be the biggest, baddest griffin ever,” she crooned to the sleeping griflet, rocking him like a baby.

I stared in disbelief. Win, being motherly?

Beeetrice! Play? Sing? Hold?

Still dazed, I turned to the Gamekeeper’s shadowy form and relayed Chicky's request.

“Are you sure you want to let a griflet boss you around?” he asked.

“How about you stop talking so Dodger can sleep!” Win growled.

Please?Chicky pleaded.

These four-way conversations got really confusing.

“Only if you be a good girl and work at hatching,” I warned my griflet aloud, and Win huffed her annoyance.

Chicky be good girl. I hatch now.

Playing the piano with a huge egg in my lap was awkward, but I performed two lively songs before checking on Chicky’s progress. She had chipped a neat crack around the smaller end of her shell, offering dramatic glimpses of her yellow beak. “Looking good! Keep up the good work, baby girl.”

“Dodger and I are going out for a walk in the garden,” Win announced in a haughty tone. “It’s too noisy in here.”

I turned to the Gamekeeper, muttering, “Is it safe?”

“They’ll be fine,” he assured me.

“Okay,” I called after Winifred, who was already in the hall. “But don’t forget that Dodger needs to eat frequently.”

“Duh! I’m taking a bowl of his disgusting food along.”

Once she was gone, I could play whatever I liked minus the criticism. Another hour of that, and I was nearly hoarse from singing while Chicky dozed.

“You’re so close to hatching,” I pointed out. “Just a few more pecks and shoves, and you’ll be free.”

I tired,Chicky grumbled. Sing “Someone to Watch Over Me” song.

The little diva.

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