Chương 15: The Pranks That Became Legends (and That Lysithea Still Keeps in Her Heart to This Day)

The Great Frog Invasion (age 3) Joker and Harley decided that "the frogs were cold." Result: 23 little green frogs inside Sister Graciela's nightgown. When she woke up in the middle of the night to pee, she let out a scream that woke even the crows in the forest. The next day, Lysithea found the two of them sitting on the kitchen floor, feeding porridge to the frogs with tiny tea spoons.

"They're our children now, Sister Lys." Lysithea tried to scold them… but ended up crying with laughter and officially adopted three frogs as "the orphanage's official mascots." The Surprise Cake Day (age 4) Harley wanted to throw a surprise birthday party for Joker (even though it wasn't anyone's birthday). They convinced all the girls to help. Ingredients: flour, eggs, sugar, shock-pink dye stolen from the village dye shop, and… ketchup (because "it's red and pretty"). The cake turned radioactive.

Graciela tasted a piece out of politeness and turned green. Joker declared: "It's the most delicious cake in the world because it's made with love!" Everyone ate it. Everyone got sick. Everyone laughed until their stomachs hurt. Lysithea still keeps a magical polaroid photo of the radioactive cake to this day. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

The Night of the Fallen Stars (age 5) Joker discovered he could make small floating lights with shadow magic. Harley turned the lights into "little clown stars" that blinked and made funny faces. They released hundreds of them in the dormitory after the nuns went to sleep. They woke up to all the younger girls jumping on their beds trying to catch the little lights. Marina (the dragonewt) got so excited she released steam and turned the room into a sauna. Lysithea walked in, saw the chaos, and instead of scolding…

lay down on the floor with them and started "fishing for stars" too. Official orphanage photo: everyone in pajamas, messy hair, holding little clown stars. The Dolls' Wedding (age 6) Harley organized a mass wedding: all the dolls were going to marry the teddy bears. Joker was the priest (wearing a tablecloth as a robe). Rina was the flower girl (fox tail swishing). Astrid was the "security" (carrying a broom handle like a sword). Sylvara scattered magical flower petals that sang.

Lirien cried because "it's so beautiful." Kuroe (Loki's Mark) made real confetti rain from the ceiling. Lysithea was forced to be the godmother and nearly died of cuteness when Joker solemnly declared:"You may kiss the grooms!" … and every doll got a little kiss on the forehead from the teddy bears. The "Sleeping Dragon" Day (age 6½) Marina was hiccupping from crying so hard because she broke her favorite cup. Joker and Harley invented that "water dragons stop crying if someone tickles their belly."

Result: seven children piling on top of Marina tickling her until she laughed so hard she released a heart-shaped cloud of steam. Lysithea walked in, saw the mess, and could only say:"Heavens above… you are the greatest gift and the greatest punishment I've ever received." The "Group Hug" Tradition (every year) Whenever someone has a nightmare (usually Lirien, because of her visions), all the children run to Lysithea's room.

She opens her arms and somehow ALL eight children fit in her bed (spatial magic, of course). Joker and Harley always take the corners, one on each side, holding her little hand under the blanket. Lysithea pretends to complain, but she secretly loves it. The Secret Letter That Was Never Sent (age 7) Joker and Harley wrote a letter together (crooked letters and clown drawings): Dear mommy and daddy we never met, Sister Lys is the best mommy in the world.

When we grow up we're going to bring her to live in our flying circus castle. Promise. Signed: Joker & Harley (and a bunch of happy faces drawn by the other girls) They hid the letter inside a bottle and buried it in the garden, "so when we become rulers of the world we'll remember to come dig it up."