The Truest Heart by E D Baker

Author:E D Baker [Baker, E D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781619638501
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2016-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

11

Itchy Butt’s birthday party was being held on the shore of Turquoise Lake. Olot had told them to come early in case he needed help setting up, but by the time Cory’s group arrived, Zephyr’s new assistant had taken care of everything. Dillert had situated the stand close to the water’s edge. Although he had done a good job, he had set it up in reverse, as if he had held a diagram backward. Cory’s drums were usually set up on the left side of a stage. Today she would be playing on the right, closest to the water. No one else seemed to mind, so she didn’t protest, either. It was Dillert’s first day, after all.

A big tent had been set up farther down the lake, and caterers were putting out food when Cory, Blue, and the ogres went to investigate. “These are Itchy Butt’s favorite foods,” one of the caterers told them.

They saw pork rinds and frog rinds, pickled walrus flippers and pickled pigs’ feet. Blue pointed out an elf chef standing at one end of the tent. “He’s very well known,” said Blue, “but I can’t remember his name.” When they walked over to see what he was doing, they found him basting squirrels on a rotisserie.

The sight and the smell combined were more than Cory could stand. Putting her hand over her mouth, she turned and hurried away. “I know ogres like meat, but I couldn’t eat any of that,” she told Blue when he caught up.

“I’m sure the caterers have something else,” Blue told her. “I’ll ask them.”

“Not yet,” Cory told him. “I think Olot wants me to come back now.” She had caught a glimpse of Olot standing by the stage, waving them over. Another ogre was standing with him, and it was one she recognized. Cory had met Itchy Butt on a pedal-bus once. They hadn’t talked much, but it had been enough to leave an impression.

The party guests had started to arrive, and they were already in a partying mood. It took Cory and Blue a few minutes to work their way through the crowd because so many people recognized them and wanted to say hello. When Cory and Blue finally made it to the stage, Olot started to introduce them.

“We’ve already met,” Cory said, and smiled at Itchy Butt.

His wide mouth split into an enormous grin. “We sure did!” he said. “I wasn’t sure a famous person like you would remember.” Reaching out with one of his enormous hands, he slapped Cory on the back. What might have been considered a friendly tap to another ogre sent Cory flying. Blue caught her before she hit the ground, and he was frowning when he turned back to Itchy Butt.

“I’m so sorry!” the ogre declared, his face turning red. “I didn’t mean to do that! Are you okay?”

The air had been knocked out of Cory, so it took a moment before she could speak. She nodded and squeezed Blue’s arm, not wanting him to do something he’d later regret.

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