Nogdorf sat on a stump, unobserved. Silly Sally was one of the first to arrive. In her red, yellow and orange sun-dress with the cape, she was brilliant. The added sequins sparkled in the light. Now, it was not a normal sun-dress, but was a formal gown, made to remind one of the shining of the sun.

  Lily Hog was next. She walked in, shyly with her lovely blue gown sporting a low neckline. The covering was a pink shimmering sheer material which caused the blue gown to become purple in just the right spots as she moved. You could tell she felt lovely and then she caught a whiff of Malcolm Matteo Badger’s cooking. She started drooling and nothing would do until she tasted the jalapeno poppers wrapped in bacon. Malcolm looked at her sideways and got up the courage to ask Lily if it was ethical for her to eat pork. Lily chuckled and said, “As long as it is no longer alive.”

  Nogdorf couldn’t stand it any longer and had to talk with Lily. He walked up to her and asked, “Hello my dear, what is going on with you?”

  “What do you mean, Nogdorf? Are you referring to my beautiful gown?” Lily answered.

  “Actually, I meant why are you so unconfused tonight?” Nogdorf couldn’t think of a more tactful way to put it.

  “Oh, Nogdorf, the Lion’s Mane you and Lester make for me help me feel a little better every time I take it. I really do feel like I can remember more and my comprehension is vastly improved and, get this, my vocabulary seems to be coming back. My sincerest thanks to you and Lester,” Lily gushed.

  As Lily reached for some spinach Quiche, Nogdorf went back to his seat where he could watch the others enter.

  Sarge came rushing in and stepped over to the line to get his carnation. He put it smartly into his buttonhole. He had on a ruffly green shirt with his tuxedo and had picked a pretty green and white carnation to match with it. He quickly got his camera equipment and began snapping pictures. One of his first was Lily with quiche in one hand and a small cup of champagne in the other. Sarge snapped his wife, Millicent as she entered. She wore an elegant black off the shoulder gown, with a large comb in her hair which had a long red veil trailing behind her.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Sarge continued taking pictures of the women in their dresses and the men in their tuxes and then moved to the cut outs and took comical pictures of the creatures there.

  The real magic began as the lanterns were lit and the music began. Nogdorf had never seen such good manners in his life when the gentlemen started asking the ladies to dance. Before long he felt a thump on his right shoulder. “Misser Noggy, no dinosaurs tonight?” Sammy asked with a little fear in his eyes.

  With a kindly smile, Nogdorf said, “No, Sammy. They don’t come without the moonlight. You can relax. Where is your tuxedo?”

  “I too young, Miss Merina say to have a tuxedo. I supposed to go to bed like the other kids, but I have to come see what is happening. My dad still do the news, so no one is home. He will get me when he get home. Why you not dancing?” Sammy asked.

  “I’m like you, Sammy. I enjoy watching,” Nogdorf said.

  Sammy looked around and a bell went off in his head. “OOOh, misser Noggy, there no girls like your kind. I understand. I so sorry,” Sammy said and shook his head slowly. “You ever have a girl for yourself, misser Noggy?”

  “Let’s talk about that later, Sammy. I don’t want to talk about that tonight,” Nogdorf said with a sad look in his eyes.

  “Misser Noggy, you think I not remember if you say talk another time. Sammy remember. Sammy’s friend sad. I cheer you up,” Sammy said and hopped down on the ground. Sammy started doing all kinds of contortions, jumping way up high and then crouching really low, swinging from side to side, until he was exhausted.

  Nogdorf was smiling. “ Thank you Sammy. You really cheered me up.”

  Steve and Tom called a meeting of the counsel of five plus Jordan, who they had sworn to secrecy. The conference room was fully stocked with food and the meeting was called after hours so they would not be disturbed. Steve said, after they had all served their plates and were seated, “OK, it is time to do something. We have reached a crisis.”