I'm starting to enjoy evil Puck!
"I heard the future calling," Charming said angrily. He regained his composure and started again. "And I saw an opportunity for our children. When I talk about our children I don't mean the children of everyone in this town. I'm talking about Everafter children. For far too long there has been no room for them at the head of the class. This new school represents an end to that."
The crowd roared with approval.
"I have personally overseen this project, supervising the work, even rolling up my sleeves and picking up a shovel to help out," Charming said, causing some in the audience to laugh good-naturedly. "Boarman and Swineheart Construction have done an amazing job."
"It's Swineheart and Boarman Construction," Swineheart shouted.
"No, it's not. It's Boarman and Swineheart Construction," his partner argued.
Charming cleared his throat and the bickering ended.
"And we couldn't have done any of this without the generous donations of our town's three wealthiest families. Everyone give a round of applause to Little Miss Muffet and the spider--I mean, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Arachnid--Beauty and the Beast, and of course, the Frog Prince and his lovely princess."
The three couples stood off to the side, obviously fuming but doing their best to hide it. They waved half-heartedly to the crowd. Sabrina was sure their "generous donations" were little more than bribes to keep them out of prison. Only a few days earlier the Grimms had discovered that these "wealthy donors" had gotten rich selling their Everafter children to Rumpelstiltskin.
"Some people asked me, 'Mayor Charming, what's the big deal? There are only a few Everafter children in this town. Why make all the fuss?' Well, I'll tell you why I'm making a fuss. Because you people elected me to make a fuss!"
He was again met with wild applause.
"The new school will have separate, exclusive classes for Everafter children that will teach our heritage, traditions, and values. It will feature a cafeteria offering lunches that meet the special dietary needs of our unique offspring. And lastly, it will be named after one of our own. From this day forward the children of Ferryport Landing, whether human or Everafter, will learn in a school named after the most famous Everafter of all time. Ladies and gentleman I proudly present to you Ferryport Landing's answer to the call of the future…"
Mr. Seven tugged on a large curtain behind the mayor. It fell to the floor, revealing a banner that read WILLIAM CHARMING ELEMENTARY. Below it was a huge bronze statue of the mayor standing with his chest puffed out and a wide grin on his face. Several frightened-looking children crouched at his feet, gazing up at him as if he were their only hope for survival.
The room was silent; then the grumbling began. Only Mr. Seven clapped, and he did it desperately, as if he feared for his job.
Suddenly, Sabrina was shoved from behind. A group of people were forcing their way through the crowd and up to the podium. A chubby woman wearing a long red dress and a golden crown climbed up on the stage and snatched the microphone out of the mayor's hand. Her face was covered in white powder and a little black birthmark had been drawn on her right cheek. Beside her was a small army of men in colorful uniforms. When Sabrina examined them more closely, she was shocked to discover their bodies were actually playing cards. The Queen of Hearts had arrived.
"I don't see any cause to celebrate," the queen said. "Having to rebuild this school is an unacceptable waste of taxpayer money and you, Mayor Charming, are to blame!"
Charming was startled but quickly recovered, and smiled widely at the irate woman. "Mrs. Heart, we're not here to debate policy. We're here to dedicate this wonderful new school to the youth of this town."
Mr. Seven clapped again, alone.
"The school wouldn't have had to be rebuilt if it weren't for you," the queen said as she turned to the crowd. "Everafters of Ferryport Landing, this sorry excuse for a mayor has let us down once again. In the last month we've had a giant run amok and cause property damage that has yet to be repaired. Our police force has been reduced to one pig, and public services, utilities, and infrastructure have fallen to the wayside. Four days ago, a perfectly good elementary school was blown to smithereens, and you are footing the bill. This man is completely incompetent."
"What's incompetent mean?" Daphne asked.
"It means he's not good at his job," Sabrina replied.
"Ferryport Landing has been in a bit of a budget crisis of late," the mayor said, looking defensive. "I have done the best I could with the resources at hand."
"Is that good enough for us?" the queen cried. Several people in the audience grumbled. A few even shouted "No!"
"No, it's not good enough!" the queen shouted. "But people, you don't even know the worst of it. Mayor Charming laid off two thirds of the police force so he could deputize the Grimms!"