Nefera and Mouscedes looked around the dining room. A banquet table shaped like an all-seeing eye was covered in delicacies. Gargoyle waiters in white suit jackets hurried past, getting everything ready for the brunch.
When the ghouls arrived, all dressed up in their favorite fashions, they were amazed.
“Oh my ghoul!” gushed Clawdeen. “Look at this view! I think I can see Boo Jersey from here.” As she took a seat at a table, a gargoyle held out her chair for her.
“Nefera, this is too much,” Frankie said. “Thank you for putting this brunch together.”
Cleo’s eyes narrowed. Something was wrong here, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. “Yes,” she said suspiciously, “why did you put this brunch together?”
Nefera smiled innocently. “What? I can’t throw together a little pre-gala breakfast soiree for my sister and her friends? Besides, Mouscedes did most of the planning. That ghoul’s got connections.”
Mouscedes brushed it off with a giggle and a squeak.
“Ah!” announced Nefera. “Here comes our guest of honor!”
Seth Ptolemy appeared at the entrance to the dining room. He was wearing a little cape and his gold mask gleamed.
Nefera led him to a chair next to Cleo. “Ghouls, meet Seth Ptolemy. But then I don’t have to tell you who the prince of Boo York is.” She smiled. “Seth, you’ll be sitting here next to Cleo.”
Seth flipped his cape as he sat down, and Cleo rolled her eyes.
“Wait a minute,” said Cleo, looking around the room. “Where’s Deuce? You invited him too, right?”
“Oh, he’ll be here,” said Nefera brightly. “I’m counting on it.”
Seth turned to Cleo and spoke in a stiff, formal voice. “Do you like Spookfear’s sonnets?” he asked.
Cleo shrugged. “Is that some kind of Boo York band or something?”
“Oh my no!” gasped Seth. “We Ptolemys don’t care for wild modern music. I am talking about poetry.” He pulled out a notebook. “I write poetry,” he explained.
Cleo could not hide her boredom. “Wonderful,” she said without looking at him.
This was enough encouragement, and Seth began reciting poetry to Cleo. “If music be the food of love, play on. Play on. And again.”
Cleo felt like she had been listening to him drone on for a thousand years when Deuce finally arrived.
For some strange reason, Deuce was dressed for the pool. He was wearing a bathing suit, a snorkel, a mask, and fins. He was carrying an inflatable raft.
“You’re late!” hissed Cleo. Deuce looked completely confused.
Cleo raised an arched eyebrow. “And what are you wearing? The invitation said formal attire.”
“I thought it was a pool party,” explained Deuce.
Cleo was irritated. “Oh, Deuce, are you doing this on purpose?” She sighed. “Never mind, just come sit down.” She pulled the fake beard out of her purse and stuck it on his chin. Deuce’s snakes hissed at it.
The ancient waiter approached them. “I’m sorry, sir, but a suit jacket is required for all gentlemen to enter.”
“He doesn’t have one,” Cleo said, knowing there was no way Deuce had brought a suit jacket to a pool party.
The waiter snapped his fingers. A host of dog-headed Anubis waiters rushed over and removed Deuce’s swimming gear. One of them held up a jacket. It was enormous, and it was plaid. “This is the only loaner jacket we have,” said the waiter.
When Deuce put it on, the sleeves hung down to his knees.
Meanwhile, Nefera sauntered by and slipped a wad of bills into the waiter’s jacket pocket.
In his oversize plaid jacket and swimming trunks, Deuce looked ridiculous. The ghouls tried not to laugh as they finished their meals.
“Hey, everyone,” said Deuce, sitting down. “Don’t we look nice this morning?” He reached for his water glass but knocked it over because his hand was lost in his sleeve.
“Oh no, my poetry!” Seth grabbed his notebook and dried it off.
“Sorry. Major brunch foul,” Deuce apologized.
“This is amazing,” Toralei grinned.
A slew of waiters marched into the dining room and placed domed trays in front of each diner.
Mouscedes clapped her hands. “And now for a Boo York specialty—scary cherries flambé!”
The waiters lifted the covers of the plates, revealing the flaming desserts. Nefera leaned close to Deuce and whispered, “Oh no! The food! It’s on fire! Do something!”
Deuce threw up his hands and tipped the dish in front of him over to extinguish the flames—but the entire tablecloth caught on fire. Deuce leaped up and grabbed a fire extinguisher and blasted the table. Foam was covering the food, the waiters, and the ghouls in their best dresses. As Deuce tried to put the fire out, Nefera stuck out a foot and tripped him, sending him sprawling across the room.
Deuce’s special gorgon sunglasses fell off and beams from his eyes flew right at the head waiter, turning him to stone. The snakes on his head hissed and shook off the foam from the fire extinguisher.
Everyone was screaming as the fire alarm rang loudly and a crew of monster firemen burst into the room carrying hoses. Deuce quickly put his sunglasses back on and looked around the room. He was embarrassed when he realized what a catastrophe he’d created. Nefera looked on smugly as Cleo, who appeared to be totally cool and composed, sat down beside him.
“Deuce,” she said icily, “the scary cherries are supposed to be on fire.” Without another word, she stormed out of the dining room, leaving a trail of foam behind her.
Deuce put his head in his hands. Even his snakes were embarrassed. A waiter handed him his snorkel and fins.
Nefera brought him over a bowl of cherries. “Here,” she said sweetly, “I scraped out a little spot that wasn’t covered in toxic safety foam.”
Deuce didn’t look up. “I don’t know why I keep doing that.”
“Going all crazy with a fire extinguisher? This is a regular thing for you?” Nefera asked.
“No, I mean, I don’t know why I keep embarrassing Cleo.”
Nefera nodded her head. “Oh well, let’s face it. Cleo is an Egyptian princess. And you are, well, Deuce. You come from two very different worlds.”
Deuce knew she was right. “She deserves better,” he said sadly.
Nefera tried not to grin. She placed a comforting hand on Deuce’s shoulder. “The way I see it, you could stay with Cleo for a little while longer, pretending to be good enough for her, or you could set her free so she can move on with her life. And find someone truly worthy of Egyptian royalty.” Nefera stood up. “I’m sure you’ll make the right decision. If you love her, you’ll leave her.”
Confident in the success of her plan, Nefera left Deuce alone with his humiliation. He poked at the cherries with a spoon. Nefera was right. He was out of place. He knew it. Cleo knew it. Her father knew it. Everyone knew it now. It was time for him to make a change. If only he didn’t like Cleo so much…