were all kinds of interesting courses and classes. But, best of all, Super Whiz, the president of the Superheroes Society (Baxter Branch), had been invited to give a speech.
Of course, Ernie and Maud had heard Super Whiz give speeches many times before, as he held regular Monday afternoon training sessions for the two new recruits. Ernie had to admit that some of Super Whiz’s speeches were just a little bit dull. But he was so proud to think that their very own president would be speaking in front of all the other superheroes in the country that he would have gladly listened to a hundred speeches on ‘Ideal Cape Length: Below the knee or above the knee?’ or ‘Perfect Patrol Pacing: Brisk walk or energetic amble?’
It was a slow afternoon on patrol—though Ernie twice had to rescue Maud when her beret slipped over her eyes and she walked into a bush—and the two trainees spent the rest of the afternoon talking excitedly about the conference. When they got back to 32 High Street to report in at the end of their patrol,they found that the superheroes were also talking about the conference.
‘Maps,’ Super Whiz was saying importantly as Ernie and Maud pushed open the shabby brown door. He, Valiant Vera and Amazing Desmond were sitting around the long table in the middle of the room. Housecat Woman was asleep in her usual armchair. ‘Since I am the brains of the Baxter Branch, I suppose it will be up to me to navigate all the way to Thomastown. And if I am to do that successfully, I will need
very
detailed maps.’
‘And snacks,’ broke in Amazing Desmond, tipping Ernie and Maud a cheery wink. ‘If I am to drive all the way to Thomastown successfully, I will need very detailed snacks.’
Super Whiz sighed in frustration. ‘Can’t you
ever
be serious, Desmond?’
‘Sorry, Whiz!’ said Amazing Desmond, who, as far as Ernie knew, had
never
been serious. Then, noticing Super Whiz’s furious glare,Desmond corrected himself. ‘I mean Super.’ Super Whiz hated to be called Whiz.
‘Hello, you two,’ said Valiant Vera, waving at Ernie and Maud. ‘Are you looking forward to the conference?’ Valiant Vera was not only incredibly brave and strong, she was also one of the kindest people Ernie had ever met.
‘We sure are!’ said Maud happily.
The two trainees gave their patrol report then bid the superheroes goodbye.
‘Remember,’ Super Whiz called after them, ‘we leave at nine o’clock sharp on Saturday.’
‘And bring snacks!’ chimed in Desmond.
‘Oh, and Maud? Superhero costume only,’ Valiant Vera said with a meaningful look at Maud’s beret.
‘Yes, Vera,’ said Maud meekly.
It wasn’t until they were back outside on High Street, about to go their separate ways, that Maud raised the subject of heroic sheep again. ‘Ernie,’ she said, ‘can you think of
any
great heroic sheep in history? Even one?’
‘No,’ Ernie had to admit. ‘But I’m sure there are some,’ he added, seeing the disappointment on Maud’s face.
As he watched Maud clip-clop slowly down High Street towards the park, Ernie was determined that he would find them.
TWO
Ernie woke bright and early on Saturday morning and immediately pulled on his fluorescent green one-piece suit with the gold lightning bolts on the sleeves, and fastened his matching cape around his neck. He had breakfast in front of the television, but switched it off even before seeing if The Daring Dynamo managed to escape the clutches of the dastardly Count Crustaceous. This was one morning when Ernie definitely did not want to be late. He brushed his teeth, said goodbye to hisparents, then picked up his school backpack, into which he’d packed his pyjamas and the library’s copy of
The Greatest Heroes in History.
As he jogged down the street, Ernie felt a bit anxious about the fact that he hadn’t yet found a single sheep hero in the book, even though he’d read two chapters already: ‘Excellent Explorers’ and ‘Super Sports
Of course, Ernie and Maud had heard Super Whiz give speeches many times before, as he held regular Monday afternoon training sessions for the two new recruits. Ernie had to admit that some of Super Whiz’s speeches were just a little bit dull. But he was so proud to think that their very own president would be speaking in front of all the other superheroes in the country that he would have gladly listened to a hundred speeches on ‘Ideal Cape Length: Below the knee or above the knee?’ or ‘Perfect Patrol Pacing: Brisk walk or energetic amble?’
It was a slow afternoon on patrol—though Ernie twice had to rescue Maud when her beret slipped over her eyes and she walked into a bush—and the two trainees spent the rest of the afternoon talking excitedly about the conference. When they got back to 32 High Street to report in at the end of their patrol,they found that the superheroes were also talking about the conference.
‘Maps,’ Super Whiz was saying importantly as Ernie and Maud pushed open the shabby brown door. He, Valiant Vera and Amazing Desmond were sitting around the long table in the middle of the room. Housecat Woman was asleep in her usual armchair. ‘Since I am the brains of the Baxter Branch, I suppose it will be up to me to navigate all the way to Thomastown. And if I am to do that successfully, I will need
very
detailed maps.’
‘And snacks,’ broke in Amazing Desmond, tipping Ernie and Maud a cheery wink. ‘If I am to drive all the way to Thomastown successfully, I will need very detailed snacks.’
Super Whiz sighed in frustration. ‘Can’t you
ever
be serious, Desmond?’
‘Sorry, Whiz!’ said Amazing Desmond, who, as far as Ernie knew, had
never
been serious. Then, noticing Super Whiz’s furious glare,Desmond corrected himself. ‘I mean Super.’ Super Whiz hated to be called Whiz.
‘Hello, you two,’ said Valiant Vera, waving at Ernie and Maud. ‘Are you looking forward to the conference?’ Valiant Vera was not only incredibly brave and strong, she was also one of the kindest people Ernie had ever met.
‘We sure are!’ said Maud happily.
The two trainees gave their patrol report then bid the superheroes goodbye.
‘Remember,’ Super Whiz called after them, ‘we leave at nine o’clock sharp on Saturday.’
‘And bring snacks!’ chimed in Desmond.
‘Oh, and Maud? Superhero costume only,’ Valiant Vera said with a meaningful look at Maud’s beret.
‘Yes, Vera,’ said Maud meekly.
It wasn’t until they were back outside on High Street, about to go their separate ways, that Maud raised the subject of heroic sheep again. ‘Ernie,’ she said, ‘can you think of
any
great heroic sheep in history? Even one?’
‘No,’ Ernie had to admit. ‘But I’m sure there are some,’ he added, seeing the disappointment on Maud’s face.
As he watched Maud clip-clop slowly down High Street towards the park, Ernie was determined that he would find them.
TWO
Ernie woke bright and early on Saturday morning and immediately pulled on his fluorescent green one-piece suit with the gold lightning bolts on the sleeves, and fastened his matching cape around his neck. He had breakfast in front of the television, but switched it off even before seeing if The Daring Dynamo managed to escape the clutches of the dastardly Count Crustaceous. This was one morning when Ernie definitely did not want to be late. He brushed his teeth, said goodbye to hisparents, then picked up his school backpack, into which he’d packed his pyjamas and the library’s copy of
The Greatest Heroes in History.
As he jogged down the street, Ernie felt a bit anxious about the fact that he hadn’t yet found a single sheep hero in the book, even though he’d read two chapters already: ‘Excellent Explorers’ and ‘Super Sports
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