CHAPTER 145: A DAY TO REMEMBER

By noon, most of the children’s cheeks were flushed with excitement, their clothes slightly rumpled from play, and their eyes sparkling with unfiltered joy. Laughter still echoed faintly through the PlayZone, but energy levels had clearly dipped.

"Miss Cooper! I’m hungry! Is it lunchtime yet?" Klein called out, panting and clutching his stomach dramatically.

"Yes, and you all certainly earned it," Miss Cooper replied with a warm smile. "Let’s head up to the Cloud Suite."

The Cloud Suite was nothing short of magical... a private party room perched above the main play arena, painted in soft whites and sky blues, giving the illusion of dining among clouds. Hanging star-shaped lights twinkled softly overhead, while long child-sized tables were already set with paper placemats printed with cheerful doodles, rainbow-colored cutlery, and personalized water bottles bearing each child’s name.

The children rushed in, still buzzing with post-play adrenaline, but the instant the warm scent of food reached their noses, the chatter subsided and tiny feet slowed.

"Pizza!" squealed Tamara, skipping toward the table with outstretched arms.

"And chips! And nuggets!" Henry gasped, his eyes gleaming with glee as he pointed to each item like he’d struck gold.

A cheerful announcement echoed gently from the speakers:

"Welcome, HMIS! Please enjoy your lunch... freshly prepared just for you. Don’t forget to hydrate after play!"

Mothers guided their children into seats, adjusting napkins, straightening sleeves, and pouring out juice with practiced care. The kids’ menu was a guaranteed hit: margherita pizza slices with bubbling cheese, crispy chicken nuggets, crinkle-cut fries dusted with paprika, soft mini veggie burgers, fresh apple slices, and vibrant cupcakes topped with blue frosting and shimmering sugar stars.

The room soon filled with the sounds of munching, chatting, and happy sighs.

"I slid down the big twisty slide five times," Jason boasted, holding up five sauce-covered fingers like badges of honour.

"I climbed the volcano and touched the very top," Sana announced proudly, showing a tiny blister on her finger like it was a hard-earned medal.

"Mama, can we come here every Sunday?" Zara asked, her mouth stuffed with fries and eyes full of hope.

The mothers exchanged amused glances. Reema, Zara’s mom, chuckled. "Let’s see how tired you are tonight before we plan our Sundays."

On the moms’ table, the vibe was just as pleasant. Their lunch was elegant yet light—smoked salmon bagels layered with cream cheese and capers, leafy salads dotted with pomegranate seeds and goat cheese crumbles, buttery tarts filled with herbed mushrooms, and cappuccinos topped with frothy hearts.

"I feel like I’m on a mini-vacation," Olivia, Freddie’s mother, sighed contentedly, swirling her flat white.

"Can’t believe no one’s spilled anything yet," Reema remarked with a chuckle.

"They behave better here than at home," Charlotte noted. "I think Miss Cooper deserves all the credit."

"Yes, they’re more careful when in school settings. It’s definitely her influence," Susan added, smiling toward the teacher.

Just as the children were finishing their cupcakes, a staff member wheeled in a surprise... a DIY Sundae Bar. Gasps and cheers erupted around the room.

Three large trays of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream were surrounded by bowls brimming with toppings: fluffy marshmallows, rainbow sprinkles, syrupy chocolate sauce, chopped nuts, jellybeans, and bright gummy bears.

"It’s a Sundae Station!" Henry screamed, practically vibrating with excitement. "Best... Day... Ever!"

The line formed instantly. Freya stood on her toes to spoon exactly six gummy bears onto her bowl... no more, no less. Ravi focused like a sculptor, creating a precise tower out of scoops and sprinkles.

Cameras flashed as mothers captured the pure joy on their children’s faces, the sticky cheeks and triumphant grins. After dessert, mothers gently wiped faces, fixed ponytails, and checked shoelaces. Sophie, the lead staff member, discussed the next schedule quietly with Miss Cooper before stepping into the center of the room.

"Alright, who’s ready for Round Two?" Sophie asked brightly.

"Me!" all twenty-five voices chorused, arms flung into the air.

Now refuelled and refreshed, the children charged back into the PlayZone, eager to conquer it all over again. This time, play took on a new tone... more collaborative and imaginative.

Under the watchful eyes of staff members, games evolved into storytelling adventures. The foam mountain became an active volcano, the dance pad turned into a launchpad, and the trampoline cave became a hideout for heroes.

"We’re secret agents," Bella announced seriously, a paper straw tucked behind her ear like a communicator. "We have to rescue the treasure before the lava rises!"

"Team Dragon, move out!" Jake cried, leading his group across the rope bridge.

In one corner, the LED dance floor began to glow and pulse with upbeat kids’ music. A spontaneous dance-off began. Freya spun in dizzying circles while Lucy moved with graceful twirls. Henry invented a move that was half jump, half wiggle, leaving everyone in stitches.

Elsewhere, a group of boys discovered the "Ninja Training Zone", a padded obstacle course with mini-beams, hanging ropes, and swinging bridges.

"Time me!" shouted Liam, already mid-sprint.

"Ready... one, two, three... GO!" Jake shouted, pretending to hold a stopwatch.

Some mothers, no longer content to just watch, began removing their shoes and venturing in.

"I’m going in," Olivia announced with a gleam in her eye. "I want to see what this zipline hype is about."

"Count me in too," said Charlotte, Tim’s mother, stepping down from the lounge area.

Soon, five moms were racing through the foam course, climbing walls and sliding down rope ladders while their children cheered from the side-lines.

By mid-afternoon, the whole group gathered once again in the Cloud Suite. Miss Cooper stood with a small velvet box in one hand and a microphone in the other.

"Alright, everyone... thank you for being such a delightful group today. And now, as promised, it’s time for our surprise raffle draw!"

A chorus of "Ooooh!" rose from the children as they crowded closer.

Miss Cooper continued with a wink, "But this time, it’s for the moms. Because let’s be honest... you ladies deserve some fun too."

One by one, Sophie reached into the box and pulled out names:

Dorothy won a luxurious spa voucher. Olivia beamed as she received a basket filled with scented candles and essential oils. Susan clapped as she got a bookstore gift card. And Priya smiled brightly at her delicate floral teapot set.

Then came the grand prize... an elegant, porcelain dinner set.

"And the final winner is... Cleo Barrett! Irene’s mother"

Cleo gasped, hands over her mouth. "I never win anything!" she exclaimed, walking forward with laughter.

Applause filled the room, and the children joined their mothers as the group posed under the balloon arch for a final photo.

"Say cheese!" Sophie called.

"Cheese!" everyone shouted, grinning wide.

Sophie clicked the picture... a perfect snapshot of joy, community, and memory.

With shoes back on and cheeks glowing, the families began to file out of the suite. Hair tousled, fingers sticky with sugar, hearts full... the day had come to a perfect close.

"Mum, can we come back next week?" Klein asked, already yawning against his mother’s side.

"Maybe for your birthday," she replied, planting a kiss on his forehead.

Freya tugged on Eleanor’s sleeve and whispered, "Can I invite all my friends again next time?"

Eleanor bent low and smiled. "All twenty-five? We can. But you have to wait until after your end-of-term exams. If you do well, we’ll hire a bus and explore somewhere even bigger."

Freya beamed, her little heart brimming with dreams.

Outside, the golden sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the pavement. Children clutched balloon animals and goody bags like treasures. The air was filled with laughter, shared stories, and promises to meet again.

***

When the king of werewolves, Erevan Brontes Lychos, reached Longyearbyen Airport, the region was in its season of endless daylight. A helicopter from the dragon clan waited on the tarmac. As protectors of Yggdrasil... and the supreme race of Earth... only they have the authority to travel to the Litke Deep area, the sole known entrance to Kvernheim.

Kvernheim is the subterranean city where Yggdrasil resides. Although the tree there is only a root and not the main trunk, it still holds immense significance for the planet. Dragons occupy the settlement’s outer ring as guardians, while fairies live in the inner circle to tend the root of Yggdrasil.

Two dragons in human form greeted the werewolf king with respectful bows. For such a proud and powerful race, this was the greatest courtesy they would extend to another species. Erevan boarded the helicopter with his secretary and two guards; he brought no larger escort, for within the dragons’ domain no one would dare cause trouble.

About half an hour later, the helicopter set down on a boundless sheet of ice... nothing but white as far as the eye could see. Once everyone disembarked, the helicopter lifted off again. There were no markers to identify the spot, and Erevan still wondered how the dragons could locate the entrance in this featureless expanse.

The two dragons chanted in their native tongue and performed synchronized hand signs. An ethereal gate shimmered into view.

"Lord Lychos, after you," one of them said.

Erevan stepped forward and vanished through the gate. His entourage followed. When the last of them had entered, the dragons passed through as well, and the gateway disappeared behind them.