---
Fizz's whiskers prickled with pleasure. "Good. I was waiting for this. I did not tell John that I am also his professor. It will be fun to watch his face do the thing. He has a face he does when the world insists on being bigger than he scheduled."
Snake tapped the pipe stem once on the desk. "Try not to break my disciple with surprise."
"I will break him only with knowledge," Fizz said, puffing himself up. Then he narrowed his eyes. "By the way, you told me you would send someone with a gift for John. But at the party nobody came. Where is John's gift. Did that courier steal it. Shall I hunt them and roast them gently."
"I sent no one," Snake said. "I thought to. Then I thought better of it. I would prefer to give him something in person. I will ask for him soon and do it properly."
Fizz accepted that with a regal nod. "Owww. Very well. When is my class."
"In thirty minutes," Snake said. "I will make the announcement now. Please do not eat the podium."
