Inside Full Stop’s sanctum, the floor, though speckled with his image, was almost smooth.
Puckered dots created a cobblestone pattern of sorts. The Viscount Verb hesitated at the door. It would be a grave mistake to tread on any of Full Stop’s images. Cautiously, the Viscount Verb leapt and skipped closer to the predatory gaze of his monarch.
“I was expecting the Crown Noun, not you,” Full Stop snarled.
“The Crown Noun is off on another of his jaunts,” the Viscount Verb announced. “The Parts’ Panel needs a new leader. You and I have so much in common, King Stop. Verbs appear in every sentence. You appear in ev—”
Full Stop cut him off with a snicker. “It is common knowledge that I do not appear in every sentence, since I have not done away with Question Mark or Exclamation Mark.” Full Stop directed a podgy hand towards the door. “I have already got a yes-word. I do not need another.”
“Yet,” the Viscount Verb fawned. “You have not done away with them yet. If you were to begin using indirect questions in print, there would be no need for Question Mark, and you would become more powerful. Of course, if you are switching to indirect questions, you may as well switch to indirect speech.”
“No Quotes either,” Full Stop mused.
“This nonsense about Quotes being the last Mark in a quotation will end. No one but you, King Stop, should be the last Mark in any sentence. Who but you can perform a grand finale?”
