Mortoner 34, 2136

I can’t believe this is happening to me! Let me explain. My name is Cindy, and I’m a Koopa Troopa. I am involved in a journalism club at my school. One day the teacher handed out a brochure for an essay contest, so I wrote an entry and sent it in. Two months later, I got a phone call saying I won! The prize? A generous monetary sum, plus I get to stay at the Koopa’s Castle, living and working with the famed rulers of the Mushroom Kingdom. In exchange, I will keep a diary telling what I learn. My writing will be published in the Koopa Chronicle, the paper that ran the contest.

Yesterday I packed up most of my stuff, and this morning a limousine arrived to bring me to the castle. I was escorted to my own private apartment, where I was left to myself. Some time later a representative from the Koopa Chronicle came to see me. He said that the newspaper owners wanted to educate the people on Earth, a planet which Lemmy conquered, about the Koopas, so my journal entries will be published in some Earth newspapers. The man gave me a calendar to translate Mushroom dates into Earth time. I pasted it below.

I’m too excited to write very much today. Tomorrow I will begin the real investigation.

Mushroom Dates Earth Dates

Ludwigor 1-40………January 16-February 24

Lemmyax 1-41………February 25-April 6

Royat 1-40…………...April 7-May 16

Larrium 1-40…………May 17-June 25

Wendaria 1-41………June 26-August 5

Mortoner 1-41………..August 6-September 15

Clawdian 1-41……….September 16-October 26

Iggil 1-40……………...October 27-December 5

Bowsery 1-41………...December 6-January 15

Mortoner 36, 2136

I finally calmed down enough to start learning about the Koopas. Lemmy wasn’t busy this morning, so I followed him around the castle, and he showed me stuff. We had breakfast together in the Koopa Dining Room. The castle has a staff of cooks and waiters. The selection was good and the food was tasty.

We returned to Lemmy’s apartment, where I met his dog, Shadow. Shadow is a beautiful golden retriever. He got his name because he used to follow Lemmy everywhere. Lemmy and Shadow can talk to each other in dog language. The Koopas learn animal languages as one of their school subjects. Lemmy said if I ask Bowser, I can get a little device that will allow me to talk to the pets.

Then Lemmy showed me his classroom. It is fairly small. There are two large desks, each with a chair, a blackboard, a computer, a map, and bookshelves. The Koopas learn one-on-one with a private teacher.

We had lunch and then Lemmy had to go to some meetings. I went to Bowser’s room and asked him about the translator device. He gave me one and I turned it on. Maybe I’ll get a chance to use it tomorrow. No more exploring today.