✨🥪✏️Introducing Constance Contraire✏️🥪✨
"I'd like to know who we're waiting for," said Kate.
"That I can answer. Her name is Constance Contraire, a test-taker like yourselves. I must say she's given us all quite a turn. A most amusing child. Rhonda, how many pencils did you say she brought with her this morning?"
"Thirty-seven, said Rhonda, with a shake of her head. "We tell her to bring one, and she brings thirty seven."
"How did you know that?" Sticky asked.
Rhonda shrugged. "She told me so herself. Remember the storm drain? Constance stopped to help me, but instead of trying to get my pencil back, she simply opened her raincoat. She had pockets and pockets full of pencils. "Thirty-seven," she said. "Just help yourself."
"Wasn't that cheating?" Kate asked. "Why wasn't she disqualified?"
"It was certainly taking a risk," said Mr. Benedict. "However, she refused the test answers Rhonda offered her, and the point of the test wasn't to see if you would only bring one pencil, you know. The pencil itself is inconsequential."
Reynie was curious about something else. "Why was she wearing a raincoat? It was sunny outside today."
"You're an attentive listener," said Mr. Benedict. "That should serve you well - will serve us all well, I daresay. As for the raincoat, I believe she wore it to conceal the pencils."
"But why bring all those pencils?" Kate said, exasperated. It's ridiculous!"
Pages 72-73 of the paperback edition of The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
...Number Two said, "Rather than finish the maze, Constance chose a quiet corner and sat down to have a picnic. It to Milligan some time to find her."
Page 77 of the paperback edition of The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
"If that amuses you Kate," said Mr. Benedict, "you might also enjoy some of her test answers. Let me see, I believe I have them right here." He disappeared behind the desk, again, followed closely by Rhonda, who stood watchfully as he shuffled among some papers. The children could just see the top of his rumpled head as he searched.
"Ah, here it is," he said, stepping back around the desk. As before, Rhonda positioned herself close to his side. He scanned the pages. "Oh, here's a clever one. Do you remember the question from the first test?" It reads, 'What is wrong with this statement?' And do you know what Constance wrote in reply? She wrote,'What is worng with you?'" At this, Mr. Benedict burst into laughter - a squeaky, rapid, stuttering expulsion that sounded rather like a dolphin.
The children's faces wrinkled in confusion.
Page 73 of the paperback edition of The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
"I'm not apologizing," Constance said.
Page 77 of the paperback edition of The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
"That's the plan?" Constance said. "To give each other big hugs?"
Page 395 of the paperback edition of The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Constance Contraire is a really fascinating fictional little girl in The Mysterious Benedict Society. In the Disney Plus tv show, she was played by Marta Kessler. She was also in The Santa Clauses, season 2. She is so cute and her accent is adorable. Constance is always hungry, grumpy, and/or sleepy, which sounds a lot like me, lol.