Many, many years ago there was a great number of children living together on a castle. Unfortunately, they were not allowed to play with each other, because their family clans had different tasks and the tradition didn't call for interaction.

There was for example a family that cooked, one that did gardening, one that cared for the animals and one that especially looked after the horses. There was the family of guards, the clan of the blacksmithes, the one of the merchants, the family of the tailors, scholars and healers.

Ten groups – did you count along? In each clan there was at least one child, in all there were 21 and they were even called the same names as you have: Anisa, Betty, Charles, Chrissi, David, James, Jennifer, John, Kally, Karen, Lisa, Lizzy, Madison, Mary, Mathew, Nancy, Reed, Robby, Sarah, Susan and Tara. I can't tell you, who belongs to which family. But who would you want to belong to?

The whole day they heard: "Keep your distance!" or "Watch out, that you don't come to close to the others." Maybe you have heard this in the past as well, right?

The families at this castle – by the way it's name is Washingburg - had to watch out that the very important knowledge of their tasks had to be passed on and thus, their children shouldn't be distracted.

Astonishingly, this worked out quiet well, because everybody knew, how important it was to go by the rules. Each clan worked in its area and therefore the Washingburg became richer and more famous by the hour.

Also the grey knight heard about this prosperous place. Have you heard of him already? Mostly the evil knights are black, but our special kind of warrior was even viler and crueler and thus was called "Grey Knight". Otherwise someone might have mistaken him with a harmless black knight, and this was unthinkable!

Anyway, one day the grey knight was standing in front of the castle. The drawbridge was up, but nevertheless everyone was really scared, when someone screamed from the outside: "Hey there, you in there! Listen up!" At first the children came running up to the castle wall and looked at the huge horse, that silhouetted together with this towering man against the sunset. The animal neighed loudly, when the knight seized the reins, and it stood up on its hind legs.

After this the adults arrived, who, as they were used to, took their places with the appropriate distance. The children were reminded softly of their places and immediately, they found their families. They heard, how the men shouted: "You have until tomorrow evening, but then you give me – the grey knight -," as if they needed the explanation, "the castle! Don't try something funny with me, my people will be punctual."

He gave his horse the spurs and dashed away, so that after a short while only dust was to be seen of him.

Everybody was in dismay. Even the guards were at a loss. What could they do in a confrontation with this vile creature and its chums?

Thus, the adults decided to consign with the ultimatum. But the children secretly agreed to meet in the castle garden at midnight.

All 21 children came.

The first to raise his voice was Nancy: "This is not going to happen!"

"He can't take our home from us!", whispered James desperately.

While Sarah stomped her leg on the ground and flared: "This is so unfair."

"What are we going to do now?", asked Tara.

After a short pause John comforted: "Calm down. We have a plan."

Jennifer stepped forward and explained: "Tonight, we go to the woman in the tower. She can help us, we are sure!"

"But nobody is allowed to go to her", muttered Charles.

David looked quiet doubtfully, but in the end said in an appeasing manner: "That is true, but this is an emergency."

"Do you know, why nobody is allowed up there?", Susan wanted to know.

Matthew nodded and told: "A couple of years back she wanted us all to work together more and thus have better results in everything we produce."

"But nobody wanted this and therefore she was send up to the highest tower of the castle", continued Betty.

"Horrible", hinted Reed and spoke, what everybody was thinking.

They sneaked back to the castle and John and Jennifer led them through corridors, they never dreamt walking. They climbed and were already really exhausted, when they reached a door at the top of the steps.

"What's her name?", inquired Chrissi, still out of breath.

"Mrs. Teachlinus", answered Robby.

In this moment the door opened and shocked all of them grasped tight to each others hands.

Surprised by the involuntary action, they looked at each other in wonder. This was absolutely new! Thus, they lost hold of the hands at least as fast, even though they had actually felt much saver.

Behind the door, a woman was smiling mildly at them, so that they felt even better.

Mrs. Teachlinus looked at them cheerfully and said: "You probably came, because of the grey knight. I was able to listen to his words, even up here." All of them nodded, but the first to find his voice was Lisa and she explained: "We don't want to loose our home. Don't you have an idea? What can we do?"

"Only what I already said so many years ago", she declared. When the children looked at her with big unintelligible eyes, she reinforced: "You have to work together." Then she closed the door and they only heard a quietly muttered: "Good luck!"

Slowly the children spiraled down the stone steps. "Do you know what she wants us to do?", wondered Kally. For a while nobody answered.

"Earlier I really felt better, when we caught hands", remarked Mary. Puzzled Lizzy looked at her and commented: "I felt the same."

"Maybe not only the guards need to protect our home?", guessed Karen.

Anisa stated excited: "Yes, indeed! All of us can contribute!"

While Lizzy exclaimed: "Right! Come on, think about it. All of us can help!" The children agreed and with enthusiasm started to exchange ideas. They debated all night long and only in the morning returned happily to their families.

Around nightfall, when the grey knight appeared, the Washingburg looked as if it was deserted. The wide gate was open and the awful fiend rode with his horse directly into the inner ward. It was pitch black, because only the grey knight had thought about bringing a torch. His followers complained full-throatedly, but their leader ordered them merciless, to enter the building in order to search their new home.

Trembling the bravest followed his command, when they fell over armour, that the blacksmiths had spread. The metal made a pandemonium, which scared the outlaws. Lanterns or torches were not to be detected, because all castle inhabitants had hid them well. Not even timber in the fireplace was left.

Suddenly, there were creepy sounds to be observed, some of them suspiciously reminded an observant visitor of the animals and horses of the castle, but the knights were absolutely terrified. Furthermore, it smelled hideously, because the gardeners had burned a diversity of herbs and the cooks had created a poisonous broth, which gave off a strange, not to say obnoxious smell.

The knight's chums didn't go one step further and ran out of the castle. They passed there dumbfounded leader, but it wasn't in his power to stop them.

Snoring with rage the grey knight entered the castle with his torch and followed the sounds of the animals, after he recognized them as the pets of the Washingburg.

"Do you really believe, that I fall for your dumb animals?", he screamed and jumped up the stairs. Without warning, ghosts fell down around him, which were attached to a booby trap, that he had triggered, when he forcefully ran up. Those ghosts, made by the tailors, he was able to avoid, but he missed the next trap. So that pea-sized salt crackled down on him. The merchants had brought spices from their last trip and had given them voluntarily for this trick. By this the knight was a little unsettled and he cried out: "Why does it hail in here?" He stormed on.

When he arrived at the top, little flasks and fireworks exploded around him, which were produced by the scholars and healers in teamwork. Hopping from one leg to the other he continued, but cried out in dismay every time a bang shook the castle. Like a baby he wept: "Ahhh!", Ohh no!" and "Mama!", so that the children were laughing in their hideouts.

After another climb he reached the big hall, where the inhabitants ate after one another. But on this day, they were waiting here. The guards had taken their position right across the door and behind them the nine other families were backing them up.

The grey knight entered and immediately started his fight. The guards had some difficulties, because the man was an extraordinary warrior. So the gardeners threw flowerpots, the cooks frying pans and cookware, the blacksmiths hammers and the rest threw everything they could get a hold on.

The grey knight cursed and ran out of the hall, away from the castle and out of the gate. Everybody fell into each others arms. They were very happy. They danced all night. They made music together – alone that never had been fun. But combined they made up an awesome orchestra at the Washingburg. Even Mrs. Teachlinus shook a leg, and naturally Anisa, Betty, Charles, Chrissi, David, James, Jennifer, John, Kally, Karen, Lisa, Lizzy, Madison, Mary, Mathew, Nancy, Reed, Robby, Sarah, Susan and Tara.

The grey knight was never to be seen again.