Knight of the Cape

by Terry Catasus Jennings

  “You as well, error-night.” Ponsi bowed to the ground, smirking all the way.

  “How ’bout that smile?” Dom punched Pancho as the boy disappeared around the hedge. “Did you hear the happiness in his voice? He’s changed his ways.”

  “Oh sure,” Pancho grumbled, shuffling behind her. “The bully of fifth grade turned into a saint. Didn’t you hear what I said? That’s Ponsi Bublassi! Next in line of the Bublassi brothers!”

  Dom’s heart stopped for a second. Was Pancho right? This was Ernie Bublassi’s brother? A smile crept onto her face. She had beaten Ernie Bublassi’s brother! SHE HAD BEATEN ERNIE BUBLASSI’S BROTHER! She set her jaw, handed Pancho her phone, and marched toward the fountain.

  “Let’s talk to the girl we rescued. I’m sure she’s grateful.”

  “I hate it when the Bublassi brothers pick on girls.”

  That stopped Dom. “Pancho,” she said. “I did not rescue her because she’s a girl. I rescued her because she was being bullied. Normally, girls can take care of themselves. Got it?”

  Pancho stared and nodded slowly.

  “And we need to get a picture for the Ernie-Bublassi-I’ll-show-you book. We need to find out her name.”

  Pancho shrugged. “Her name is Steph,” he said. “She had an operation. That’s why she needs the brace. Let’s walk her home. What if Ponsi comes back?”

  Dom could see this was going to be difficult. Pancho still thought that girls needed protecting, and he didn’t understand the finer points of being a knight. “No, no,” she said. “You’re wrong. I’m sure Ponsi will never hurt anyone again. He gave me his word.”

  Pancho’s jaw dropped. He stared hard at Dom for a few seconds.

  “We need to take her home.” Pancho was quiet but firm.

  Dom shook her head again. They had almost reached Steph.

  “Thanks,” Steph said as they approached. “That kid’s always after me. Calling me names. I was just sitting here and he ran away with my brace.”

  “Don’t thank me,” Pancho said. “The honor is all Dom’s. She did it all.”

  “Are you playing knights?” Steph asked.

  “Playing?” Pancho said. “She’s a real knight. Dom Capote. Doer of brave deeds.” Pancho pointed to the dog. “And this is her steed, Roco. I’m just her squire. We are on a quest to prove girls can be knights. Let me take your picture to record this adventure.”

  Dom tried to smile and look heroic at the same time. She liked what Pancho was saying, but it didn’t feel right. Not for Pancho. Not the way he’d been talking just minutes before. Wait, what was he trying to do?

  Pancho took the picture and babbled on. “Perhaps we should stop for a bite to celebrate Dom’s brave deeds,” he told Steph. “And you can celebrate with us.”

  Dom was still confused, but she liked Pancho’s idea. “A brilliant idea, Squire. A brilliant idea!”

  Dom used her piggy bank money to buy some drinks from a food truck. They sat against the base of a statue of a dead general.

  Pancho opened the saddlebag and pulled out the ham croquettes his uncle had given them for their lunch that morning. He sighed. Instead of two each, they could now only have one each. The fourth one was for Roco.

  “He won’t leave me alone,” Steph said between bites. “He keeps hanging around. I don’t know what he wants with me.”

  “Dom is sure he won’t bother you again,” said Pancho. His eyebrows almost reached the mop of black hair on his head.

  Dom jumped at Pancho’s words. “He gave me his word as a gentleman. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  Pancho looked at Dom in front of him. “I know what you’re thinking,” he said. “You’re thinking this is like Don Quijote. But it’s not. Ponsi Bublassi will never give up.”

  “Not so!” Dom said.

  Pancho leaned close to Dom and spoke softly. “We need to take her home. That way her family can thank you properly. They might even tell the world about your noble deeds.”

  Now that was a good idea! Maybe Pancho was beginning to understand the knightly ways. And even if she hadn’t convinced him, if Steph’s family recognized her daring deeds, Pancho would have to believe.

  She smiled. “Just so, Pancho. Just so.”

  10 An Unexpected Addition

  Steph lived in a house with a porch full of flowers: drooping flowers, shooting flowers, trailing flowers, dead flowers. A white-haired woman dressed in lavender opened the door. She smiled when she saw Steph with Dom and Pancho.

  “You brought friends!”

  The knight shook her head. “Well, no, not really.”

  “Yes.” Pancho followed his nose inside the house. “We’re Steph’s friends. We brought her home.”

  Dang. Dom wished Pancho had kept his mouth shut. She didn’t want Steph’s grandmother to get the wrong idea. She had rescued Steph, but they weren’t friends. She kind of liked having Pancho as a friend. And it wouldn’t be bad if she had another friend. But Don Quijote only had a squire. And she couldn’t become friends with everyone she rescued, could she?

  “I’m so happy to see you.” Steph’s grandmother held the door open wide. “Here, here, come in. I was so afraid when she came to stay with me that Steph would be lonely. I just took cookies out of the oven. Would you like some?”

  “We must be going.” Dom backed away from the door. “We’re—”

  “Sort of in a hurry,” Pancho finished. “But we have enough time for cookies.”

  Dom pouted, her forehead wrinkled, and her eyes became slits.

  “A feast, remember? To celebrate your feats. So they can tell everyone about your noble deeds.”

  “Uh…”

  Steph stepped in. “Grandma, this is Dom. She’s a knight. And this is Pancho—he’s her squire. They rescued me from that kid.”

  “I see.” The grandmother tried to smile but didn’t do a very good job.

  “I can’t stay inside all the time, Grandma.” Steph patted her grandmother’s arm. “And I’m supposed to walk. Mom and Dad don’t care…”

  The room became quiet as a tomb. The four of them looked everywhere except at one another.

  “Well…” The grandmother finally broke the silence. “I know your mom and dad let you do all sorts of things. They’re so into their work.…” She shook her head like a puppy who’s just gotten out of a pond and motioned toward the kitchen. “Let’s have a feast to celebrate your deeds, like Pancho said.” She handed cookies all around. “I’m sure you three want to be off on your next quest.”

  Dom almost choked on the cookie she’d just slipped into her mouth. There was the friend thing again. She planned to rescue many people in distress. But really, as much as she wanted more friends, she couldn’t bring each one of them along after the rescue. She didn’t have enough money in her piggy bank for two people. How could she feed three? Or more? And her steed? Steph lived in a nice house with flowers and a porch. She didn’t even live in an apartment house. She had a grandmother who made delicious cookies.

  And besides, what if they took Steph along and Ponsi Bublassi didn’t keep his word?

  It would mean Pancho was right.

  It would mean Dom hadn’t saved Steph.

  It would mean Dom wasn’t a very good knight.

  Ernie Bublassi could laugh at her forever.

  She wouldn’t have any grand adventures to share with Abuela.

  “Maybe we can come by and tell you of our adventures,” Dom said. “Play with you after our quest.”

  “I still limp, but I can walk fast. Give me a chance—you’ll see.” Steph’s eyes darted from the knight to the squire, but she didn’t whine.

  “You can take my wagon in case she gets tired,” the grandmother said.

  Pancho stepped in front of Dom. “Steph didn’t slow us down on the way here. If she gets tired, Roco could pull her in the wagon!”

  “No, he can’t. He’s a dog, not a horse.”

  “I’ll pull the wagon, then.”

 
“I’ll send a bag of cookies, with you,” the grandmother offered. “For your quest.”

  “Cookies, yes,” Pancho said, tugging at Dom. “Cookies would be wonderful.”

  Dom raised her hand. She intended to slap the kitchen counter where she was seated to make her point. It was just that a knight couldn’t pick up every person she rescued. She was about to tell them about how the bully had promised to leave Steph alone.

  Instead, on the way down, three of her fingers brushed an upturned lid. The lid swirled. And rang. And showed itself for what it truly was.

  “The Golden Helmet of Membrillo!” Dom yelled.

  “The Golden Helmet of Memwhat?” Steph asked.

  “Membrillo, Membrillo. It’s most valuable. Don Quijote was looking for it. Every knight is looking for it. We are so lucky we found it!”

  “It’s the lid to a pot,” Pancho said. “And it’s ‘Mambrino,’ not Membrillo. Membrillo is in the middle of guava paste!”

  Dom stopped. Pancho was right. Membrillo was in Abuela’s favorite dessert. She had it every night after dinner. No wonder Dom had confused the name! She had seen the shiny brownish gel every day when she’d handed it to Abuela.

  Still. She had found the precious helmet.

  “Mambrino!” she said, trying out the lid on her head. “The name doesn’t matter. I know Don Quijote backward and forward. The crescent moon marks this helmet as the famous one.”

  “The crescent moon marks a place for a spoon when the lid is on the pot,” Steph said.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about! Neither of you.” Dom directed herself to the grandmother. “Since Steph will be joining us on our adventures,” she said, “would you be willing to let us have this priceless—priceless—”

  “Lid,” Pancho finished.

  “Of course.” Steph’s grandmother grinned. “I’d be most delighted if you would take it with you. Along with Steph.”

  Dom turned to Steph. “What—what job do you think you’d like to have?”

  “I know. I know.” Pancho jumped up and down. “How about master of the cookies?”

  “Just so,” Dom said, and they prepared to leave.

  * * *

  The Golden Helmet of Mambrino! It was a great reason to bring Steph along. Pancho would be happy, and maybe Steph would turn out to be a friend. And that also meant that Dom didn’t have to take on every other person she rescued.

  Unfortunately, she was so happy about the helmet of Mambrino that she almost forgot the bully.

  But the bully didn’t forget her. Ponsi Bublassi leaned against a tree across the street from Steph’s house, twirling a twig in his hand.

  “You gave your word!” Dom yelled. “Scram!”

  The bully flicked the twig at her. “I’m so scared of you, error-knight!”

  For a second, all four of them stood frozen.

  Even Roco’s tail stopped wagging.

  Then Steph stepped toward the bully. “I’m not afraid of you,” she yelled. “My new friends will protect me.”

  Steph turned and walked away.

  Pancho’s mouth dropped.

  Dom blinked.

  Roco barked.

  “Yeah! She’s not afraid of you.” Pancho punched his fist in the air. He followed Steph.

  “Yeah! She’s not afraid of you!” Dom repeated even louder.

  But then she stopped.

  What had she done? If Steph had stood up to the bully, that meant Steph had taken care of herself. Dom couldn’t take credit for saving her.

  She still wasn’t a fearsome knight.

  She still needed an adventure to prove she was a worthy knight.

  Something that would shut Ernie Bublassi up forever.

  Where could she find a spectacular adventure?

  “Giant,” she said as she caught up to Steph and Pancho. “We have to fight a giant.”

  “A giant,” Pancho Sanchez said.

  “A giant,” Steph echoed.

  Pancho stopped and faced the knight. “And where—where do you think you can find a giant?”

  “At the corner of Washington and Twenty-Seventh. Not far.”

  “I’ve never heard of a giant around here.”

  “You’ll see.”

  11 A Delicious Detour

  Dom and Roco led the parade. Steph followed. Pancho brought up the rear with the wagon carrying cookies, the saddlebag full of water and supplies, and the Golden Helmet of Mambrino.

  They heard the crying before they figured out where it was coming from. A loud wail.

  “Someone in distress!” Dom turned her head to tune in to where the sound was coming from.

  “I thought we were on our way to fight a giant,” Pancho said.

  “Can’t leave someone in distress! It wouldn’t be right.”

  “Maybe the giant could wait,” Steph said.

  They followed the sound for almost a block and found a little boy sitting by a fire hydrant. Another boy stood next to him, licking a Popsicle.

  Dom ran toward the crying boy. “Dom Capote to the rescue!”

  Roco charged along and screeched to a stop. Right at an orange Popsicle quickly melting into a pothole. Roco downed it with one loud, satisfied slurp. He left only a stick, smeared in orange.

  “Whaaaaa!” Crying-Boy bawled harder.

  “Roco!” Dom said, as if by yelling at him he’d give the Popsicle back. It didn’t happen. She turned to the boy. “What seems to be the trouble, young knave?”

  Crying-Boy stopped crying and scrunched his forehead.

  “She means why are you crying,” Pancho translated, which made the boy start howling again.

  “He dropped his Popsicle and now he doesn’t have one,” said the other boy, who looked a lot like Crying-Boy. He caught the drips from his own Popsicle with his tongue before they hit his hand.

  “Can you buy him another one?” Dom thought that could be a solution.

  The brother shook his head. “Mom only gave us money for two.”

  “Mmm.” Dom thought some more. “How about if you share yours?”

  “And lick the same Popsicle?”

  Dom shrugged. “Might help him stop crying.”

  “Ugh!” said the brother.

  “Double ugh!” said Pancho.

  “Triple ugh!” said Steph.

  Roco licked his lips. Loudly.

  All three of them stared at Crying-Boy. He needed something to let him forget the lost Popsicle.

  “Master of the cookies.” Dom’s voice boomed over the wailing.

  Steph straightened up.

  “Cookies!”

  The master of the cookies handed treats all around. She gave Crying-Boy five extra cookies.

  The wailing stilled to a whimper, then stopped. No-Longer-Crying-Boy got busy chewing.

  “Success!” Steph held out her hand for a high five.

  Dom was happy No-Longer-Crying-Boy was no longer crying. But was it enough of a deed?

  She was about to tell the others she knew this was not a feat worthy of a fearsome knight when she stiffened. Ernie and Ponsi Bublassi had sneaked up to them.

  “I heard there was a knight loose in the neighborhood,” Ernie said. “Guess that’s what girl-knights do, huh? Hand out cookies!”

  “Buckethead’s the bravest!” Ponsi bowed low.

  Dom straightened up. “Knights take care of every need, big and small!” She looked at her squire, her steed, and her master of the cookies. “Onward!”

  12 A Giant

  Dom Capote and Roco rushed toward Washington Avenue and took a right. With confidence.

  Her squire and her master of the cookies followed, looking back at the two bullies. With dread.

  Ernie and Ponsi Bublassi followed at a distance, laughing. With anticipation.

  “There!” Dom shouted as they neared Twenty-Seventh.

  “The giant?” asked Steph.

  “Whoa! Where?” Pancho asked. “I don’t see a giant.”

  “There. In the par
k. At the corner. Next to the restaurant.” Dom pointed. “Look at the size of its arms. Look at them whirling in the wind!”

  Roco barked at the four whirling blades, which almost swept the ground.

  “That’s no giant. That’s a windmill.”

  “That’s exactly what Sancho Panza told Don Quijote,” Dom said. “But Don Quijote fought the giants and won!”

  “Maybe Don Quijote fought giants,” Pancho said. “But this is a windmill. It’s the Holland House Restaurant!”

  “It’s not real,” Steph said. “Look at the size of the restaurant. The giant’s not even two stories tall. The giant in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ was ten stories tall.”

  Dom glared at her squire and her master of the cookies. Her forehead scrunched. Her mouth set.

  Pancho got very close to her.

  “Ernie’s watching. He won’t believe that’s a giant,” he whispered. “See the mother on the bench? She’s changing her baby. Her other kid is playing. A mother wouldn’t let her kids be around a giant, right? This is just a restaurant in the corner of a park.”

  Pancho was right, but Dom didn’t have a choice.

  There hadn’t been any good knightly type adventures in Mundytown.

  At least she was doing exactly what Don Quijote had done. Fighting a windmill.

  She had to try.

  Tomorrow was Monday. It was her only chance. “It’ll have to do.” Dom took a deep breath, pointed her lance, and broke away. “Prepare to meet your Maker!” Screaming, she charged. And jumped over the little fence surrounding the giant.

  Roco followed his knight, barking.

  Pancho and Steph launched themselves toward the windmill. They planned to help.

  Unfortunately, instead of clutching Dom from certain doom, Steph and Pancho tripped over the fence, smacked into each other, and fell in a heap. At the giant’s feet. They pushed Dom’s lance into the giant’s arm swooping by.

  “Leggo, you fiend!” Dom joggled her lance so violently, the turkey baster came loose. The lance snapped. Dom flew back onto Pancho and Steph.

  That’s when she heard the woman scream.