The Mardi Gras Chase

by Maggie M. Larche

  “Well, I see any easy solution to all of our problems,” said Kate.

  “You do?” asked Melanie. “What?”

  “Get a time machine.”

  “Wow,” said Melanie. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. Good news, Faye, we’ve practically got this solved.”

  “Someone’s sassy,” said Kate.

  “Well, you should take this seriously.”

  “I am, Mel.” Kate put on a schoolmarmish expression. “Seriously speaking, I think I’ve got an idea. Well, for one of our problems, anyway.”

  The girls were approaching the bus stop again.

  “Although,” Kate continued, “I’m not happy about it. It’s going to involve a little groveling, and we might have to bribe him.”

  “Bribe who?”

  Kate pointed to the bus stop. Up ahead, her brother Matt was sitting on the ground with a group of his buddies playing some sort of card game.

  “Matt?” asked Faye.

  Kate nodded. “If we can’t go ourselves, we need someone to go to the parade for us and gather letters. I think he’s our best bet.”

  “But isn’t he going to want to know why?” asked Faye.

  “We don’t have to tell him the details,” said Kate.

  “He’s going to be curious,” said Melanie. “What if he tries to horn in on our mystery?”

  “I’ve still got the cheesecake story, and I am not above blackmail. So, what do you guys say?”

  Faye and Melanie exchanged glances.

  “Ok,” said Melanie.

  “Excellent,” said Kate. “I’ll ask him on the bus.”

  The bus turned the corner five minutes later, and all the kids at the bus stop quickly shuffled into a line. Kate pushed and shoved to get the girls right behind Matt in line.

  “Sit with me today,” she said to the back of his head.

  “What? After the way you acted this morning – forget it.”

  “I’ve got a business proposition for you.”

  Matt glanced over his shoulder. “Fine. But you’ll have to make it quick. I’m a busy guy.”

  There weren’t enough seats for all four of them to sit together, so Faye and Melanie had to split from the other two. They watched as Kate and Matt took a seat a few rows ahead of them.

  “Think he’ll do it?” asked Faye.

  “I hope so.”

  “Think we can trust him?”

  “I hope so.”

  Kate and Matt huddled in the seat together the entire ride. Their heads were bent down, and Melanie got the sense they were arguing. Every now and then, Matt glanced back over his shoulder at Melanie, but he quickly turned back to the front each time he met her eyes.

  Finally, the bus arrived at school. Melanie and Faye caught up with Kate when they stepped off the bus. Matt had already split for his classroom.

  Melanie was glad to see that Kate was smiling.

  “Success?”

  “Success. He drove a hard bargain, but he’s going to go to the parade on Saturday and make a note of any weird letters. He should have them ready for us by the time we get home from the meeting.”

  “And did he want to know why?” asked Melanie.

  “Of course,” said Kate. “But I didn’t tell him.”

  “So, what’s the price?” asked Faye.

  “It was his turn to do the laundry this week. I’ve got to do it for him.”

  “Well, that’s not really too bad,” said Faye.

  “Laundry for eight people – for a whole week – isn’t too bad?” asked Kate.

  “I take it back.”

  “We’ll help you,” said Melanie. “Laundry at Kate’s house, every afternoon this week.”

  Faye nodded in agreement.

  “Thanks,” said Kate. She grinned. “Well that’s one problem solved, and the day’s just starting.”

  “Not bad,” said Melanie. “Now if only we knew how to go back and see the parades that have already happened.”

  “Try not to think about it,” said Kate.

  “So helpful,” said Faye.

  “I’m serious. That’s what my mom always tells me to do when I’ve got a problem like this. You think about other things while your subconscious mulls over the problem until, BAM, you suddenly think of a solution.”

  “I don’t know how good my subconscious is at problem-solving,” said Melanie.

  “So we’re supposed to not think about it?” asked Faye, raising an eyebrow.

  “That’s right,” said Kate. “And while we’re not thinking about it, we’ll be thinking about it.”

  “That’s confusing,” said Melanie.

  “Don’t worry,” said Kate. “It works. How do you think I came up with the idea to blackmail Matt?”

  Chapter 6

  The beginning of that week proved a challenge for Melanie. In spite of Kate’s instructions not to think about the code, thinking about it seemed to be all Melanie could do. Repeatedly, she found herself worrying over how to find the missing Aztec letters. She spent all of social studies on Monday brainstorming methods to track them down. All she had to show for her work by the end of the period was a list with exactly one item on it: a big question mark.

  When she wasn’t worrying about the parade that had already passed, she was eagerly awaiting Friday’s parade – the Mystic Shades. She kept going back and forth on the best spot to stand to get a good shot of the letters. She discussed strategy with Faye so many times that Faye eventually banned her from speaking.

  Meanwhile, her teachers expected her to pay attention in class like someone who didn’t have the most exciting adventure of her life unfolding around her. With a previously spotless record, Melanie was called out three times in math class for not paying attention.

  As the week dragged on, however, Melanie began to lose momentum. She still couldn’t think of a solution to find the letters from the earlier parades, and every moment that passed felt like she was slipping farther and farther from her goal.

  Surprisingly, the bright spot of the week was her daily laundry date at Kate’s. Since the girls had taken over the chore from Matt, he sometimes stuck around to watch them fold the mountains of clothing that piled up from the family of eight. Sometimes he teased and tortured them, of course – Kate, especially – but other times he entertained the girls with funny stories as they worked. On the whole, it was an enjoyable exercise after school each day.

  Still, Melanie found herself returning in her thoughts to the letters. The Mardi Gras code, as she now called it, continued to occupy more and more of her mind.

  On Thursday night, Melanie washed dishes, while Lacey sat beside her at the kitchen table. Her sister flipped through a book about outer space and simultaneously maintained a constant flow of chatter. Melanie had no idea how Lacey could do both at the same time, but somehow she managed.

  Once when Lacey paused to draw breath, Melanie thought she heard the doorbell above the sound of the running faucet. She wiped a stray soap bubble from her nose.

  Moments later, Kate ran into the kitchen, dragging Faye behind her. Faye held her laptop.

  “Mel!” Kate exclaimed. “Pause the dishes. I’ve got something to show you.” She turned quickly to Melanie’s mother who stood behind her. “If it’s ok with you, that is, Mrs. Smythurst.”

  Melanie’s mom smiled. “You’d better go, Mel. This looks urgent.”

  Melanie quickly switched off the water and dried her hands on a dishtowel. She followed her friends out of the room and down the hall.

  “Wait,” yelled Lacey. “Me, too.” She scurried down the hall behind Melanie, her little legs pumping.

  “No, Lacey,” yelled Melanie.

  “Mel,” called her mother. “I don’t think she’ll get in the way.”

  “Oh, all right,” said Melanie. “Come on, hurry up.”

  She dashed into her room with Lacey behind her.

  Lacey climbed onto the bed, jumped into the air, and landed on her bottom. “Whee!” she sai
d as she bounced down on the mattress.

  Melanie hurriedly closed her bedroom door before turning to the girls.

  “What is it?” she asked. “Must be something big.”

  “It is,” said Kate, grinning, and she pulled Faye’s laptop out of Faye’s arms. “Look what I found.” She tapped on the keyboard.

  “Where’s your email, Faye?” she asked. “I sent the link to you.”

  Faye reached over and clicked the mouse. “Here.”

  “Perfect. Thanks. Now, take a look at this.”

  Melanie and Faye leaned in to see the screen. Melanie felt Lacey pushing through her legs, so she pulled her up and held her on her hip.

  They could see a video on screen. A crowd flashed across the frame, and then…

  “No way,” said Faye.

  “Is that?” asked Melanie.

  “Yep,” said Kate. “It’s the Centaurs parade. Someone videotaped the whole thing. Like, every second.”

  The girls watched as the first float crossed the screen, and Melanie recognized its decorations. With the crisp picture, they could spot every detail of the design.

  “Look!” shouted Faye. “That I is crooked!”

  “We’ll be able to see all of them,” said Melanie. “That’s awesome, Kate! Good find.”

  “Ooh,” said Lacey. “Those are pretty. I want to see the parade.”

  “You’re seeing it now,” said Melanie. She put Lacey down and rifled through her desk. She grabbed a pen and piece of paper, while Lacey crawled onto the bed to watch.

  “What are we waiting for?” asked Melanie. “Let’s find those letters.”

  Thirty minutes later, the girls had completed the set of letters for the Centaurs.

  Melanie compared the list to the original list on her phone.

  “I’m so glad you found that, Kate. There were six letters we wouldn’t have known about.”

  “Of course, it still doesn’t make sense,” said Faye.

  “Nope,” said Melanie. “But we’re a step closer.”

  She carefully folded up the list of letters and placed it in the top of her jewelry box. Then she ceremoniously turned the key in the lock.

  “Too bad that guy didn’t tape the Aztecs parade, too,” she said, sinking back to the floor.

  “I know,” said Kate. “We’ve still got to figure out that little problem.” She tapped her head. “But just give it time. Like I said, the method works.”

  Melanie heard a small snore from behind her. She turned.

  “Oh, geez.”

  Lacey had curled up on Melanie’s pillow and fallen asleep as the girls excitedly pointed out every backwards or upside-down letter they could find. Now she snoozed comfortably.

  “She’d better not drool on my pillow.”

  “Oh, hush,” said Kate. “I’d kill for a sweet little sister instead of my menace brothers. Matt included.”

  “He’s useful, though,” said Melanie.

  “And cute,” said Faye. She glanced at Melanie. “Have you ever noticed that, Mel?”

  “Huh?” asked Melanie in confusion.

  “Gross,” said Kate.

  “I said he’s cute,” repeated Faye to Melanie. “Don’t you think so? And I think he’s got a little crush on you.”

  Melanie didn’t know how to respond, but she didn’t have to. Kate distracted Faye by throwing herself down on the bed and pulling a pillow over her head. Her voice was muffled as she said, “I do not want to hear this.”

  Faye checked her watch. “I think I’d better get home anyway. When I told Mom and Dad that I wanted to do another parade on Friday, they strongly hinted that I’d better spend my other evenings getting in a little study time. Besides, I’ve got to prep for the Kiwanis meeting.” She looked at Kate and Melanie. “I don’t suppose either of you is getting ready for our presentation, are you?”

  “I’ve got to do the dishes,” said Melanie.

  “I’ve got to… do something,” said Kate.

  “That’s what I figured,” said Faye. “Come on, Kate. Let’s go.” She pushed Kate out the door.

  Melanie walked Kate and Faye out before returning to the kitchen sink. Dropping her hands back into the sudsy water, she smiled, reflecting that they were at least a tiny step closer than they had been one hour before.

  Chapter 7

  On Friday night, the Mystic Shades took to the streets, and people jammed dozens of city blocks. Melanie bounced up and down on her feet, feeling a ball of burning excitement churning in her stomach.

  In addition to being one of the more crowded parades of the year, it was also Melanie’s first chance to test her theory that all of Mr. Simmington’s parades would contain pieces of the code. While fairly certain that Mr. Simmington was the link between the parades, she still cheered when she saw her first backwards letter of the night. The sight confirmed they were on the right track.

  Surrounded by screaming children and spectators waving for beads, the three girls made a funny sight at the parade. They ignored all throws and instead scanned each sign and float for mixed-up letters. Kate and Faye yelled out letters, while Melanie made notes on her phone.

  One week earlier, Faye and Kate would have wrestled over a single strand of beads. Now a pile of them could fall on either of their heads, and the girls would only push them away impatiently. They were on a mission.

  A young couple stood next to the girls dressed in evening clothes. The man wore a black tuxedo with tails and a white tie and vest, while the woman wore a long, shimmery blue evening gown. They were clearly going to attend a Mardi Gras ball that evening after the parade.

  The woman caught notice of the strange letters, too. Melanie heard her remark on a upside-down T to her date. It didn’t seem to capture the woman’s interest for long, however, as she shortly missed a backwards N that paraded by a few floats later. Melanie smugly input the letter into her phone.

  By the end of the evening, the girls were in possession of another stream of letters to work into their code. They returned from the parade to sleep at Kate’s. With all of her brothers, Kate’s house was the loudest and most crowded of their three homes. However, it also had the most readily available junk food, so the girls usually selected it for sleepovers.

  The girls fortified themselves with pizza and Coke and then barricaded themselves in Kate’s bedroom. Whenever one of Kate’s younger brothers came to the door to annoy them, Kate smacked the door hard with a well practiced hand, and the boy in question scurried off.

  Melanie and Faye settled on the floor with their dinners, while Kate occupied the desk chair.

  “Mmm,” said Melanie, taking a bite of her pizza and closing her eyes. “I was starved. All that bike riding.”

  “I know,” said Kate, taking a long gulp of her drink. “I didn’t realize code-breaking would be so strenuous.”

  “When this is all over,” said Faye, “let’s treat ourselves to something special. Maybe we can get one of our parents to drop us off for a movie.”

  “Or we could get manicures,” said Kate.

  “Yeah,” said Faye with a dreamy sigh. “Something luxurious.”

  “And relaxing,” added Kate.

  “What’s wrong with you guys?” asked Melanie, staring demandingly from one to the other. “You sound like you’re actually looking forward to being done with the code.”

  Kate shrugged.

  “Maybe, just a teensy, tiny bit,” said Faye.

  Melanie shook her head. “You’re crazy. You’re both crazy. This is the most fun I’ve had in ages.”

  “That’s your problem, Mel,” said Kate. She kicked her feet up onto her desk. “It takes too much to qualify as excitement to you. Ordinarily, I’d be happy enough with the fact that we’ve got a four-day weekend. You, on the other hand, need a mysterious puzzle sent from the Mardi Gras gods to keep you happy.”

  “I do not,” said Melanie. “Besides, you know you love it, too.”

  “You’re right,” said Kate with a smile. “I
do. I’m just saying it in case it’s what Faye’s thinking. She never speaks up for herself.” She glanced at Faye who had been silent throughout the exchange.

  “Hey! That’s not fair. I’m just as into this as you guys are.”

  “Good,” Melanie said. “So, let’s add in our clues from tonight and see where we are.”

  She reached into her overnight bag and pulled out the list of letters from previous parades. Carefully, she copied the letters from the Shades parade onto her sheet.

  Faye watched over her shoulder as Melanie completed the list.

  “So,” said Faye, “we’ve got Apollo’s Crewe still to go – which Matt will get for us tomorrow night – and Queen Hera’s Court will be on Monday.”

  “And,” added Kate, “we need to figure out what letters were in the Aztecs parade.”

  “Then,” said Melanie, “we’ve got to actually break the code. I still don’t see much sense in all these letters. Do you guys?”

  Faye and Kate stared at the list in silence for a few moments before shaking their heads.

  “What if…” Kate said slowly.

  “What?” asked Melanie.

  “Well, what if it’s always just nonsense? What if it’s not actually a code at all? Maybe it’s just, like, Mr. Simmington’s trademark to put in crazy letters or something?”

  Faye nodded her head, as if this thought had occurred to her, too.

  Melanie, however, looked absolutely stricken. “No,” she said. “Just no. After all this work, all this mystery, it’s got to be more than that.”

  Faye spoke gently. “We should be ready for it, just in case that’s all it is.”

  Melanie shook her head. “No. My instincts tell me something’s going on here.”

  Faye and Kate exchanged what looked like a worried glance, but Melanie chose to ignore it.

  “Now,” said Melanie, soldiering on, “I’ve been thinking about our little problem – how to get the Aztecs letters, and I think I’ve got an idea.”

  “Really?” squealed Kate. “What did I tell you? I knew my method would work.”

  “Oh no,” said Faye with a groan, “not the whole ‘don’t think about it’ solution again.”