by Jill Diamond
“I like it!” said Lou Lou.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Jeremy replied. “Because I made one for both you and Peacock.” He opened his messenger bag and pulled out two shirts. One was bright red and the other was light blue, but otherwise they matched Jeremy’s shirt.
“Wow, thanks!” Lou Lou replied, thinking the shirt would look funny with the Pride of Pinky hat she also planned to wear. But Lou Lou didn’t mind looking a little funny.
“Gotta go. I’ve got Music class next, and my fallback profession is rock star if this baker thing doesn’t work out! See you Saturday, Lou Lou Bombay!” Jeremy turned and loped off down the hall. Lou Lou put the blue T-shirt into her satchel and slipped the red one over her flowered sweater. There was no reason to wait until the weekend to show her support for Jeremy’s killer caracoles!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Bonanza-Bound
As the time until the Bonanza got shorter and shorter, Lou Lou’s excitement grew bigger and bigger. She looked forward to eating Jeremy’s killer caracoles and watching the festivities, even though her friends and neighbors were no longer the performers and hosts. Her anger at the Argyles had gone from a boil to a low simmer. It was still there beneath the surface, but at least it wasn’t stopping her from happily anticipating the weekend’s events. Lou Lou knew her frustration would return when she saw Pea’s stolen hats and the gazebo that should have been in Limonero Park. But for now, she was excited to celebrate her city.
Pea slept over at the SS Lucky Alley on Friday night. After a yummy dinner that ended with porthole pecan pie, Lou Lou and Pea went to bed so they’d be well rested for the special day.
* * *
The girls awoke bright-eyed the next morning and started getting ready. “I brought a few outfits so you can help me decide what to wear.” Pea pointed to her overstuffed duffel. She always came well prepared.
“I almost forgot!” Lou Lou said. She took the blue T-shirt Jeremy had made out of her satchel and grabbed her red shirt as well. Pea laughed when she held them up.
“He’s really getting into the killer caracoles spirit!” she said. “But he doesn’t actually expect us to wear these, right?”
Lou Lou raised her eyebrows. “Um…” she said.
“Oh no! He does! But it has no style or shape to it whatsoever!”
“I’ll wear mine,” Lou Lou said. “But I’m sure it’s okay if you don’t wear yours. Jeremy will understand that you can’t compromise your fashion sense.”
“No,” said Pea. “I don’t want him to be offended. As Yves Saint Laurent said, ‘We must never confuse elegance with snobbery.’”
“Well, Lloyd Lavender said, ‘Just because you love petunias doesn’t mean you have to wear them to a party.’”
Pea was too busy elaborately folding the shirt to applaud Lou Lou’s appropriate horticulture quote. When she was done, Pea tied it around her neck, creating an elegant kerchief.
Lou Lou clapped her hands. “Perfect!” she said. She placed Pride of Pinky on her head, and Pea smiled.
“It’s too bad we can’t admire your honeysuckle today, Lou Lou.”
“I know,” Lou Lou replied. “But I’m bringing this to remind myself how beautiful the plants look in Limonero Park.” She carefully put a honeysuckle cutting into her satchel.
Lou Lou changed into jeans and helped Pea select pants and a shirt dotted with blue flowers. Afterward, they went down-ladder for a pre-Bonanza breakfast of banana pancakes. It was a Bombay Saturday morning, after all.
When they finished eating, Lou Lou quickly checked on her sprouting peonies and daffodils. Then she and Pea were ready to go.
“Mom! Dad! Are you coming?” Lou Lou called to her parents. “It’s time to be Bonanza-bound!”
“Aye, aye, First Mate Lou Lou and Quartermaster Peacock,” Lou Lou’s dad replied.
Pea looked at Lou Lou. “What’s a—”
“Ask him later,” Lou Lou interrupted. “We don’t have time for an explanation of nautical terms. We have to be at the park by five bells.” Pea laughed.
Minutes later, the Bombays and Pea were in the car. It was only a ten-minute drive to La Fuente Park, a large square of grass in the center of Verde Valley that was only slightly smaller than Limonero Park. La Fuente Park didn’t have Limonero Park’s beautiful lemon trees, but it was still lovely with its laurel trees filled with birds and a rose garden that Lou Lou had always admired. When they arrived, there were already many people there.
“Looks like a good turnout from El Corazón!” said Lou Lou’s mom. It was true that many of their friends and neighbors had come for the morning’s Bonanza festivities. Danielle and her snooty-girl posse were there, as were Sarah, Rosa, and Mr. Vila. Pea waved at Adelaide Stout, the feline fancier.
Lou Lou and Pea stopped to say hello to Thomas from Sparkle ’N Clean, and he complimented Pea on her unusual kerchief.
Pea replied, “As Coco Chanel said, ‘In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.’”
Lou Lou was eager to join the crowd assembling for the caracoles contest, and she hopped impatiently from foot to foot as her parents chatted with Thomas.
“I’ve been meaning to stop by the boutique to talk to you about a sailor suit I’d like to special order,” Lou Lou’s dad said. Her mom noticed Lou Lou’s let’s-go-now dance.
“You and Pea run on ahead, honey,” said Jane. “We’ll catch up.” Lou Lou kissed her mom on the cheek.
Lou Lou and Pea headed toward a small stage that was surrounded by a semicircle of chairs. On the stage was a tall, shiny trophy topped with a silver caracol. A banner that said CARACOLES CONTEST! ONLY VERDE VALLEY BAKERS MAY ENTER! hung over the stage. The welcome banners that Lou Lou’s very own art class had made were stretched between two trees. Lou Lou’s ears reddened. But she said her chrysanthemums and took deep breaths. She was absolutely determined to make the best of the Bonanza and their city’s special day!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Caracoles Contest
Lou Lou and Pea saw Kyle on their way to the Bonanza stage. He was wearing his Comet Cop cape and had brought his dog, Mars Rover. In a tribute to Kyle’s long-lost space goats, Mars Rover wore a tinfoil helmet. He didn’t look happy, but at least he wasn’t eating it as an early lunch.
“Hi, guys. I mean, greetings, Earthlings.” Kyle waved his arms frantically as if Lou Lou and Pea might miss him. With the cape, the dog, the helmet, and the fact that Kyle was standing right in front of Lou Lou and Pea, this was nearly impossible.
“Hey, Kyle,” Lou Lou said. She noticed a dollop of cream in the corner of Kyle’s mouth.
Pea didn’t miss it either. “Have you been eating caracoles?”
“Affirmative! The ones on your shirt.” Kyle pointed at Lou Lou.
“What?” Lou Lou remembered she was wearing Jeremy’s Killer Caracoles T-shirt. “Where is Jeremy?”
Kyle pointed and Lou Lou saw Jeremy, wearing his own black T-shirt and holding a platter heaped with his killer caracoles. From the crowd surrounding him, Lou Lou could tell that the platter would quickly be empty. People were gobbling up his pastries and coming back for seconds. Jeremy wore an ear-to-ear goofy grin.
“We should get one before he runs out,” Pea said. “But first, where’s the gazebo? Isn’t it supposed to be revealed at the festivities?”
“Good question. I thought so, too. Maybe it’ll be here later? Or maybe—” Before Lou Lou could finish her sentence, she noticed a commotion around Jeremy.
“I will not stand for your unauthorized distribution of caracoles, young man!” a voice boomed.
“Uh-oh,” Lou Lou said. “It sounds like Andy Argyle discovered Jeremy’s killer caracoles.” Sure enough, through a break in the crowd, Lou Lou saw the vice-mayor talking to Jeremy. Andy Argyle wore a flashy purple-and-gold-argyle-print suit and his usual shiny shoes. He twirled the end of his goatee angrily.
“Rather garish.” Pea looked disapprovingly at the vice-mayor’s attire.
Jeremy said something that Lou Lou couldn’t hear. But she guessed from his jutted-out chin and narrowed eyes that Jeremy wasn’t being agreeable. With one quick sweep of his arm, Andy Argyle knocked Jeremy’s remaining caracoles off his tray. There was a gasp from the crowd, and Lou Lou’s ears were instantly hot.
“Hey!” she yelled, marching over to stand beside Jeremy. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“You again!” shouted the vice-mayor. “I’m not surprised that you’re here messing up my day! If you must know, I am enforcing the rules of the caracoles contest.” He pointed to the banner above the stage. “Only Verde Valley bakers may enter!”
“But Jeremy wasn’t entering the contest,” said Pea, who had joined Lou Lou. “He was simply sharing his killer caracoles with the crowd. So he’s not actually breaking the rules.”
“Well—no—I—I don’t have to explain myself to you!” Andy Argyle sputtered. “I’ve half a mind to kick you both out of La Fuente Park right this moment.”
“You can’t just—” Lou Lou began.
“It’s okay, Lou Lou,” Jeremy said. “Vice-Mayor, I’m sorry about the caracoles.” From his crossed fingers behind his back, Lou Lou could tell he wasn’t truly sorry. “I just thought I’d give everyone a pre-contest snack. To get them excited about the main event, ya know? Surely you don’t want to kick us out now that Mayor Montoya has arrived.”
“Mayor Montoya!” Lou Lou said.
“She’s back?” Pea asked.
“What? Where?!” Andy Argyle exclaimed.
Jeremy pointed at the mayor, who was smiling and waving to the crowd as she made her way toward the stage. Secretly stealing the Bonanza from El Corazón was one thing, but it wouldn’t look good if Mayor Montoya saw Andy Argyle banning people from the citywide celebration.
“Just stay out of my sight and don’t cause any more trouble!” Andy Argyle spun on his shiny heel and stomped off.
“I hope the mayor’s return means Putt Putt the puli is all better,” said Pea.
“Mayor Montoya can help us get the Bonanza back!” Lou Lou still wasn’t ready to give up. “Then Jeremy can enter the caracoles contest.”
“¡Ya quisiera!” Jeremy said. “I know my caracoles would beat Amanda’s hands down even though she also knows the secret ingredient. But I think it’s too late for me. The contest is about to begin!”
“And we don’t have any proof now that the diary is a fake, remember?” Pea pointed out. “So there’s no reason the mayor would help us reclaim the Bonanza.”
Lou Lou realized that Jeremy and Pea were right. She just couldn’t stop hoping that things would work out. She and Pea helped Jeremy pick up the scattered caracoles from the ground.
“They’re only a little dirty; we could probably still eat them,” said Lou Lou. Pea crinkled her nose.
Jeremy laughed. “No need. I’ve got a whole backup stash.” He patted his messenger bag. “I thought demand would be high, so I made extra. I’ll give you one when I’m certain Patrick Plaid or Harold Houndstooth or whatever that guy’s name is isn’t watching.” Andy Argyle was out of earshot but, as if on cue, he flashed Jeremy, Lou Lou, and Pea a look of warning.
“Attention!” Mayor Montoya stood at a microphone at the front of the stage. “We’ll begin in just a moment.” Lou Lou and Pea found seats near Sarah and Rosa. Lou Lou spotted a flash of red and nudged Pea.
“Look, there’s Abuela Josie! She’s wearing her new hat!”
“It looks magnificent!” Lou Lou and Pea waved at Pea’s abuela. Abuela Josie pointed at her hat and blew them a kiss.
The crowd quieted and Mayor Montoya said, “Greetings, everyone! I am very pleased that I could return to my city in time for this historic occasion! You will be happy to know that Putt Putt the puli made a full recovery.”
Pea smiled. “That’s something to be grateful for today,” she said.
“I was surprised to find out that we would be celebrating in Verde Valley and not El Corazón,” continued the mayor. “But Vice-Mayor Argyle explained about the diary and the founders’ decree, and I understand that his hands were tied when it came to the Bonanza’s location.”
“Not exactly,” grumbled Lou Lou.
“Now, without further ado,” said Mayor Montoya. “Bienvenidos to the opening event of our city’s Bicentennial Bonanza, the caracoles contest!”
Andy Argyle took over the microphone. “Yes, I suppose we are very fortunate that Mayor Montoya has returned in time to co-judge the caracoles contest.” He sounded anything but sincere.
“Gracias, Vice-Mayor.” Mayor Montoya gave a little bow. The crowd clapped excitedly.
“As Bicentennial Bonanza Boss—” Andy Argyle began. Mayor Montoya cleared her throat, and the vice-mayor looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “I mean as Bicentennial Bonanza Vice-Boss, I will, of course, be the other judge.” Andy Argyle was clearly annoyed about being second-in-command again.
“That’s not fair. He shouldn’t be a judge,” Lou Lou whispered. She hadn’t even considered who would be judging the caracoles contest, although it wasn’t surprising that Andy Argyle had appointed himself.
“It means Amanda will have a huge advantage even if her caracoles aren’t the best,” Pea whispered back. “At least the mayor won’t be biased.”
“As you all know, the caracoles champion will have the honor of serving our famous local pastry at the Bonanza,” the vice-mayor said. “¡Qi comenchen la concursa di caracoles!”
Lou Lou raised her eyebrows at Pea.
“I think he means ¡Que comience el concurso de caracoles! Let the caracoles contest begin!” Pea said. “But the only word he got right was caracoles.”
Lou Lou giggled. At the very least, she could relish the fact that she spoke Spanish better than the vice-mayor.
“I guess we’ll see whether Amanda can pull off making good caracoles,” Lou Lou said.
“Yes, this should be interesting,” Pea replied.
As it turned out, Pea was right. But Lou Lou and Pea were soon to discover that they didn’t even know the half of it!
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
You Can’t Eat That!
“Our first caracoles contestant is Monsieur Bonsoir, owner of Verde Valley Bistro,” Andy Argyle announced.
A man stood up in the front row. He wore a chef’s hat and a white jacket and held a large brown paper bag full of caracoles. He handed one to each of the judges and they both took a bite while the crowd watched eagerly for a reaction. Mayor Montoya nodded and jotted something down on a notepad. Andy Argyle looked out into the audience and made certain everyone saw his frown. After Monsieur Bonsoir returned to his seat, the vice-mayor spoke into the microphone again.
“Next up is Gertrude Alvarado,” he said. No one moved, so Andy Argyle peered out into the audience. “Gertrude, are you here? GERTRUDE!” he yelled. Finally, a little old lady stood up.
“I’m here,” she called nervously. “But I just realized that I left my tin of caracoles at home. Perhaps I can go—”
“Disqualified!” The vice-mayor stamped his shiny-shoed foot and Gertrude’s face crumpled.
“Pobrecita. I wish we could give her a hug,” Pea whispered.
“I don’t think disqualification is necessary, Vice-Mayor Argyle.” Mayor Montoya flashed him a disapproving look.
“Right.” Andy Argyle cleared his throat and looked back at Gertrude. “Because I am incredibly kind, I will allow you to fetch your caracoles and return.”
Andy Argyle called more contestants and the contest continued. Lou Lou glanced at Jeremy to see if he seemed angry about being excluded. He was munching heartily on one of his own killer caracoles.
“Numbing my pain with sugar,” he said when he caught Lou Lou’s eye. He flashed a goofy grin and she smiled back.
“Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for!” Andy Argyle said, and Lou Lou turned her attention back to the stage. “The next contestant is my darling daughter, Amanda Argyle!”
“Ugh,” Lou Lou said to Pea.
Amanda simpered, then practically pranced up to the stage to join her father. She wore a green-and-pink-argyle-print jumper, and her hair was in her usual braids. Even though the Bonanza hats would be given out to the crowd later that day, Amanda was already wearing Pea’s blue hat. Even Lou Lou could tell that the lovely hat clashed horribly with Amanda’s outfit. Lou Lou’s ears grew hotter by the second. She noticed Pea biting her bottom lip.
“I expected her to be wearing it, but I didn’t realize it would make me so sad and angry.” Pea shook her head. “I’m not going to let it ruin this day,” she said with renewed determination.
Amanda stood next to her father holding a tray covered with a red-and-white-argyle-print cloth. She had the fake diary tucked under her arm.
“I have a feeling these caracoles are going to be extra special,” Andy Argyle said to the crowd.
Amanda pulled the cloth dramatically off the tray to reveal the pastries underneath like she was doing a magic trick. She handed the tray and cloth to her father so she could get closer to the microphone.
“They’re extra special because we know the secret ingredient!” she boasted. “It’s in Giles’s diary!” She waved the little book in the air.
“Darling, perhaps we should wait until—” Andy Argyle started to say. But Amanda was unstoppable. She had to brag about what she knew right then and there.
“The secret ingredient is honeysuckle berries!” she cried, and handed a caracol to Mayor Montoya. Lou Lou’s anger was starting to get the better of her. How dare Amanda brag about the recipe! Lou Lou thought. How dare Amanda wear Pea’s hat!
“Lou Lou,” Pea’s voice cut into Lou Lou’s thoughts.
How dare the Argyles lie about Giles’s diary!
“Lou Lou!”
How dare they take the Bicentennial from El Corazón!
Lou Lou took a deep breath and said her chrysanthemums. “Yes?” she finally answered.
“Did you hear Amanda?”
“Of course, and I can’t believe the nerve of—”