Thea Stilton and the Spanish Dance Mission (Thea Stilton Graphic Novels Book 16)
Page 6
“Slimy Swiss cheese, I should have known
the Navarro family was behind this!” Joaquin
hissed,
approaching
the twins. “You
stole Aunt Julieta’s fan!”
“
Of course!
” Violet said. “You were
there at Rodrigo’s performance, and you
heard Rosita’s song!”
Pedro and Lola were forced to confess.
“Yes, we heard the song. But it was what
Julieta said about Rosita’s treasure that
made us realize it was more than a simple
melody — it was also a clue,” Pedro
replied.
THE SECRET DRAWER
never
Lola sounded angry. “We realized what
it meant right away, unlike you Vegas. You
had the
Song
in your paws all along, and
you
took the time to understand
it!”
“I can’t believe you’re pointing a paw at
us!” Anita exclaimed. “You should have
come to us to talk about the treasure
instead of stealing the fan!”
stole
“Why would we do that? The treasure
belongs to us just as much as you. It’s all
about who finds it first!” Pedro cried.
“But you
only
found it because you
our aunt’s fan!” Joaquin protested.
Pedro lowered his eyes. “Well, none of that
matters now, because we haven’t found any
treasure!”
Violet stepped toward the sideboard.
“What? The rose
garden
is here, and
you have the key — that is, the fan. It didn’t
work?”
“Yes, it worked,” Lola replied. “When we
inserted the handle into the hole in the
central rose, it unsnapped the lock. But . . .”
“But what?” Anita asked.
“Look for yourselves!” Pedro sighed.
Violet examined the sideboard. A simple
panel hid a secret drawer, which was
took
interrupted
empty. “There’s nothing there!”
“Exactly,” Pedro said. “Rosita’s treasure
doesn’t exist.”
“Maybe someone else already
it!”
Lola snapped.
“I don’t think that’s what happened,”
murmured Colette, who had been eyeing
Lola for a few moments.
“What do you mean?” Lola
asked shortly.
“Your fur-do —”
“Um, Colette . . . ?” Nicky
. “This
isn’t exactly the best time to
solution
discuss the latest furstyles!”
“Oh, I know, I know!” Colette said,
waving a paw. “There’s a time and a
place for my passion for fashion. It’s just that
I think the
to this puzzle is
right in Lola’s fur!”
What is it about Lola’s fur-do that Colette finds so
distracting?
brainier
BEWILDERED, Lola stared at Colette.
“But . . . there’s nothing in my fur. I don’t
know what you’re talking about!”
“Colette, you’re
than a bookmouse!”
Violet exclaimed. “Lola’s comb looks just
like the one we SAW in Rosita’s photo.”
“It doesn’t just look like it, it’s the exact
same one! It’s a family heirloom. But I don’t
understand why that matters. . . .” Anita said.
“Just think about the third verse
of the song!” said Colette.
“It’s about a bright star
that illuminates Rosita’s snout.
And that comb is in the shape of a
star!”
THE BRIGHTEST
STAR
“Are you saying that the comb is a key,
too?” Paulina asked.
“If it is, there must be another
lock
!”
Joaquin guessed. He ran his paw over the
insides of the drawer. “I feel something here!”
Colette joined him. They spotted three
small holes at the back of the drawer.
When Lola took the comb from her fur, they
could see that the little holes were exactly the
same size as the three teeth of the comb.
Gently, Lola inserted the comb into the
holes, and they heard a soft click. The bottom
of the drawer opened, revealing a secret
compartment.
“The treasure!” Colette exclaimed, pulling
out a wooden box.
“Give it to me!” Pedro exclaimed, lunging
for the box.
But Joaquin stopped him. “We’ll open it
together. Rosita would have wanted it that
way.”
The rodents sat down in a circle on
the living room floor. Colette took the
precious box and opened it slowly. Inside
were a bundle of yellowed papers covered
in elegant script, along with a sealed envelope.
Colette LOOKED at the papers, not
understanding what they could be, and
passed them to her friends.
“They’re songs!” Pedro exclaimed.
“They’re signed by Rosaita, but I don’t
recognize them. . . .”
“You’re right,” Anita confirmed. “I think
they’re unpublished!”
“This truly is a treasure!” Joaquin breathed.
Lola took the envelope. “To Blanca and
Beatriz, my lovely daughters,” she read. She
opened it carefully.
My dear daughters,
If you are reading these words, it means that
my fondest wish has come true. My heart has
suffered every day that you two have argued.
That’s why I decided to hide a part of your
inheritance in a place that needs two keys — the
fan that you have, Blanca, and the comb that
I left to you, Beatriz. To find my treasure,
you would need to work together.
This is a collection of songs that I composed
after I left the stage. I wanted to express
my deepest feelings, and to preserve them for
those who would understand them. No one
appreciates the spirit of flamenco better than
you two.
Please, for my sake, you must abandon the
rivalry that divides you. Listen to your hearts.
Only then can you continue to give life to my
greatest passion.
Your loving mama,
Rosita
Lola put the letter back in the
envelope. Then she looked up at her brother
with shining eyes.
“So . . .” Pam said, breaking the silence,
“this is all part of Rosita’s plan!”
“Yes, she wanted to make peace between
her daughters and REUNITE her family,”
Paulina added.
“But it didn’t work,” Pedro murmured.
“Blanca and Beatriz never got over their
grudges
.”
“They didn’t, but we can!” Anita exclaimed.
Everyone turned to gaze at her. Anita had
a determined look on her snout.
&
nbsp; “Think about it!” she continued. “The
rivalry between the Vegas and the Navarros
A NEW ALLIANCE
goes back a long time,
but what started it? A
simple argument
between two sisters!
Does ANYONE even
know what it was about?”
Pedro and Lola exchanged a
look: It was hard to admit, but Anita was
right!
“There’s never been a real reason for us to
fight. . . .” Lola reflected.
“Why should we argue? We don’t even
know each other!” Anita agreed. She smiled
shyly at her cousin.
“The fighting between our families
has lasted for many years,” Pedro chimed in.
“We’ve been sworn enemies since we were
mouselings!”
“It’s true. We’ve always considered you and
your school our biggest rivals,” Joaquin
added.
Pedro shook his snout. “That can’t be. Our
school is about to close!”
The Vega twins were stunned. “Is the
situation really that serious?” Anita
asked.
“Yes,” Lola confirmed. “That’s why we did
everything we could to get the treasure. We
hoped that it would help us save the school,
but now . . .”
Pedro shook his head sadly. He turned to
his sister. “We just have to accept the fact
that our school’s days are numbered.”
Joaquin stood up and took his cousin’s
paw. “It doesn’t have to be that way. Pedro,
Lola, it’s up to us to change things.
We can’t change the past, but we can choose
what will happen in the future!” he declared.
Pedro looked amazed. “But how?”
Anita understood her brother perfectly.
“It’s simple. We just need to follow Rosita’s
advice: We’ll listen to our hearts!”
“My heart tells me that we four mice have
a
LOT
in common,” Joaquin added. “We
should join forces . . . and schools!”
“What? Do you mean that the Vegas and
the Navarros could found a single, large
flamenco school?!” Lola asked.
“That’s a MARVEMOUSE idea!”
Colette exclaimed, jumping to her paws. The
other Thea Sisters nodded in agreement.
“Do you think that’s possible, Joaquin?”
Pedro asked.
“Of course!” his cousin replied. “We can
create a new repertoire with the songs
we discovered today. They belong
equally
to the Vegas and the Navarros.”
“At last, we understand what Rosita’s true
treasure is!” Colette cried.
“Yes, her enchanting songs!” Anita
exclaimed.
Colette shook her snout. “Not just that.
There’s something even more important.
Rosita wanted her daughters to know that
it’s better to be
together
, because
together
we are stronger!”
Nicky, Pamela, Paulina, and
Violet nodded.
“Friends together,
mice forever!”
As Colette, Nicky, Pam, Paulina, Violet,
Anita, Joaquin, Lola, and Pedro left the
museum, they realized night had fallen.
“Now what? Should we catch a train back
to Seville?” Paulina asked.
“Crusty carburetors! If you want me to get
on another train today, you’ll have to drag
me by the tail!” Pam cried.
Anita laughed. “Don’t worry, I asked
Rodrigo and Aunt Julieta to come pick us up
in our van. They won’t be long.”
“Yay! In that case, why don’t we stop for a
snack ?” Pam asked. “I don’t know
about you mice, but I’m hungrier than a
rodent on a MouseFast diet.”
“There’s a restaurant over there,” Paulina
RETURN TO SEVILLE
said, pointing to a corner of the square.
Sure enough, there was a little café labeled
casa julio. A waiter with a bushy mustache
invited the rodents to sit down at an outdoor
table.
“
Mouselets
, do you trust us? If
you do, we’ll order all the best Spanish
specialties for you!” Pedro said.
The Thea Sisters gladly agreed. Ten
minutes later, the waiter who had greeted
them placed a large pot full of rice and
seafood on the table in front of them.
“Mmm . . . that smells fabumouse!”
Colette exclaimed.
“It’s delicious!” Pam echoed. She was so
hungry, she dug her fork right into the pot.
“What is it?” Violet asked.
“Paella! It’s my favorite dish,” Pedro
replied.
The next fifteen minutes were filled with
munching, crunching, and chatting. As
the mice were finishing up their meal, Anita’s
phone rang.
“It’s Auntie Julieta. She and Rodrigo are
here,” Anita said.
Everyone turned and recognized the Vega
PAELLA
Paella is a traditional dish originally from Valencia. It’s
made of saffron-flavored rice, vegetables, meat, and
seafood. Paella started as a peasant’s dish, made from
leftovers, but quickly became a beloved gourmet
recipe! It is usually cooked and served in an iron pot.
waving
family’s
van
. Julieta and
Rodrigo were
from
the front seat.
The group joined them
right away. Julieta greeted
her niece and nephew and
the
Thea Sisters
joyfully, but her smile
disappeared when she saw
Rosita’s fan in Lola’s paws.
“But that’s . . . that’s
my
fan!”
Julieta cried.
Rodrigo stiffened, too. “Then you must
have taken it! But how . . . ?”
Joaquin stepped forward. “Please, let us
explain. We have a great idea to share
with you. We’ll tell you all about it on the
way home.”
On the ride back to Seville, the young rodents
told Julieta and Rodrigo everything. As soon
as they heard about Rosita’s letter, they
agreed to the plan.
Once they were back in Seville, the Vegas
and the Navarros split up to put that plan
into action!
“Let’s meet at midnight at the feria!” Lola
exclaimed. Then she and her brother
squeezed
down a narrow street.
“Those two are sweeter than cheese
dumplings with syrup on top. If only we’d
known sooner!” Rodrigo said.
“Yes, I’m so happy to have found two new
friends,” Anita said. “Mouselets, why
MEETING AT
MIDNIGHT
don’t you go get ready? Joaquin and I
will LOOK for our parents.”
The Thea Sisters felt like they were going
/>
back in time to the day before.
“Can you believe we came to Seville just a
day ago?” Violet mused. “We’ve done so
much, it’ll take hours to tell Thea about
it!”
“It certainly wasn’t the relaxing
vacation we were hoping for,”
said Nicky, winking at her
friends.
“Maybe not,” Colette said. “But it was
definitely worth it to spend time with our
friends.”
When everyone was dressed for flamenco,
they scampered into the heart of the feria.
There was a fireworks display planned for
midnight.
melted
true
“I’m so happy that you found the fan!”
Mama Lucia said once they were all together
again. “But I still don’t understand how
exactly you did it. . . .”
“You’ll find out soon, Mama,” Anita said.
Inside the caseta, the Vegas and the
mouselets were reunited with the Navarros:
Pedro and Lola, plus their parents, Luis and
Maria. There was an
icy
moment when
Mama Lucia and Papa Javier spotted them.
But the tension
faster than fondue
in a pot when their sons and daughters
rushed to hug one another.
“What in the name of cheese is going
on?” Maria exclaimed.
“Mama, Papa, in Córdoba we found not
just the fan, but also Rosita’s
treasure.
Look!” said Joaquin, holding up the bundle
of songs.
divided
“What’s that?” the parents all asked at
once.
“They’re
unpublished
songs,” Lola
explained. “Rosita left them to us. . . .”
“To all of us?” her mother cried.
“Yes, Mama,” Pedro said. “The Vegas and
the Navarros have been
for too long,
and none of us even know why. It’s time for
us to become one family again —”
“Which is why we’ve decided that we
should
join
forces and create a single
flamenco school!” Lola finished.
The young rodents’ enthusiasm