A Surprise Encounter at the Candle Shop
After the incident in Miss Mash’s class, Lou Lou knew she had to avoid any more trouble at school that week. She had a lot to do before Día de los Muertos and she couldn’t risk detention. Lou Lou worked extra hard on her deadly nightshade Halloween story for English, aced her History test, and even volunteered to stay late to help first graders make paper jack-o’-lanterns.
On Thursday after school, Lou Lou planned to go to A Lovely Day for a Parade and Dancing in Space to take a closer look at the mural changes. But when she was rushing to her bus someone blocked her way.
“Let me by, Kyle,” Lou Lou huffed.
“Stop running in the halls, Lou Lou Bombay,” Kyle commanded. His voice came out squeaky. “It’s against the rules. I’ll arrest you and take you to see Principal Garcia.”
“You wish,” replied Lou Lou. “Now move, please.”
“Watch it or I’ll get you in trouble and then you’ll be painted into a detention mural.”
Lou Lou stopped pushing and looked hard at Kyle.
“There is no detention mural, Kyle. And what do you know about the murals, anyway? Have you seen the changes? Are you the one changing them?”
“No, not me,” Kyle said, taking a step back.
“Do you know who is?”
“No,” Kyle said again. “I just know they’re changing in a funny way. Most people don’t pay attention to the details, but I have laser-beam eyes like Comet Cop.” Kyle pointed to his face with two fingers to illustrate his point.
Lou Lou relaxed a little. “Pea and I think the murals are connected to crimes that have been happening around here.” Lou Lou was certain that the mention of crimes would make Comet Cop Kyle interested.
“Criminal activity, huh? Well, if it’s important to Peacock—I mean, to the earthlings I am sworn to protect—then I will keep my laser-beam eyes and supersonic ears open.” Kyle patted his pocket. “Now where did I put my force-field penetrator?”
Lou Lou, seeing her chance, finally managed to pass Kyle as he searched for his missing space gear. “See you later, Kyle!”
“I’m feeling generous today so I will let you off with a warning!” Kyle called after her.
Lou Lou narrowly avoided missing her bus and, after a brief stop at the SS Lucky Alley to drop off her bag and get her parents’ permission to go for a walk, she finally made it to A Lovely Day for a Parade and Dancing in Space. Pinky and Danielle Desserts’s necklace were still there. Lou Lou looked closely at the details, but found nothing else to help her with the Mural Mystery and left frustrated. She had a little time before she needed to be home so she decided to go to Cupcake Cabana, thinking that vanilla buttercream would lift her spirits.
Halfway to the bakery, Lou Lou changed her mind and turned toward the candle shop instead. She needed answers, not frosting. And she hoped Elmira could give her guidance.
When Lou Lou arrived at the candle shop, Elmira saw her through the window. The Candle Lady flashed a smile and waved Lou Lou inside.
“Buenas tardes, Lou Lou Bombay.”
“Hola, Elmira.” As Lou Lou’s eyes adjusted to the dim candlelight, she realized they were not alone. Danielle Desserts was at the counter, putting her sparkly wallet into her pink purse. Lou Lou scowled. She didn’t want Danielle to intrude on her Candle Lady time.
“Danielle dropped in for some assistance,” Elmira explained, clearly seeing the sour look on Lou Lou’s face. “She seems to be experiencing a nagging necklace nightmare and needs a ‘find’ candle to ensure that she gets her missing jewelry back.”
Danielle glanced at Lou Lou, rolled her eyes once, and half stuck out her tongue. But Lou Lou sensed that Danielle’s heart wasn’t in it. Danielle had been ignoring Lou Lou at school since Monday’s events, which was a big step up from her usual taunting. If Danielle appreciated Lou Lou’s help with the necklace search, she clearly wasn’t about to admit it.
Danielle Desserts flounced toward the door, holding an orange candle with a picture of a magnifying glass and the word Encontrar on the glass holder. She pushed by Lou Lou, tossing her hair. “Move it, Bombay,” she said. Then quietly, “Please.”
Lou Lou was shocked. She had never heard Danielle say please before. When the bell on the door signaled Danielle’s exit, Lou Lou turned to Elmira.
“Does Danielle come here often?” she asked. Despite Danielle’s slightly improved attitude, Lou Lou didn’t want Danielle around during her future candle shop visits.
“A veces,” Elmira replied. “She was just here the other day to buy a Victoria candle so she could win tickets to the Sugar Mountain movie premiere.”
“I see,” said Lou Lou, trying not to giggle.
“Esa niña only visits when she needs help. She is not una buena amiga like you.” Elmira smiled at Lou Lou. “How is your garden?” she asked. “Is the Crecer candle working to remedy your catastrophic camellia calamity?”
“It’s not,” said Lou Lou sadly. “But my toad lilies are doing great, and I have more basil than ever. I guess maybe it’s working, just not for Pinky.”
“I know you wanted to win that competition. But you are a skilled gardener who grows flores fabulosas. I’m sure there will be a blue ribbon in your future.” Elmira reached across the counter and squeezed Lou Lou’s hand.
“Thanks, Elmira!” Lou Lou felt a glimmer of hope. Elmira had cheered Lou Lou on during the third-grade writing contest and recommended a Creativo candle to get her literary juices flowing. And Lou Lou had won! So if Elmira said Lou Lou would win a horticulture blue ribbon someday, it must be true! Just not for Pinky. Thinking of her camellia, Lou Lou remembered the purpose of her visit.
“Elmira, do you know anything about the murals? Someone is adding things to them that weren’t there before. Real-life bad things, too.”
The Candle Lady raised her eyebrows. “I wasn’t aware of any changes, but ya entiendo. Mysterious mural mayhem is your problem.”
“Exactly, Elmira! It’s a Mural Mystery! Danielle’s missing necklace was in a mural. Magdalena’s quinceañera dress was painted, too. And there’s a bunny! A white bunny with amber eyes. I’m not sure what that means since I don’t know any white bunnies in the neighborhood. But I think the same person is behind all these crimes and he is—I mean, he or she—is using the murals to brag. I have to put a stop to it!” Lou Lou was building up steam. “And Pinky! Pinky is in A Lovely Day for a Parade!”
“Oh my,” said Elmira. “It does sound like a puzzling painted picture. Let me see if I have something that can help you.” She reached toward one of the shelves.
“I can’t buy any candles today,” Lou Lou said. “I don’t get my allowance until tomorrow.” Lou Lou only had one dollar and four quarters (“one cupcake”) in her pocket. “But I thought you might know something useful.”
“It pains me that so much misfortune has befallen our community recently.” Elmira echoed Lou Lou and Pea’s thoughts. “But it’s possible that these murals are just meaningless paintings of sad events. Still, I will consider this confounding conundrum. Why don’t you come back another time? I may have a better answer and, if not, you can get the right candle to illuminate the issue.”
“Okay.” Lou Lou was a little disappointed. But she knew that the Candle Lady cared about the people of El Corazón and would do her best to help with the Mural Mystery. “See you soon, Elmira.”
“I hope so,” replied Elmira. “I do enjoy your visits, Lou Lou Bombay.”
“¡Adiós!” Lou Lou said to the Candle Lady, and left the shop.
* * *
When she arrived at the SS Lucky Alley, Lou Lou went straight to her garden. She winced at the sight of Pinky’s remains. The pile of brown leaves, dried-up flower petals, and branches had been further destroyed by that week’s rain. Lou Lou’s mom had promised to clean up the mess tomorrow to spare Lou Lou the painful task. Then, on Saturday, which had been Lou Lou’s favorite time to visit Pinky (and which she liked to think was Pinky’s favorite time to visit Lou Lou), she would have a proper funeral befitting a would-have-been Hello Horticulture! Society Flowering Bushes and Shrubs blue-ribbon contender.
As she had done every day since Pinky’s planticide, Lou Lou inspected her garden to make sure that there had been no more foul play. She saw no visible mischief so she knelt down to sniff the ground for poisons of the Pinky-killing variety. It was when she had her nose in the dirt that she heard a voice from the other side of the fence.
“Try not to worry,” the voice said.
Jeremy! When Lou Lou opened her mouth to hiss his name, she got a mouthful of soil.
“Phhtt!” Lou Lou spit it out and Jeremy was quiet for a few long seconds. She froze, certain he would look over the fence any moment. Miraculously, he didn’t.
“Of course I’m keeping it quiet. C’mon, you know me!” Jeremy said. Lou Lou couldn’t hear another person so she assumed Jeremy was on the phone. “No, I don’t think she’s at all suspicious.” Who? Me? Lou Lou almost laughed. Oh, I’m suspicious, she thought.
“¡Jeremy, es la hora de la cena!” Lou Lou heard a woman’s voice call.
“Listen, I have to go. My mom is calling me for dinner. But I promise I’m handling it, okay?” Jeremy said.
He’s probably working with another criminal! Lou Lou thought. Otherwise, why would he be talking to someone about being quiet and avoiding suspicion?
“Sí. ¡Mañana te llamo!” Jeremy said. Lou Lou heard her neighbor’s door slam and she knew it was safe to stop kissing the dirt. She stood up, brushed herself off, and peeked over the fence. But all she saw were blue spikes in the window.