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!