A Putt-Putt-the-Puli Emergency
On the way home from Limonero Park, Lou Lou and Pea stopped to get a close-up look at the finished historical section of the Bonanza mural. El Corazón was filled with community-created murals that were greatly loved by the two friends and had even helped them solve a mystery. But today, instead of looking for clues, Pea was hoping for creative inspiration for her hat-making. Fixing Abuela Josie’s lucky hat was top priority, but Pea also needed to design a few more Bonanza hats.
When they arrived at the mural, Lou Lou and Pea spent a moment in quiet contemplation. Lou Lou admired the bundle of flowered branches and vines in Diego’s arms, and Pea looked closely at Giles’s jaunty cap. They both smiled at the elaborately painted gazebo that the artists had added to the background.
“Do you feel inspired?” Lou Lou asked Pea.
“The mural is definitely helping,” Pea replied. “I will make a cap that looks like the one Giles is wearing.”
“But it’s so simple compared to your other fancy Bonanza hats,” Lou Lou said.
“Yes, but as Giorgio Armani said, ‘The essence of style is a simple way of saying something complex,’” Pea replied.
Lou Lou considered this. “That might be true, but the elaborate ones are way more fun!” Pea laughed, and Lou Lou looked back at the mural. “How about making a hat to represent every neighborhood in our city?” she suggested. “The one for El Corazón could be covered in hearts, the hat for Centro Circle, could have … well … circles. Verde Valley’s could be green, Dove Heights could be covered with birds, and so on.”
“That’s a wonderful idea, Lou Lou!” said Pea. She looked at the painting of Diego’s flowers. “I can’t wait to add some faux-silk honeysuckle to my designs. The shipment Mr. Vila ordered should arrive today!” She clapped her hands. “Lou Lou, that’s it!”
“That’s what?” asked Lou Lou.
“I’ll use the silk honeysuckle to cover the hole on Abuela Josie’s hat! Then I won’t need a perfect patch. It will just look like I added flair in honor of the Bonanza and my tío Diego!”
“Wonderful!” Lou Lou said. “You’re a true hat genius!”
Pea smiled and gazed at the gazebo in the mural. “I can’t wait to see what our gazebo will look like!” she said.
The founders of the city had been strangers to each other when they arrived, but quickly became the best of friends. To celebrate their new friendship and home, Diego and Giles built a fancy gazebo like the ones in England, but painted it with colorful flowers and designs that resembled Mexican Talavera pottery. The original gazebo had been destroyed in an earthquake, but in honor of the Bicentennial Bonanza, the city was building a replica for Limonero Park.
“I know! It’s going to be amazing!” Everyone in El Corazón was very excited about the new gazebo, including Lou Lou and Pea, who planned to enjoy PSPP tea and scones under its beautiful dome.
Lou Lou linked arms with Pea. “Do you have enough inspiration?” she asked. Pea nodded. “Great, because I’m starving!”
“Let’s go!” said Pea, and the two best friends headed off in the direction of the SS Lucky Alley for lunch.
* * *
Lou Lou and Pea spent Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday at Marvelous Millinery working on the Bonanza hats. Pea mended Abuela Josie’s lucky hat, and under Pea’s watchful blue eye, Lou Lou helped with the other Bonanza hats by sewing and gluing buttons, ribbons, silk flowers, and plastic fruits on hats of all shapes and sizes.
By the end of the weekend, they’d made excellent progress. Pea not only fixed the hole in her abuela’s hat and added gorgeous sprigs of silk honeysuckle, she also cleaned the suede and polished the silver chain so it looked as good as new. At the end of the day, she held it up for Lou Lou and Mr. Vila to admire.
“Pea, that’s amazing! Now Abuela Josie can do her stunt worry-free, wearing her lucky hat. She is going to be so proud of you!”
“Oh yes, yes! Fabulous work!” the milliner chimed in. Pea beamed.
* * *
That evening, Lou Lou was relaxing in the living room of the SS Lucky Alley with her parents. Dolphin sounds played over the speakers, making kee kee kee noises. Lou Lou’s dad practiced sailing knots, and her mom made origami birthday cakes to use as Bonanza decorations. Lou Lou worked on a list of horticulture supplies she needed for the honeysuckle. At six o’clock, Lou Lou’s dad silenced the dolphins and turned on the news.
“Good evening, folks,” the newscaster said. “Tonight we will take you inside the kitchen of Cupcake Cabana for an exclusive tour. But first, an announcement from our mayor.” Lou Lou looked up from her list. She was certain that Mayor Montoya was going to say something about the Bonanza. Maybe she wanted to offer a special thank-you to the girl who’d grown such beautiful honeysuckle in Limonero Park.
The news camera cut to the mayor sitting behind her desk. She was wearing a gray dress and a somber expression.
“Buenas noches, everyone,” said Mayor Montoya in her smooth politician’s voice. “I’m afraid I have some rather unfortunate news. I received word today that Putt Putt, my mother’s puli, is very sick.”
“How can a pulley get sick?” Lou Lou asked. She thought about the pulley she used to bring things up to the crow’s nest, her bedroom at the tip-top of the SS Lucky Alley.
“It’s pronounced pool-ee. And it’s a dog,” Jane Bombay, Lou Lou’s mom, said. She pointed to a picture on the television of what appeared to be a black mop. Upon closer inspection, Lou Lou could just make out the mop’s little pink tongue.
The camera cut back to Mayor Montoya. “I’m sorry to say that I must leave the city to visit my mother and help care for poor Putt Putt. With the Bicentennial Bonanza right around the corner, I realize this is very bad timing. But never fear, the vice-mayor will be in charge while I’m gone. He has assured me that he will take good care of the Bonanza preparations, so you will be in excellent hands. And if there is an emergency, he’ll know how to contact me. I can’t say exactly when I’ll return, but I do hope it’s in time for the celebration.”
The camera cut back to the newscaster, and Lou Lou’s dad turned down the television volume. “How sad. I hope Putt Putt is okay,” he said.
Lou Lou squinted at her mom. “Who is the vice-mayor?” she asked. “And what does he do when there’s no Putt-Putt-the-puli emergency?”
Lou Lou’s mom scratched her head. “His name is Andy something,” she finally replied. “I saw him driving a little car in a parade, but honestly, I’m not sure what his regular responsibilities are.” Lou Lou and her mom looked at Lou Lou’s dad.
“Well, shiver me timbers, I don’t know either, lassies,” he said. “All I remember about him is that he wears flashy clothes.”
Lou Lou thought for a moment. She was curious about the vice-mayor and sad for Putt Putt the puli. As far as the Bonanza preparations went, though, everything seemed okay. So why were her ears tingling a warning?
“I guess if the mayor says we’re in good hands, it’s no big deal,” Lou Lou said, dismissing her ears. At the time, Lou Lou had no way of knowing it would turn out that her ears were right and she was terribly wrong.