discomfort, Delta set off in search of a safe place to sleep. Why, in a jungle as lush as this, surely she could find a suitable spot? Preferably surrounded by fruit trees. Some running water would also be most welcome. A brook of some sort, from which she might refill her empty canteen.
A twig snapped in the distance, and Urquit Snodgrass snapped to attention. He looked up from the remains of his supper, and his beady yellow eyes darted back and forth into the brush behind his treasure trove. That was no monkey, he said to himself, and stood up to investigate.
***
Mother tut-tutted at the computer screen as she read my morning’s work over her morning coffee. “Oh dear,” she said. “I do believe Delta’s in more danger than even a daring adventuress such as she is prepared for.”
“Completely and totally!” Louise agreed. She looked up from reading over Tessie’s shoulder and informed me I am brilliant. “I’m loving it, Babe! Delta is in serious peril, isn’t she? Urquit Snodgrass is about to nab her!”
“Not quite yet.” I reluctantly tore my eyes from my pancakes with coconut syrup to enlighten my audience that the loathsome Mr. Snodgrass would not actually kidnap Delta until the following day.
I blinked at the garden fountain gurgling near the edge of the patio. “Delta will happen upon a most idyllic and refreshing pool of clear blue waters the morning following her arduous night in the jungle. Of course, she’ll strip down naked to bathe and revive herself and—”
“And let me guess.” Wilson looked up from his own pancakes. “Just as this Snotgrass guy is about to grab her, some stupid hunk with a huge—”
I kicked him under the table and tilted my head toward my mother. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Just as Snotgrass is about to nab her, the hero guy will rescue her, right?”
“No, Wilson,” Mother corrected. “First of all, his name is Snodgrass, not Snotgrass. And the nasty villain must first succeed in kidnapping Delta. Otherwise, our hero Skylar Staggs can’t very well rescue her from serious distress. Isn’t that right, Jessie?”
I was about to agree, but got distracted by some serious distress of my own—The Hoochie Coochie Brothers had begun tuning their ukuleles over in Song of the Sea bungalow, perfectly disturbing the serenity of our morning meal. I glanced across the garden and whimpered only slightly as the pajama-clad duo stepped out onto their porch, ukuleles in hand. They smiled and waved, and sat down to serenade us.
Mother clapped in glee. “They have a gig tonight,” she informed us. “Is that the word? Gig?”
“You mean, someone is actually going to pay them to play?” I asked.
“Mm-hmm. For Holiday Hula at Halo. Evidently an act called the Smiley Sisters was scheduled for the luau, but they had to cancel. So Hal and Cal were asked to fill in.”
“A luau?” Louise squealed. “That sounds beyond fantastical! Where is it? Let’s go!”
Mother waved a hand. “Don’t worry,” she said as I began to worry. “It’s just down the beach, and I promised the Coochie boys we would all be there.” She smiled brightly. “I’ve never been to a luau before!”
“Me neither!” Louise said. “Not a real one in Hawaii anyway. Won’t this be fantastically fun?” She turned to me for confirmation, and I enquired as to whether she had been tippling on a batch of early-morning pink drinks.
“Poor Hal and Cal were upset to learn that one of the Smiley Sisters has taken so ill,” Mother explained. “But the show must go on.”
“Must, must, must!” Louise agreed.
“The Holiday Hula could well be their big break,” Tessie continued relentlessly. “I imagine they’ll be practicing all day. They’ll want to do their very best, won’t they?”
I might have whimpered, but Wilson reminded me we’d be gone much of the day. “We’re renting a car and exploring the island,” he told the luau enthusiasts. “You ladies care to
A twig snapped in the distance, and Urquit Snodgrass snapped to attention. He looked up from the remains of his supper, and his beady yellow eyes darted back and forth into the brush behind his treasure trove. That was no monkey, he said to himself, and stood up to investigate.
***
Mother tut-tutted at the computer screen as she read my morning’s work over her morning coffee. “Oh dear,” she said. “I do believe Delta’s in more danger than even a daring adventuress such as she is prepared for.”
“Completely and totally!” Louise agreed. She looked up from reading over Tessie’s shoulder and informed me I am brilliant. “I’m loving it, Babe! Delta is in serious peril, isn’t she? Urquit Snodgrass is about to nab her!”
“Not quite yet.” I reluctantly tore my eyes from my pancakes with coconut syrup to enlighten my audience that the loathsome Mr. Snodgrass would not actually kidnap Delta until the following day.
I blinked at the garden fountain gurgling near the edge of the patio. “Delta will happen upon a most idyllic and refreshing pool of clear blue waters the morning following her arduous night in the jungle. Of course, she’ll strip down naked to bathe and revive herself and—”
“And let me guess.” Wilson looked up from his own pancakes. “Just as this Snotgrass guy is about to grab her, some stupid hunk with a huge—”
I kicked him under the table and tilted my head toward my mother. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Just as Snotgrass is about to nab her, the hero guy will rescue her, right?”
“No, Wilson,” Mother corrected. “First of all, his name is Snodgrass, not Snotgrass. And the nasty villain must first succeed in kidnapping Delta. Otherwise, our hero Skylar Staggs can’t very well rescue her from serious distress. Isn’t that right, Jessie?”
I was about to agree, but got distracted by some serious distress of my own—The Hoochie Coochie Brothers had begun tuning their ukuleles over in Song of the Sea bungalow, perfectly disturbing the serenity of our morning meal. I glanced across the garden and whimpered only slightly as the pajama-clad duo stepped out onto their porch, ukuleles in hand. They smiled and waved, and sat down to serenade us.
Mother clapped in glee. “They have a gig tonight,” she informed us. “Is that the word? Gig?”
“You mean, someone is actually going to pay them to play?” I asked.
“Mm-hmm. For Holiday Hula at Halo. Evidently an act called the Smiley Sisters was scheduled for the luau, but they had to cancel. So Hal and Cal were asked to fill in.”
“A luau?” Louise squealed. “That sounds beyond fantastical! Where is it? Let’s go!”
Mother waved a hand. “Don’t worry,” she said as I began to worry. “It’s just down the beach, and I promised the Coochie boys we would all be there.” She smiled brightly. “I’ve never been to a luau before!”
“Me neither!” Louise said. “Not a real one in Hawaii anyway. Won’t this be fantastically fun?” She turned to me for confirmation, and I enquired as to whether she had been tippling on a batch of early-morning pink drinks.
“Poor Hal and Cal were upset to learn that one of the Smiley Sisters has taken so ill,” Mother explained. “But the show must go on.”
“Must, must, must!” Louise agreed.
“The Holiday Hula could well be their big break,” Tessie continued relentlessly. “I imagine they’ll be practicing all day. They’ll want to do their very best, won’t they?”
I might have whimpered, but Wilson reminded me we’d be gone much of the day. “We’re renting a car and exploring the island,” he told the luau enthusiasts. “You ladies care to
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