I So Don't Do Makeup by Barrie Summy

Author:Barrie Summy [Summy, Barrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-375-89653-8
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2010-08-21T04:00:00+00:00

chapter

nineteen

Pushing open the heavy glass door, I exit the fateful main entrance of the mall, take the sidewalk to the street, cross at the light, then wend my way through the parking lot to one of my fave stores of all time, Pets Galore.

Ahhh. I inhale deeply. Pets Galore is a happy place, filled with a delightful smell of fish food + dog grooming + birds. I could spend hours here.

Troy, the cashier, is an older guy of at least twenty-five. Tattoos of sea animals swim up and down his arms. All bright and cheerful, he says, “Hi, Sherry. How’re Cindy and Prince?”

“Great. Zipping around their tank like crazy.” I hike my backpack and my purse up onto my shoulder. I am heavily laden today. “Hey, Troy, did a girl named Eve just start working here?”

“Yeah.” He’s slotting the new pet magazines in the rack. “She’s here now.”

And then I smell something else. An odor that so does not belong in a pet shop. Cinnabon rolls. It’s getting stronger and sweeter. It’s Mrs. Howard. She’s checking up on me.

My only advantage is that she doesn’t know I can smell her. Which means she doesn’t know that I know she’s there. My foot midair, I do an about-face, stick my hands casually in my pockets and smile like a typical shopper, not a detective. By the time she knows about this mystery, it’ll be signed, sealed and delivered to her at Dairy Queen.

“So, Troy, remember the castle I bought here that you recommended? Prince and Cindy love, love, love it. Got any new aquarium stuff?”

“A few plastic plants. Not sure they’re your style, though.” Now he’s hanging little bags of catnip. “We just got a new bridge. Your fish might like that.”

“I bet they would. Cindy and Prince don’t have anything bridgelike. Thanks.” I meander over to the fish aisle.

The Cinnabon smell trails after me.

I spot the new plants stacked on a shelf. Troy’s right. They aren’t worth saving up for. But I take my time examining them, turning them this way and that, holding them up close, then at arm’s length. I move to the middle of the aisle and find the bridge. It’s übercute. For a sec, I forget about the mystery and Mrs. Howard following me around and imagine Cindy and Prince darting under this little ceramic bridge. Until I turn it over and see the price tag. Ouchie mama! It’s more than two weeks’ allowance!

Mrs. Howard materializes beside me, big and round and hazy.

My hand on my heart, I stumble backward in fake shock. I swivel my head back and forth, making sure no one’s around. “Mrs. Howard?” I whisper.

“Sorry to startle you, honey,” she whispers back. Which she doesn’t need to do since no one can hear her but me.

“Is my mom okay?”

“Honey, your mama’s just grand. And making everyone real proud with the way she’s focusing and learning. By everyone, I mean us and the prestigious foreign Academy. If things keep on progressing this a-way, your mama will get an exciting assignment, and we’ll get to borrow one of their members.

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