You know what the perfect end to a holiday filled with barbequing, grilling out, swimming and pie is?

Reading the new Coconut Queen.

And stopping by Kristen’s Custom Creations, where I’m a featured blogger! Kristen makes fabulous jewelry like the darling cupcake necklace above.  Everything is home made and can be custom ordered to suit your fancy.  And I have a lot of fancies to be suited….So stop by and check out my babbling answers!

For the previous edition of the Coconut Queen, go to the Never Ending Stories Tab above. And be you’ve read yesterday’s Gift and Puppy Ball announcements!

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In somewhat of a daze, Essie May allowed Miss Louise to lead her across the garden.  A wall covered with ivy and a thick wooden door lined the edge of the garden, like a gateway to another world.  It reminded Essie of when she and her sister would tape a line down the hallway when they were growing up, each determined to have one half of the house to themselves.  Not even their parents could cross the lines freely without a passport.

Turning at the door, Miss Louise peered down at her.  Her ice blue eyes narrowed as she watched Essie’s face carefully.  “From here on, you must not tell anyone what you see.  Understand?  If I find out you’ve told someone, and believe me–I would find out, not only will you not win Cotton Queen, but I’d make sure you didn’t leave town.”

Essie May shivered, tearing her eyes away from Miss Louise’s cold gaze.  “I understand.”

“Good.”  Miss Louise smiled, revealing a row of yellowed teeth.  Pulling a long iron key out of the bodice of her blouse, she unlocked the door.  It creaked open.  A strong smell of musky perfume seeped from the doorway.  Essie May wrinkled her nose.   Taking a deep breath of the fresh garden air, Essie May ducked through the door and followed Miss Louise inside.

With a flick of Miss Louise’s wrist, the room was illuminated with warm lights from beaded lamps and light bulbs hidden behind glass sconces.   Essie May turned slowly in a circle, her mouth hanging open as she took every detail in.  It was as if someone had created a beauty queen laboratory.  Rows of glittering dresses, smooth high heels and crowns hung from the wall while salon chairs and mirrors sat in the center of the room.  A small stage lay on the right, flanked by boxes of instruments and dance shoes marked “Talent” in a heavy black marker.  Stations for teeth whitening, waxing, tanning and pedicures spread in a semi circle around a stylist’s chair.   There was a wooden floor for aerobics, a treadmill and a small dressing room.   Dressmaker’s dummies were propped around the room in clusters, almost like beauty queens gossiping together.

It was simataneously the most interesting and terrifying room Essie May had ever seen.

“Impressed?”  Miss Louise raised her eyebrow.

“Very,” Essie May replied automatically.  “And scared out of my wits, I must admit.”

Miss Louise grinned.  “Then you’re smarter than you look.  This is most girls’ idea of heaven.  It’s my own personal hell.”

“Then why did you build it?” Essie May blurted out.  “I mean, you seem to dislike pagents.  Why would you spend your life devoted to them?”

Miss Louise’s smile faded.  Her light blue eyes took on a haunted look.  “That, my dear, is another tale for another time.  But we must get started.  We only have about half an hour left before your mother returns.”

Essie May looked around and gulped.  “What are we going to do?  Cut my hair?  Paint my toenails.”

Miss Louise just smiled.  Striding over to the dressing room, she jerked the curtains open with a force that made Essie May jump.  A large frumpy woman with grey curls and large plastic glasses was curled up in a ball on a pile of gowns, snoring gently.

“Mrs. Drew?”  Miss Louise whispered.  “Mrs. Drew!  Mrs. Drew!”  She tapped the older woman with her shoe.  The woman snorted and turned, nestling into a silk gown.  Her mouth dropped open and drool snaked down her chin.

“Helen!” Miss Louise hissed.  “Helen!  Get up!”  Lost in a world of dreams, Mrs. Drew’s eyes narrowed and she pawed at the air.  “G’away,” she mumbled in a annoyed voice.

Miss Louise rolled her eyes.  “I don’t have time for this.”

“You don’t have to disturb her,” Essie May ventured.  “She looks so tired.”

“She’s always tired,” Miss Louise snorted.  “She’s a narcoleptic.”  Leaning down so her lips were an inch from the woman’s ear, she shouted, “Helen!  Someone has stolen your coconut!  You can’t make a pie!”

The woman’s eyes flew open and she leaped to her stubby feet.  “Oh sweet merciful heavens!  The pie thieves are back again!”  Brandishing a hanger, she waved it wildly.  “Where are they?  I’ll make them wish they never set foot in my kitchen!”  Her grey hair stuck out in frizzy spikes and her cheeks were dotted with imprints from the sequined gown she’d curled up with.  Shoving her glasses on her nose, she glared at Essie May.  “You there!  What have you done with my coconut?”

“Your coconut is fine,” Miss Louise replied impatiently, pulling the hanger out of the woman’s hand.  “But I need your help.  This is Essie May.  She’s running for Coconut Queen.”

Mrs. Drew looked Essie May up and down.  A frown crossed her floppy features.  “Why is she here?  There’s nothing wrong with her.  She’s already pretty with a good figure.  She doesn’t need a talent for coconut queen.  I never understood that, but you know with those men for judges”–

“She hates coconut,” Miss Louise interrupted.

“She hates coconut?” Mrs. Drew’s voice was scarcely a breath above a whisper.

“She hates coconut,” Miss Louise confirmed.

Mrs. Drew turned to Essie May.  “You hate coconut?”

She nodded, her pinks tinged with pink.

“And Queenie is running,” Miss Louise added.

Mrs. Drew’s eyes widened and her lips pursed.  “How much time have I got?” she asked.

“Less than thirty minutes right now,” Miss Louise replied.  “Her mother will be along shortly.”

“That’s not enough time,” Mrs. Drew sighed.  “You’ll have to come back.”  She turned to Essie May and crossed her arms.  “You’re going to be my new project.”

To be continued….

Photos from Google Images.

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  Tomorrow we have a charming story from the Blond Duck and Ben’s past that tells of the event that made the Blond Duck realize she’d be stupid not to marry Ben.  On Thursday we have a utterly delicious new recipe and on Friday, a new Twirl.  Also, this weekend we have a new feature!  And next week, a new creative woman of the Pond! Stay tuned!