To read previous editions of the Coconut Queen, visit the archives in the NeverEnding stories.

“Me?”  Queenie breathed, her eyes glittering as she stared at the coconut.  Curling her fingers in greedy claws, she snatched the coconut out of Essie’s hands.  She never even noticed the shocked look on Essie’s face.  “Of course,” she purred, holding the coconut above her head and gazing at it like an athlete with a trophy.  “I deserve this.  After all, I am the prettiest, smartest and most talented girl in town.”  She patted her frizzled hair, batting her tarantula like lashes at the coconut.

Essie snorted.  Snarling, Queenie whirled around and clutched the coconut to her chest.  “Are you mocking me, Essie May?”

“I don’t have to mock you,” Essie replied honestly.  “You’re doing a good job of making a fool of yourself.”

Queenie sniffed.  “You’re just bitter because you didn’t get the coconut.  You’re not Coconut Queen of the bakery, I am.”

Essie’s lips twitched.  “I know.  I’m the one who gave you the coconut,” she reminded Queenie.

Ugly red spots bled through Queenie’s painted cheeks.  “Listen, Essie May,” she snapped, thrusting the coconut into her mock designer purse.  “I know you’re jealous of me, but it needs to stop.  You’ve got no chance at the crown.  It’s mine.  I mean, look at you!”  she cackled shrilly.  “You’ve gained five pounds from working in this bakery, your highlights show at least a quarter of an inch of growth, your hair is greasy and you’re not even wearing make up today!”  Leaning back triumphantly, Queenie crossed her arms and raised an over plucked eyebrow.  “You might as well not even walk across the stage.”

Normally, Essie May would have been sputtering in rage by this point.  But during Queenie’s rant, something magical had transpired.  As Queenie’s tacky red lipstick slathered lips rambled on and on and the insults grew meaner and faster, Essie found herself experiencing a wondrous new emotion.

She didn’t care.

Now, there had been plenty of times when she had pretended not to care, like when Beaux Butterton, the hottest football player at school, asked out Queenie over her for last year’s Spring Fling or when her mom threw her sister a party at the country club on her own birthday (which she had forgotten until a week later).  And of course, she had pretended not to care with bad grades or when a friend blew her off.

But this time, in this moment, she honestly did not care.  She saw Queenie’s sneer, heard her harsh words spewing out of her mouth.  But it didn’t bother her.  She didn’t care.  In fact, she heard herself laughing.  Queenie’s eyes widened.

“What is wrong with you?” she sputtered.  Her eyes narrowed and she said slyly, “Or is it just true all fat people are jolly?”

Essie May grinned.  Extending her hand, she said, “Good luck, Queenie.  Enjoy being Coconut Queen.  Excuse me.  I’ve got other customers.”

Queenie looked at her hand as though she was offering a dead snake.  Shrugging, Essie  greeted the old couple standing behind Queenie.  As she took their cash and boxed up their cupcakes, Queenie stood next to the register, her jaw hanging open.  Staring at Essie, she sputtered, “Well, I never!  I have never been treated such in my life!”

The old man next to her grinned, revealing only four yellowed teeth.  “You haven’t lived very long, girlie.  And compared to you, Essie is a queen.”

Essie grinned as Queenie gasped and stormed out of the restaurant.  Thanking the couple, she handed them their change and their cupcakes before collapsing into giggles behind the register.

“Very nice.”

Essie whirled around to see Mrs. Bumsfield.  “You saw that?” she asked.

“We all did.”  Miss Louise stepped out behind Mrs. Bumsfield with a smile.  “Very impressive, Essie.  Even though Queenie was less than gracious, you held your cool.”

“Admirable,” Mrs. Bumsfield added, “Considering I wanted to shake the little brat.”

Essie blushed.  “You know what’s funny?  I just didn’t care.  I know that sounds silly, but I honestly didn’t care.  She just looked so ridiculous it was more amusing than anything.”

Mrs. Bumsfield and Miss Louise exchanged glances.

“She’s ready, don’t you think?” Mrs. Bumfield murmured.  Miss Louise nodded.

“Ready?” Essie May asked cautiously.  “Ready for what?”

“For the secret of the coconut queen,” Mrs. Bumsfield replied.  “The real secret, not the pie you made.”

“Though it was quite delicious,” Miss Louise mummured.

“Indeed, it was.”  Mrs. Bumsfield licked her lips, then forced her expression to become solemn again.

“Really?”  Essie breathed.  Her heart was dancing and singing like a Broadway Chorus in her chest.  “I’ll finally get to know the secret?”

“Yes.”  Mrs. Bumsfield nodded.  Essie whooped and thrust her fists into the sky.  “I’m so excited!  I can’t wait to learn what it is!  I’ve been dying of curiosity.”

“Well, you can’t learn it now,” Mrs. Bumsfield replied.  “You have to wait until after the Coconut Queen competition.”

Essie deflated, staring at her with forlorn eyes.  “What?  Why?  What’s the point of knowing the secret if I lose the competition?”  She glanced at Miss Louise, who gave her a grim nod.  “That doesn’t make any sense.  You said you’d help me win the competition if I did everything you asked.  Well, I gave away the coconuts, I came in here every morning after hours of classes the night before.  I even took my finals while I was working here!  And now you’re telling me I have to wait until after the competition to find out the secret of Coconut Queen?”

“I know it seems unfair, but you must understand…” Mrs. Bumsfield began.

“Seems unfair?”  Essie May shook her head, tears pricking her eyes.  “It is unfair!  I’ve worked hard!  I’ve gained weight!  I’ve let my looks slide because I thought this was more important.  And now I’ve got nothing except more work to do.”  Shaking her head, she reached down and grabbed her purse.  “I’ve got to go.  I’ve got to hit the gym and salon.  My mother’s going to have a heart attack if I don’t drop this weight in two days.”  Brushing past them, she rushed toward the door.

“Essie, please…” Miss Louise pleaded, reaching a hand out.  “I know what it looks like, but you must understand, we’re doing this for your own good.”

“Please, dear,” Mrs. Bumsfield cooed.  “We’ll explain it all in good time.  Have faith in us, please.  All will be revealed shortly.”

Essie paused on her way to the door.  Giving them a sad smile, she shook her head.  “I appreciate all you did for me.  Really.  But it’ll be too late.”

“Essie”–  Miss Louise began.

Essie held up her hand and shook her head.  “If I’ve learned anything from you Miss Louise, it’s that it’s best to do things on your own.  So that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”  Pulling the door open, she turned her head.  “I’ll see ya’ll at the pageant in two days.”  The door slammed behind her as she hurried down the sidewalk.

With a sigh, Miss Louise and Mrs. Bumsfield looked at each other.

“We should have told her…” Miss Louise began.

“We couldn’t have, Louise,” Mrs. Bumsfield replied bitterly.  “You know the rules as well as I do.  Only a Coconut Queen can learn the secret of Coconut.”

“But what if Queenie beats her?” Miss Louise inquired nervously.  “Or what about the Samson girl?  Have you seen her dance?”

Mrs. Bumsfield nodded, her lips pursed together.  “It’s out of our hands.  You know that.  We’ve done all we can.  Now we just have to wait.  Hope and wait.”

Miss Louise bit her lip and looked at her old friend.  Struck by the same thought, both ladies hurried into the kitchen for some comfort of the coconut kind.

To be continued…

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  Tomorrow we have a delicious Tex-Mex recipe!  Friday we have a new Twirl and Saturday, a new Creative Woman!  Stay tuned!