Hello.

We’re the Easter Bunnies of the Pond.

But that’s all we can tell you.

Because we have something grand to tell you.

Something wonderfully exciting.

Something magically delightful.

But not until…

Tomorrow.

Until then, enjoy the new Miss Pickles below.

For previous editions, go here.

For information about Miss Pickles, the first novel, go here.

Until tomorrow, Invisible friends….

—————————————————————————————————————————–

“Mason!” Miss Pickles cried again, waving her arms.  “Wait!  I must tell you something!”

Glancing back, Mason misinterpreted Miss Pickles’ frantic wave as a friendly one.  Waving his left arm, he curled it into a scoop and did a quick broadstroke across the lagoon.  Miss Pickles groaned, her fingers clutching at her frizzy blond hair.

“Oh dear,” she muttered, releasing her hair with such force it bounced over her head like a frazzled golden halo.  “We’ve got to hurry, duckies.  Mason is in terrible danger.”

“We’re the ones in danger,” Don replied bluntly.  “The Giggler is growing closer every second.”

Miss Pickles frowned.  “True.”  Tapping her finger against her teeth, her eyes brightened.  With a whoop, she dove into her tiny handbag.  As her pink-booted feet kicked wildly, all sorts of grunts and toots and whistles floated out of her bag.  The children watched wide-eyed as a saxophone, roast turkey, closet organizer set and perturbed iguana all flew out of her bag.

“Found it!” her muffled voice cried.  With a even louder grunt, she flipped back onto her feet, stumbling back with a small plastic bottle clutched in one hand and a tiny plastic wand in the other.

“Is that bubbles?” the Ladybug asked, blinking rapidly.  “You carry bubbles in your purse?”

“She’s got an iguana and roast turkey in her purse, and you’re curious about bubbles?” Don asked, his eyebrow leaping off his forehead.

The Ladybug nodded.  “Good point.”

“Miss Pickles, can I have the roast turkey?” Ralph asked, drooling.  For once, none of the children made fun of him.  They were too busy drooling along with him.

“I don’t know, duckie,” Miss Pickles replied, dumping the saxophone and the iguana back in her purse.  Ignoring Ralph’s mournful wail, she shoved the roast turkey in and snapped the tiny clutch shut.  “You’d have to ask the owner.”

“Who is the owner?”  Ralph eyed the tiny handbag.

“Why the farmer’s wife, of course,” Miss Pickles replied.  “She’s serving it for a big celebratory dinner tonight.”

No one could tell if she was kidding or not, so the children remained silent, their distressed stomachs growling at the lost turkey.

“What are the bubbles for?” the Ladybug asked, tearing her eyes away from the handbag.

“This!” Miss Pickles cried triumphantly.  Raising the bottle, she unscrewed the lid and dipped the wand inside.  Pulling the wand out, she held it to her lips and blew a steady stream of air.  Instantly, dozens of bubbles streamed from the tiny wand, surrounding the children.  Laughing, they held up their hands to catch the bubbles.  Only the second their small fingers touched the delicate film, instead of popping, it surrounded them.  Soon, the entire class except Don and Ralph were floating above the lagoon in bubbles.

The Ladybug closed her eyes.  “And why was this a good idea?”

“The Giggler can’t affect them in the bubbles!” Miss Pickles crowed, clapping her hands.  “They’re soundproof.”  She handed Ladybug the wand.  “If one starts to get away, just twirl the wand around your finger quickly.  It’ll expand into a lasso and you can maneuver them around.  Don’t worry about the bubbles breaking, they’re good for up to 48 hours.”

“And where are you going?” the Ladybug demanded.  “We’ve only got a few hours before party!”

“Not to mention curing me!”  Don glared at the Ladybug.  She stuck her tongue out at him.  He snarled at her.

“We’re going to go get Mason and the tears of sadness, of course,” Miss Pickles informed her.  Leaping into the air, she did a cannonball into the lagoon. “Come along, boys!  You can help!”

***

Across the lagoon and completely unaware of the chaos he was causing, Mason climbed out of the water.  Slicking back his hair and shaking out his waterlogged shoes, he rushed into the dark cavern.

“Hello?”  he called.  “Hello?  Does anyone know where I can find the tears of sadness?”

A tortured wail tore through the caves.  Jumping, Mason rubbed his arms as goosebumps exploded over his skin.

“Hello?” he called.  “Are you all right?”

Another wail, far more terrifying forlorn than the first, pierced his ears.  Wincing, Mason took a few steps forward.

“Hello?” he called.  “Can I help you? What’s wrong?”

The only reply was a sob, and a hiccup.  Cocking his ear, Mason could hear a soft weeping.

“I’m terribly sorry to intrude,” he apologized.  “If I can just get the Tears of Sadness, I’ll be on my way.”

“WHYYYYYYY?”

The wail echoed around the cave, the desolate voice pounding into Mason’s head.

“Well, you see, my friend and I have been affected by the Giggler and the Seabreeze….”

“THE SEABREEZE!” If the word hadn’t ended in a heartbreaking sob, it would have been indignant.  “This is all her fault!”

Mason blinked, rubbing his ears.  “What is?”

“Me!” the voice wailed.  “It’s the Seabreeze’s fault I’m sad.  Depressed.  Lost in a sea of loneliness.  Forever doomed to melancholy.  Perishing of a broken heart!” A fresh batch of weeping began.

“I don’t understand,” Mason called.  “How did the Seabreeze make you sad?”

He could hear sniffing and blubbering.  “I don’t want to talk about it!”

Mason grit his teeth.  His mother always said he had no sense of sympathy.  “Listen, I’m very sorry the Seabreeze made you sad.  But all I need is some Tears of Sadness to cure my friend and I so we can get my other friend to her ball by midnight, and I’ll be out of your hair.  Can I please have some tears of sadness?”

Another wail rang through the cave.  “Just what will you do to get these tears?  My tears are all I have left!  No dignity, no pride, no heart, no love….just tears!”

Mason thought for a moment.  Biting his lip, he took a deep breath.

“What if I….”

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  Tomorrow we learn the secret of the bunnies and Wednesday, a new Pet Shop story!  Thursday we have a delectable recipe and Friday, more Dallas Jean!  Stay tuned!

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