The Piñata - Chapter 3

Its not all hard work for The Bicycle and Floating Club. After the May Day debacle it was time to let loose. Luckily, it was time for Lindsey's Sweetciñera birthday celebration. In Seaside Town, a girl's sweetciñera is a very big deal. Lindsey's parents had planned for a huge party and rented out the most lavish venue in town - the Burrito Dome. The Burrito Dome could hold up to 200,000 people. Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey's Parents weren't expecting that many attendees but the whole town was invited as well as all the people in neighboring towns that the Club had helped in the past. Earl Swensen, the most prized designer in Seaside town made the most beautiful white gown for the event. Lindsey had always dreamt of wearing a gown like this to her sweetciñera and now it was coming true. All of the plans for the event had been finalized, the Burrito Dome was stocked with Dewar's and the day had finally come. Jessie, Cathy and Sarah wore matching green gowns in sweetciñera tradition. They had even saved up reward money to buy Lindsey a fancy new bicycle. Lindsey's bicycle was beginning to rust from all the coastal town's fog. Cathy had wished it was her sweetciñera because she of all people needed a new bike. She had been floating for weeks and was getting rather tired of the wind burn and ear popping.

The event kicked off with a musical performance from former American Idol contestants Nikki McKibbin, Gina Glockson, and Amanda Overmyer, who had formed the all girl group 'The Black Velvets'. Naturally they performed the American Idol kiss-of- death song "Black Velvet". The town was feeling it but thought they sounded a little pitchy.

Jessie said, "They should get rid of their chunky highlights."

And the rest of the club agreed (except Cathy, who really couldn't see the stage too well because of the wind burn).

The chef for the evening, Morgs DuPont had prepared a lovely organic spinach salad with a filet of salmon. All the townspeople loved the meal and complimented Morgs on the texture of the filet. Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey's Parents soon announced that they had a special surprise for Lindsey.

"If everyone could gather around the dance floor we have a surprise present for the sweetciñera girl." said Mr. Lindsey's Parents.

The guests rushed to get a good view in front. Just then a very large object lowered from the top of the dome. There were a lot of 'ooohs' and 'ahhhhs'.

"What could it be?" asked Sarah.
"I don't know but it sure is colorful." said Jessie.
"Really? I'm just getting blurry" said Cathy.

As the object lowered closer and closer the crowd, it soon became apparent that it was a piñata. And not just any piñata but the prettiest and most colorful piñata one could ever imagine.

"Wow! I can't believe I got a piñata!"said Lindsey.
"It's so beautiful!" chimed Sarah.
"I don't know what a piñata is." said Cathy.

Mrs. Lindsey's Parents brought a blindfold and a 2x4 over to Lindsey to kick off the festivities. Lindsey was ready to swing the 2x4 when Jessie had noticed something seemed off with the piñata.

"Wait! Don't swing! Something is wrong with that piñata!" yelled Jessie.
"But that's not possible! We just bought it." said Mr. Lindsey's Parents.
"I see it!" said Sarah, "There's a giant hole in it!"

And there was. There wasn't any candy in the special piñata.

"How can this be? We saw the shopspeople put the candy in." said Mrs. Lindsey's Parents.
"Who would want to sabotage your sweetciñera, Lindsey?" asked Cathy.
"I bet it was Hannah Hoosier. She has had it out for me ever since Aunt Sassy and I won the Seaside Town Pie Baking Contest. She thinks her mintz pies should have won!" said Lindsey.
"No, Hannah Hoosier is on vacation in the Ozarks." said Sarah.
"I heard she won a blue ribbon in the one-ski waterskiing competition. So she should be over the Pie Baking Contest now."said Jessie,"Who would want to steal all that candy?"
"I don't know but it would have to be someone who loves candy and wants it all to themselves or hates it." said Cathy.
"I want Dewar's all to myself." chimed Mayor Schubert
"Me too!" murmured the town's policemen.
"Hmmmm, hates it?" pondered Jessie.
"Only a hippie health nut hates candy." said Sarah.
"And....and Morgs Dupont!" yelled Jessie.
"To the industrial kitchen!" they yelled in unison.

The gang ran back the the kitchen to find the one person in Seaside Town that hated candy. Just then they saw Morgs DuPont trying to make his getaway.

"Stop, Dupont!" yelled Sarah.
"We know it was you!" said Cathy.
"Why would you want to ruin my sweetciñera!" asked Lindsey.
"Ruin your sweetciñera? How about you ruining my slow foods campaign!" he retaliated, "I've spent countless hours forming and sustaining seed banks to preserve heirloom varieties in cooperation with local food systems, educating our townspeople about the risks of monoculture and reliance on too few genomes or varieties, lobbying for the inclusion of organic farming concerns within agricultural policy, encouraging ethical buying in local marketplaces, and preparing your sweetciñera menu! You were going to drop thousands of candy bars and sweets into the crowd and ruin me!"
"Are you some type of hippie freak?" asked Mr. Lindsey's Parents.
"But this is Lindsey's special party! You can't just go around sabotaging town festivites." said Jessie.
"Oh really, metal mouth? Sweetciñeras in this town are done! I'm putting a stop to them!" he yelled as he made his way out the door.

Cathy was panicked. She would never get a new bike if Morgs DuPont stopped sweetciñeras.

"We can't let him get away!" she yelled.

Jessie knew what she had to do. They couldn't leave Lindsey's party but had to stop DuPont. She called for her loyal canaries.

"There you are loyal canaries, I haven't seen you in hours. Were you by the bar?" she asked.

The canaries bobbed their heads in an indeterminable manner.

"I need you to be carrier pidgeons and take this message to the policemen." she said.

The canaries were miffed and did not appreciate the condescending analogy. One of the canaries threw a glass with rage.

"I mean, I need you be carrier canaries and take this message to the policemen." she restated.

The canaries understood the urgency and flew with speed through the Burrito Dome to find some sober policemen. Luckily, they found three rookies who were not allowed to drink and rushed out to find Morgs DuPont. The gang decided they would proceed with the party as they couldn't let the empty piñata ruin Lindsey's sweetciñera. The club decided to unveil their gift to Lindsey and when she wasn't looking, wheeled in a brand new shiny bike with a big red bow on it.

"This is the best gift and the best sweetciñera ever!" she cried.

They all danced as the Black Velvets took the stage and brought the house down with an encore.
Later that night, the rookie policemen returned to tell the gang they had locked up Morgs DuPont. The town rejoiced as they were free from worrying about sweetciñeras ever being ruined again. Cathy was especially happy.

And that's why you don't pick up hitchhikers.

The End.