리틀팍스

“Jenice!”

  Jenice Hampton looked up from her book of child health, placed on the library desk.

  “Oh. Hi Kylan. What’s up?” she asked, yawning loudly. “I’ve spent up the whole night on the phone with the kids at my class’ parents. I had to get permission from them to take the kiddies out to the public museum. Anyway, got anything for your famished pal?”

  Kylan Mainyard stuck out his tongue teasingly at his friend. “Well, only if you like baked goods”-he added when he saw Jenice’s eyes sparkling with delight-“made by Sunian.”

  Jenice crumpled her nose as she frowned. “I’m not joking, Kylan,” she said as she closed her book. And then she suspiciously glared at Kylan. “Wait. Did you really visit Sunian’s house?”

  Kylan made an exaggerated surprised face at Jenice. “I’m not joking either,” he said, and then he quickly added when Jenice put her hands on her hips. “Okay, okay. I didn’t visit her house. I was just joking! Anyway, I’ve got something for you rather than those horrible buns. Want some peanut butter and jam sandwich?”

  Jenice nodded enthusiastically as she held out her hand. “Great. That reminds me of my childhood.”

  Kylan looked at her. “You had a childhood? Man, I can’t believe it!”

  Jenice punched Kylan playfully and said, “Of course I had a childhood! Anyway, do you know Catherine Eden by anyhow? Her mother’s sandwich was the best in town! You should’ve tasted it.”

  Kylan cocked his head to the right. “Well, that’s a coincidence. A friend of mine told me that there was a girl named Catherine about our age who proclaimed herself as a detective and made a detective stand named…Mania was it?”

“I really hope this will work…” Catherine Eden mumbled as she pulled a long sign on the door of a small hut she managed to earn. "Hania detectives!"

  “Are you sure you’re sticking to that silly name?” a voice said over Catherine’s shoulders as she swapped her head around.

  “Poplin! Don’t you ever snick up on me like that!” Catherine scolded as she crossed her arms.

  “Relax! It was just for fun.” Poplin Jamason said as she examined Catherine’s sign. “Why did you decide to be a detective? That’s for kids, you know. Plus, if you intended to be a detective, why bother go to a science university? Doesn’t it help more to visit a detective like Conan?”

  Catherine stayed silent as she finished up her sign. Then she opened her mouth. “Well, there are many reasons why I chose to become a detective…”

  “Huh? I thought you just wanted to be a detective. No reason!” Poplin pretended to be surprised.

  “Hey,” Catherine said, getting down from the chair she had stepped on the hang the sign. “I do have brains you know. Anyway, the main reason is because I want to help people. I know that it’s good to help people because…” her words trailed off as Poplin impatiently tapped her foot.

  “Sorry? But this is no time for detective mood, detective.” She said.

  “Oh. Sorry. I was just thinking about my old friends. We haven’t met for a long time; 15 years, I guess.” Catherine said.

  “Huh?”

  “Well, it’s a long story. Anyway, did I tell you that I have a first client? He called me a couple of days ago. He's new secretary recommended me, just looking at the agency sign! Isn't that lucky? I wonder who that secretary is..."

***

Ring Ring

  "Oh, hello Mr. Monaton. Mr. Pendolf? He's busy right now in his office. I'll let him you called." Hilda Millar hung up and then sighed. 

  "This work is way much harder than I thought it would be." she muttered under her breath as the office phone rang again.

  "Hola, soy Pendol A. ¡Luna! Si tiene algo que hacer con el Sr. Pennsylvania, presione la 1 y corra el número 2. (Hello! This is the Pendolf A. Luna service! Press 1 if you have to talk to Mr. Pendolf, and press 2 if your interested in our business.)" Hilda cheerfully said into the phone. The other person on the phone said some nasty words in Spanish and then hung up.

  "I'm really tired of Spanish people..." Hilda's words were cut by another phone call. 

  "Hello? May I help you-" The other person on the phone hung up. "...and nasty fake callers." Hilda finished.

  "Hilda?" a voice called from behind.

  Hilda turned around to face Mr. Pendolf, her employer. "Oh, sorry if I bothered you. But this people just call and hang up, call and hang up and I'm speaking Spanish and-" Hilda babbled.

  Mr. Pendolf smiled knowingly at Hilda. "I know your working hard, Hilda," he began. "But I'm not here because of business. You told me you know a certain detective who might solve my...um...case."

  Hilda hesitated before speaking up. "Well, I don't exactly know that detective, but I think she'll be a great help to you." 

  Mr. Pendolf raised his eye brows. "What do you mean?"

  "Well, it's...a long story. But i promise you one thing. The detective won't fail you. Probably."

  Mr. Pendolf sighed then clapped his hands. "Oh," he said. "I almost forgot. Lolly, my daughter, is going on a field trip to somewhere-was it a museum? Anyway, I want you to accompany Lolly to her field trip. Incase something happens." 

  Hilda nodded. "Okay," she said. "I'll be on it."