Sunshine Picklelime by Pamela Ferguson Read Free Book Online Page B

yellow ribbon and the Dream label. “For you and your parents to enjoy as dessert!” she said.
    “Ms. Lenz?”
    “Yes,
spätzli?”
she said. PJ loved it when she called her “little sparrow” in Swiss German.
    “Can I take some for Ruth and Joshua?” PJ asked.

    Ms. Lenz wagged her finger and said, “Just two each for those twins. Otherwise they’ll gobble them up like M&M’s and taste nothing! Teach them how to enjoy your special truffles
slowly
, PJ,” she added, placing four Lemon Nectars in another little box with a matching yellow ribbon. She put both boxes in a bag. “Now remember, I’m depending on you, your parents, Mrs. Patel, and the twins to give me feedback.”
    “They taste
perfect!”
    “For you, yes, but let’s hear from the others. PJ, you’re my test market. I want to know if the truffles are too sweet, not sweet enough, too lemony, not lemony enough, too creamy, or not creamy enough. Try another one a bit later. Then tell me what your parents and friends have to say.”
    As if on cue, Oohoo began to move around in the front of PJ’s shirt.
    “No, Oohoo,” said Ms. Lenz, tapping the owl through PJ’s shirt. “Owls and chocolate don’t mix. Unless they’re Swiss owls!”
    PJ giggled and said, “Thanks, Ms. Lenz. See you!” She left the Dream and placed the truffles in a basket on the front of her bike. With a hand over the Oohoo bulge in her shirt, she pedaled to the tree house.

    “Two each? Can Ms. Lenz spare them?” Joshua squinted into the box. “Lots of pretty wrapping, though.”
    “Don’t be silly,” Ruth said, grabbing the box from him. “This is something
really
special, Josh. Do you want to try one or can I have yours?”
    “No way!” he said.
    “Wait, you guys,” PJ cut in after releasing Oohoo onto the grass beneath the tree house. “I promised Ms. Lenz I’d be serious about this. Can you split up and try the truffles? Otherwise you’re just going to goof off. You have to
savor
the truffles slowly, let them
melt
in your mouth!”
    Joshua threw his hand in the air and mimicked PJ’s voice, saying, “I’m off to
savor
and
savor!
I’ll send my report when I’m done!” He scooped a truffle out of the box, tilted his head back, and dropped it into his mouth.
    Ruth rolled her eyes. “Come on, PJ, grab Oohoo. We have work to do.”
    PJ lifted the owl into her shirt and swung up to the tree house behind Ruth.
    Ruth popped a truffle into her own mouth and said, “Omigod. Is this for real?” She sucked in her cheeks andadded, “PJ, this is
awesome
. Sweet lemon, keep going all the way to the top of my head! Wow. Tell Ms. Lenz I approve and we’ll take any rejects.”
    “I’ll tell her. She’s special, Ruth, and you know what? She’s so tuned in to owls, she wanted to know why she hadn’t heard any at night recently. Have you heard any?” PJ asked.
    Ruth pursed her lips and waited until the truffle had totally dissolved before saying, “I don’t think so. I wondered why the nights were quiet all of a sudden.”
    They both looked down at Oohoo bulging out of PJ’s shirt and then looked at one another. Something wasn’t right. But what?
    “Why not take her to the window?” Ruth suggested. “She loves watching sunsets. See if you can get her to open up to you? I’ll check on Squirt and Cardy,” she added, turning toward their cages.
    PJ slid her fingers under the owl’s talons and lifted her onto her shoulder.
    Above them, the skylight framed the soft pink colors of the sunset like a beautiful painting set into the sloping planks of the ceiling. “Enjoy all those lovely colors, Oohoo,” said PJ as the owl nuzzled her cheek. “See how they change from second to second.” PJ pointed at thedabs of rose pink sky visible between the curvy, vine-covered branches of the live oak.
    Behind them on the big cushions, Squirt played a gymnastic game with Ruth, winding himself around her arms and leaping from one hand to the other. “Nothing wrong with