CHAPTER III
When we last left our heroes they were working on their assignment to keep Gracie the Fashion Diva safe from the unknown evil power that threatens to eliminate everyone’s fashion sense. But protecting Gracie is proving harder than it sounds, when the Diva keeps insulting the heroes fashion knowledge.
“Now, the first thing to know about fashion, are the rules,” said Gracie authoritatively, “Number one, never wear white after Labor Day. Just don’t. Number two, never wear black with navy. Number three, gentlemen’s shoes and belt should always match. Number three, never wear a full length coat with a full length skirt. You’ll look like you walked out of the eighteen nineties! Number four…” Gracie droned on, but Walker and Filbert weren’t listening.
“How long do you think this will take?” whispered Filbert. “At the rate she’s going? Probably till next September!” groaned Walker. By now the sun had risen high in the sky and all of the animals where going about their daily chores. Slowly a few animals made their way over to the town hall plaza. Walker said, “observe everyone carefully Filbert. One of them might be the evil power.” Filbert nodded.
Chevre stopped and talked to Gracie, then Gracie made some loud comment on how her style was; “Like an eight year old”, and Chevre left. Then Curly jogged by and stopped to talk to Gracie. She hated the sweatband he was wearing. He jogged away in a huff. Then Purrl stopped, she got insulted too.
“Geez,” said Filbert, “anyone of these animals could be the evil power. They all have good reason to hate Gracie.” “Your right. But something tells me that no one we’ve seen yet is truly evil,” said Walker.
They stood in the plaza until the sun was just starting to sink into the horizon, and yet nothing happened. Walker was puzzled, if there truly was an evil power bent on destroying people’s fashion sense, why wouldn’t they try to eliminate Gracie? Just as he was thinking this, the Mayor walked out of the town hall and walked over to the trio.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Ms. Gracie!” wheezed the Mayor, “I must say I am a fan of your designs young lady!” Gracie just gave him a weak smile. “Oh, and what do we have here? Walker and Filbert! What are you doing here? Helping Ms. Gracie out today are you?” “Yes sir,” said Walker, “We’re fans of her style too. Aren’t we Filbert?” “Oh yeah! Totally.” said Filbert with a touch of sarcasm in his voice. But Walker shot him a warning glance, and Filbert stopped at once. “Well, that’s fine!” cackled the Mayor, “That’s really fine….” The Mayor drifted off into silence and started to stare around the plaza aimlessly. The four animals stood there for a few minutes of awkward silence. The Mayor finally cleared his throat and said, “Well, I better get on home, it’s getting late. You take care now Ms. Gracie! Good night boys!” and he waddled off into the dusk.
“Goodness, I really must go!” said Gracie abruptly, “I’ve spent all the time I care to in this backwater burg!” Filbert rolled his eyes, and Walker quickly opened her car door for her. Gracie slid into the front seat, Walker closed the door to the car, and Gracie put the key in the ignition.
The engine sputtered and died. They all looked nervously at the car, and Gracie tried again, but the card wouldn’t start. “NO!” cried Gracie and Filbert. “Here, let me look under the hood,” said Walker, although he knew nothing about cars.
He had lifted the hood and was looking inside, when a voice called out of the darkness, “You won’t be able to fix that car.” The three animals jumped and looked wildly for the speaker, but all they saw was dark trees. “Who said that!” demanded Gracie, as she got out of her car.
Slowly a form moved out of the darkness, “I did.” “Well,” said Gracie, fear now evident in her voice, “who are you?” “I,” said the figure “am Professor Polyester, Gracie.” “Can you fix my --” Gracie started but never finished, because at that very moment there was a bright flash of purple light, and her voice stopped. Walker dropped the hood of the car, and rushed over to where Gracie was standing. Filbert looked up at Walker his eyes wide, “She’s….PLAID!”
TO BE CONTINUED!
