Heroes of the Secret Underground Chapter Sampler

Buds. Mr Tulip died a long time ago, leaving Mrs Tulip with his name, antique floral jewellery and the florist shop. Mrs Tulip doesn’t love flowers. The cafes are buzzing on the street. Louie waves at her school friends eating cake, while their parents drink coffee. Dogs are tied to railings. Honey springs towards a poodle for a friendly sniff, and Louie pulls her lead. They climb the stone steps, past the pots of creamy pink magnolias and lime-green ferns, into Blossoms, Blooms & Buds . ‘Good afternoon, Lou-iii-sa.’ Mrs Tulip peers from between the displays of peace lilies on the counter. Louie flinches. No one calls her Louisa. Not like that, anyway. ‘I’ve told you before: tie up your hair or cut it off. That hair is hanging all over your face. Are you a monkey?’ Monkey rings through the shop, like spit. ‘I love monkeys.’ Louie defiantly pushes away her soft brown curls, willing them to bounce back. ‘Can I have the flowers now?’ Mrs Tulip’s jewellery clinks when she hands Louie the bouquet of flowers. Louie spins away, breathing in the sweet scent of the bouquet. It is beautiful, with daffodils and daisies dancing around a perfect red rose. Golden ribbons and transparent tissue twirl in her arms as she glides out of the florist shop, with Honey at her heels. Mrs Tulip calls out, ‘You be careful with that bouquet, young lady.’

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