Guinea Pigs Online Read Online Free PDF Page B

tonight.”
    “True,” she said thoughtfully. “Then I wonder who it’s for . . .”
    “A film star, maybe?” suggested Eduardo.
    Coco stroked the carpet lovingly. It was thick and deep and soft. Her eyes shone.
    “No no no, Eduardo—not a film star. Someone even more famous!” Coco rubbed her paws together rapturously. “Don’t you see? It’s for Her Majesty the Queen.”

8
    What’s on the Menu?
    E duardo looked doubtful, but if she wasn’t sure before, Coco knew the moment she stepped from the red carpet into the crowded restaurant that Her Majesty was expected. Ladies with swept-up hair looked lovely in long velvet dresses; gentlemen withpolished shoes and crisp dark suits chatted politely; waitresses circled around the tables with trays of nibbles and drinks. Coco sighed. She wished she’d brought her tiara. It was just like being back in the dining room at the Palace when the Ambassador came! Best of all, the sound of beautiful music washed over her like a warm bubble bath. An elegant lady in a long dress was plinking away at a perfectly tuned harp.
    “One used to play rather well,” she confided to Eduardo, secretly hoping to impress him, “but one is a little outof practice these days.”
    Eduardo gazed at her in amazement. “Holy guacamole, señorita, if you don’t mind me saying so, you are one crazy cavy!”

    Coco didn’t mind being called “cavy,” because it was a posh name for guinea pig.
    Eduardo had scampered to the sideof the room and was making his way stealthily toward the window in the shadow of the baseboard. He stopped and waved at her. “
Vamos
” he hissed. “Hurry. Let’s go.”
    Coco hesitated, then scurried after him, stopping just for a tiny moment in front of a long gilt mirror to check her whiskers. One always had to look one’s best for royalty. “Where are you going?” She panted crossly, catching up with him eventually. “We should be lining up.”
    Eduardo raised a shaggy eyebrow. “Lining up? What for?”
    Coco couldn’t believe he didn’t know. “With the other guests!” The crowd had begun to form two lines on either side of the door. “When the Queen arrives, she greets everyone.”
    “Very nice,” Eduardo scratched his head. “What do
we
do,” he said, looking up at the nearest table, “while she’s doing that?”
    “I curtsy; you bow!” Coco was beside herself. Eduardo didn’t seem to know anything. The Queen would be here any minute.
    “OK.” Eduardo took a running jump at the curtains. “Show me later.”
    “Later?” squealed Coco, appalled.
    “After I get the menu.” He caught hold of the curtain tie and started swinging higher and higher until eventually he threw himself through the air on to the gleaming white tablecloth.
    “Don’t spoil the napkins!” Coco wailed.
    “Don’t worry, señorita, they still look like swans.” Eduardo poked his nose over the edge and grinned at her. “The food doesn’t look so good though,” he said, waving the menu at her and pulling a face.
    “What do you mean?”
    “I like the sound of the vegetable soup,” he said, folding the corners of the menu over to make an airplane, “but the main course makes me sick.” He climbed astride the menu and glided down beside her, pointing at it grimly. “Read it, señorita.”
    “‘
Conejillo de Indias
,’” Coco said slowly, struggling with the unfamiliar words. “‘Pan-fried or grilled to your liking.’ Is it fish?” she asked, looking up. “I’m not keen on fish either,” she confided.
    “No, señorita,” Eduardo said, rummaging around in his satchel, “it’snot fish. ‘
Conejillo de Indias
’ is Spanish for guinea pig.”
    Guinea pig?!
Coco’s mouth fell open. She’d been so excited about seeing the Queen, she’d forgotten all about Fuzzy. At least, she hadn’t quite forgotten all about Fuzzy, but she hadn’t quite remembered him either. That is to say, she’dalmost remembered him, but just as she was about to,