The Trimoni Twins and the Shrunken Treasure by Pam Smallcomb Page B

allowance.”
    Hector rubbed his hands over his face, then stared down at the boa curled up at his feet. “Gumdrop. This is just what I needed. Well, it can’t be helped. You get her downstairs now … as a
dog”
He shook his finger at Mimi. “And you leave her downstairs as a dog. Let the prop manager take care of her. I’ll work out the details with her.”
    â€œThank you, Hector.” Mimi jumped up and kissed his cheek.
    Beezel shook her head. She knew Mimi couldn’t go two hours without checking on her snake. There was simply no way she would leave the big boa alone for several days.
    That afternoon, Hector took the girls to the Van Gogh Museum. Beezel thought he did it because he was feeling a little guilty over his reaction to Gumdrop.
    Mimi was thrilled to see the paintings of one of her favorite artists, Vincent Van Gogh. So thrilled that she spent the entire way back to the hotel making plans for her own art career.
    â€œIt’s going to be so great, Beezel,” Mimi said. “I’ll have a studio, and I’ll paint all day and all night. I’ll be poor at first, and miserable. But then, someone will discover me, and I’ll be fantastically rich! And Gumdrop and I will come visit you!” She twirled her hair thoughtfully. “Of course, it would be good to combine our visits with an art opening, wouldn’t it?”
    Beezel nodded.
    â€œYou’re awfully quiet, duck,” Hector said to her. “Are you feeling all right?”
    â€œI’m fine,” Beezel said. She wasn’t sick; she just was remembering all the times she and her sister had practiced their magic act together. Performing magic with Mimi always made her happy.
    It was no different that night. The show went well and Beezel felt on top of the world. Mr. Hendricks, the petting zoo man, finally found the hotel and brought two very docile sheep for the twins to use in their finale. Beezel was extremely thankful they did not have to use Gumdrop. And as she gazed out into the audience, she realized Hector wouldn’t have been available either. He was sitting in the front row with Gaidic.
    â€œHe must have called her sometime today,” she said to Mimi while they were taking their bows.
    Once they were back in their rooms, Hector told them that he and Gaidic wanted to take the twins and Wiliken sightseeing the next day.
    â€œUncle Hoogaboom wants to come along as well. But if you want to go, you have to finish the first draft of the essay I assigned to you,” Hector said, hands on his hips.
    â€œNot ‘How the Euro Is Different from the U.S. Dollar’!” Mimi moaned.
    â€œI’ll be back to check them in thirty minutes.” He went back to his room.
    Beezel and Mimi quickly wrote down everything they could think of about currency. Then they brushed their teeth and got into bed.
    Hector came back in and reviewed the girls’ work. Then he said, “By the way, Uncle Hoogaboom said he wants Wiliken and me to talk privately with him soon.” He raised his eyebrows as he looked at the girls. “I have no idea what this is about, but the next time we’re over for a visit, if you girls could help Gaidic in the shop, I’ll find out.”
    Hector pulled the covers up over the twins and frowned. “But why in the world would my unclewant to talk to me and Wiliken
together?
I just met Wiliken.” He sighed. “You don’t suppose the two of them want to get me involved in their crazy treasure hunt, do you?”
    Beezel didn’t say anything, but she had a feeling that was exactly what they wanted.
    When the twins woke up on Sunday, it was a glorious, sunny spring day.
    â€œWe don’t have a show tonight!” Mimi said as she bounced on the bed.
    â€œMimi!” Beezel said. “Stop it! I’m getting seasick!”
    After breakfast, Hector, Beezel and Mimi took Gumdrop the dog for a quick walk before depositing