Chapter One

Introducing the Flower Girls

Liliana- Chicago, Illinois 2:55 p.m 

What is your name? (full name, please.)

Liliana thought about it. What could she say?
Technically, her mom liked so many names that she chose many. 

Liliana’s full name was Liliana (Lily) Mary Amelia Kristena Bush.

 Her nickname was Lily Bush. She was at school writing her report. 

    Her mother named her Liliana because she thought she would be a sweet, innocent girl. But Lily was actually the opposite of that. 

She was born on April 24th. She hated school ‘cause she had to stay still for so long and it was really annoying. The bell finally rang and Lily stood up.

 Time to go home.

                Clover-

Clover tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she rode her bike. She was riding to the Plop Swirl yogurt shop after a few hours doing school. She was homeschooled, unlike her other Flower Friends.

    ‘’Ye hungry for ice cream?’’ A homeless man shouted at Clover as she rode to the Yogurt Shop.

    Clover ignored him as she parked her bike on the bike rack, though she really did feel bad for the homeless man. Clover had Butter Blonde hair that fell loosely on her shoulders and light brown eyes you have to squint at to notice. Her mom always says she has hazel eyes, but Clover hardly notices.

She had a lot of freckles exploding on her face and looked a little strange when her face turned red. Clover pulled out of her pocket 5 dollars. ‘’Here,’’ she said to the homeless man, ‘’this is all I could give you. I wouldn’t have enough for…’’ her voice trailed off, realizing she was being selfish. Here she was, buying a sweet treat, and

telling the man who has nothing that she wouldn’t have enough for ice cream? With a small sigh, Clover pulled out the rest of the 15 dollars she had in her pocket. ‘’Here, go ahead. Buy yourself ice cream or anything in particular.’’

    The old man smiled. ‘’You have a true heart. I will give you this map…’’ his voice trailed off as he nervously looked around, ‘’But promise me you wouldn’t tell anyone. Promise?’’ 

    Clover frowned but agreed. The man closed a folded map in Clover’s pale hands.  

    ‘’Keep it safe…’’ she heard the old man croak as she

rode back home.

                          Magnolia

‘’WHAT DID YOU SAY?!’’ shouted Magnolia across to the other window. 

    Erica grinned. ‘’I SAID GRAB THIS NOTE!’’ 

    ‘’Oh,’’ Magnolia whispered. 

    They both exploded into giggles. 

    ‘’Just grab it!’’ Erica whispered back. 

    Magnolia reached out from her window and grabbed Erica’s note from her outstretched hand. Magnolia lived

on the second floor in an apartment. Her cousin, Erica, lived right next door. I mean literally, right next door. They were so close they could talk through the window. Magnolia opened the crumpled letter. 

It read,

Gam,

.. / .... .- ...- . / .- / .--. . - -.-.-- / .. .----. -- / .-. . .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / .... .- .--. .--. -.-- .-.-.- / -.-- --- ..- / -.- -. --- .-- / .... --- .-- / .. .----. ...- . / -... . . -. / .-- .- -. - .. -. --. / .- / .--. . - .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- / - .... .- -. -.- / -.-- --- ..- / ..-. --- .-. / ... .... .- .-. .. -. --. / ... .... . .-.. .-.. -.-- / .-- .. - .... / -- . -.-.--

-Love, IIre

Magnolia smiled and grabbed a pen. Ire was her nickname in letters. Gam was hers. 

    They both loved writing in Morse Code.

    She wrote a coded reply.

Ire,

- .... .- - .----. ... / --. .-. . .- - -.-.-- / .. / -.- -. --- .-- / -.-- --- ..- / .... .- ...- . / -... . . -. / .-- .- -. - .. -. --. / .- / .--. . - .-.-.- / .- - / .-.. . .- ... - / .-- . / .- .-.. .-- .- -.-- ... / .... .- -.. / ... .... . .-.. .-.. -.-- --..-- / --- ..- .-. / -.-. .- - .-.-.-

-Gam

Erica smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. 

    Magnolia smiled back. Magnolia’s life was full of codes. 

    Her dad was a secret agent and was constantly leaving. 

    Her mom was a fashion designer and was always going out to make sure her product went into the store. Magnolia’s Auntie Perry always had to run to the house to take care of her and Erica.

    Suddenly, Magnolia’s emergency phone rang. Magnolia picked up the phone. “Hello?” she asked. 

    ‘’Hi, Magnolia! It’s me, Clover. Your flower friend? Anyways, I have this really secret letter the man told me

not to tell but I can’t help it can you come over bye!’’ Clover spoke so fast and hung up only after a few seconds all Magnolia could do was stand there in silence. 

    Magnolia poked her head out of the window. ‘’Erica! Tell Auntie Perry that I’m going to Clover’s house. Be back soon!’’ 

    Before Erica could reply, Magnolia darted off outside Clover’s nearby house.