The costume ball was held in one of the most fashionable and glamorous discos, and Mimi was fascinated by the sight: all the colourful clothes, the people, the glitter, and the ice sculpture of a stiletto shoe that stood in the middle of the room. Standing next to the statue was Bella in her monstrous costume: she was talking to Bob, the pop star. Mimi made a swift turn to avoid bumping into them, but knocked a waiter over in the process.
“Hey, watch out!” exclaimed the young man who was wearing a tuxedo as the contents of the tray scattered and broke all around: mini sandwiches and cocktail shakes went flying and two glasses were broken.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there,” apologized Mimi, as she crouched down to help the waiter clear up the mess. But then she spotted two brand new, snow-white sneakers, which continued into a pair of cool jeans, the cool jeans into a navy-blue jacket, and the jacket…’
“Wow! Bob!” The already broken glass fell from Mimi’s hand.
“That’s my name,” smiled Bob, “Let me help you! Be careful not to cut yourself!”” ““Since we’re here, would you care to dance?” Bob asked, after they had put the ruined sandwiches onto the waiter’s tray.
“I would love to!” Said Mimi, a little reserved, but barely able to conceal the excitement in her voice. They started dancing.
“Your costume is very cool! Can I hazard a guess? Umm, a phoenix?”
“Spot on!” laughed Mimi, trying not to trample Bob’s white sneakers.
“Let’s find the photographer, they’re taking pictures of everyone, then there will be a vote, and the results will be announced at midnight,” said Bob, already pulling Mimi towards the photographer’s booth. But Mimi was panicking. At midnight? She couldn’t stay that long!
“Come on now, don’t be shy!” Bob pleaded, and by the time Mimi came to her senses, their photo had already been taken.
The other girls, of course, glared at them with suspicion and envy. ‘Who’s that girl in the red dress with the feathers?’ Or: ‘She’s so full of herself, just look at those glittery shoes!’ Were just two of the remarks that were overheard. Mimi and Bob, however, were not in the least bit interested: they were so deep in conversation that before Mimi realized, it was almost midnight.
“Oh, my Goodness! I must fly!” she said, and run for the door, and out towards the nearby bus stop. Bob chased after her, but could not catch up. Mimi made it home just in the nick of time.” ““Were you guys at the best party ever last night? Then you must have heard what happened! Phoenix, Phoenix, looking for Phoenix, you’ve won the costume contest! Who goes home to bed before the competition results are announced? Do you get this? No? Good, because neither do I?” Bella turned off the radio angrily.
“The phoenix dress was ugly, I don’t know why she won’ she pouted, as she spread jam onto her bread.”
“I saw that you broke my figurines. I shouldn’t have trusted you with them. Oh well! Just another day in paradise,’ said Mimi, who was overwhelmed with happiness at what she had heard on the radio, but tried to hide it.”
“Why are you grinning from ear to ear when I broke your figurines? Maybe they weren’t so important to you, after all!”
“I’m not interested in you,” Mimi said, as she turned the radio back on.
“Oh, and don’t forget that the Phoenix has one week to call us on 06-40-555-444-999, sooo…watch out! Come on, Phoenix, the helicopter ride is waiting for you! And now for the Bob the Dog hit that smashed the charts: ‘Love is not my bread and butter!’”” ““Well, I can’t believe they’re looking for this whoever” Bella devoured the last bit, and then her angry face suddenly softened. “But now that I think of it, I could be the Phoenix! It’s just a costume, I could make it in no time!”
“But that would be cheating!”
“Who cares? And it is none of your business! You weren’t even there.” Bella said, as she went to her room. “I’ll borrow your red coat, if that’s ok!”
“Actually, it’s not…” said Mimi quietly. Meanwhile, she was thinking about her beautiful phoenix costume, which she had hidden under her bed the night before. She wanted to shout: But I was there! I was there! Little Oliver, however, woke her from her daydream, telling her that he was still hungry and asking for a second slice of buttered bread.
As she was spreading the butter, the phone on the kitchen counter beeped. It was a message from Aunt Esther.
“Last night I was in such a hurry that I even forgot my shoes, I left in your slippers. Glad you had a good time! OXO, Aunt Esther.”
The shoes! Mimi hadn’t hidden them; they were still in the hallway. She grabbed them and stroked them gently before burying them in her school bag, which was hanging on the wall.” ““Oh, girls, girls, you are such scamps! Up to this minute, a total of 35 girls have called us to say they are the Phoenix, and social media has been flooded with photos of them in Phoenix costumes. But who is the real Phoenix? Bob the Dog himself is sitting next to me, so let me ask him: what do you think about all your new phoenixes?” Mimi turned the radio up.
“Well, I was surprised too… I remember the Phoenix. Okay, I didn’t see her face, but I’d know her voice any day, so girls, it’s like really flattering and all, but unfortunately, in the end, she’s the one and only…”
“All right, Bob, but which is the one?”
“I will personally visit everyone who has called in: we are going to find the real Phoenix is, and that certain someone will come with me on a helicopter ride! As soon as I leave this studio, I’m off to chase phoenixes, so get ready!”
Bella ran down the stairs.
“Oh my God! Is he coming here too? But I don’t have shoes yet! The costume is ready, but what do I wear on my feet?” Bella said, as she looked around frantically when she saw one of her mother’s ballet shoes in the hall. “That will do! I’ll glue red glitter onto them. Don’t let Bob in until I’m ready!”