Lily had to agree that it was a very good idea indeed, but she was still puzzled.

‘You want to have a flower festival ... here? But there are not many flowers here, especially not in May. And the ones that do come out are all sad-looking.’

That was when Queen Penelope stretched out her arms in an expansive manner and smiled that radiant smile of hers.

‘Look around you, my dear. I think we will manage just fine.’

Lily followed Queen Penelope’s outstretched arms and realised that all of the old woman’s dusting must have paid off. There were millions upon millions of beautiful flowers for as far as the eye could see. They were perfect in every sense, not a single petal out of place. And the smell that carried on the breeze was enough to make the young girl quite dizzy. 

Lily said, ‘I never knew that flowers could look so fantastic!’

‘This is not my first time you know, dear. I am really rather good when it comes to flowers. So, will you help us with the festival? We will need all the help we can get.’

Lily looked around at the large group of people in their colourful clothes, all awaiting her decision. How could she say no? She nodded her head and Queen Penelope quickly clapped her hands. The whole group jumped about clapping and then, quite suddenly, formed a very straight line so that Queen Penelope could introduce each of them to Lily and explain what their role was going to be during the festival.

‘Now, my son Constantine you already know about. He will be by my side throughout the parade. And this lovely gentleman here is Simba,’ said Queen Penelope as she helped a very old man pulling a cart with what looked like a frying pan on top of it. ‘He will be on his cart with …’ she turned and whispered to Simba. ‘Did you remember your sand this year?’

The old man held up a small bag of sand and winked. ‘He will be on his cart with his sand.’

And so it continued, Queen Penelope introducing and Lily smiling, right the way through the whole crowd. Then, right at the end, eight ladies came forwards all wearing long white dresses with wings on their backs. They were each holding something different in their hands.

‘Ah yes, how could I forget. These are my gorgeous Ave Maria ladies. They all represent something beautiful in the world. Reyna de las Estrellas, for example, is the Queen of Stars, representing the beauty that sparkles in the night sky. These ladies are the real attraction of the festival ... apart from me, of course.’

Lily was most taken with everybody, but when she looked at her watch she suddenly realised that she was in real trouble. She turned to Queen Penelope.

‘I’m really sorry but I have to go. My mum will be wondering where I am. I will be back in the morning to help with the festival, you can count on that! It really was lovely to meet you all.’

Queen Penelope smiled and nodded. ‘Quite right. Quite right,’ she said. ‘Not fair to make your mother worry. You have a safe journey home and we shall see you in the morning.’

Lily waved to the crowd and thanked Queen Penelope for a lovely day. Then she turned and ran home as quickly as she could – through the gap in the trees and out into the familiar grey park where it was still raining. She ran out of the park and along the street and up her garden path and straight through the front door to her house as quickly as her legs could carry her.