Here Comes Lolo Read online

  HERE COMES

  LOLO

  Written and Illustrated

  by Niki Daly

  To Busisiwe from Niki,

  with deep admiration

  Xhosa words in Here Comes Lolo

  Molo: hello

  Catalyst Press

  Pacifica, California

  Copyright © Niki Daly, 2020. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written consent from the publisher, except for brief quotations for reviews.

  For further information,

  write Catalyst Press, [email protected].

  Originally published in 2019 by Otter-Barry Books in Great Britain

  FIRST EDITION 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2019951214

  Illustrated with digital art

  Set in Maiandra GD

  HERE COMES

  LOLO

  Written and Illustrated by Niki Daly

   Contents

  A Gold Star and a Kiss for Lolo

  Lolo’s Hat

  Lolo and the Lost Ring

  Lolo and a Dog Called Hope

  A Gold Star and a Kiss for Lolo

  Friday was always the big day of the Star Awards. So far, Lolo had earned a yellow star for her math sums, a red star for her neat writing, and a blue star for clean hands. Green stars were for helping Mrs. McKensie carry her big bag from her car to the classroom, and gold stars were for reading. Gold stars rocked!

  Stars were always awarded just before the school bell rang at the end of the day, when everyone rushed out to meet their moms, dads, grannies, or aunts in the playground.

  Everyone except Lolo, who lived close by and could walk home. Lolo lived with her mama at the back of her gogo’s dressmaking shop.

  Fridays were also great because Lolo got money to buy a treat on her way home. And this Friday was an extra lucky day because Lolo reached the car park just in time to help Mrs. McKensie carry her big bag to the classroom. Maybe she’d win a green star….Although a gold star for reading would be better, of course.

  Lately, Lolo had made a special effort with her reading—to read with expression, to pause after a comma, and to stop at a full stop to catch her breath. Brendan, who the children called “Greedy Eyes” because he devoured so many books, was the best reader.

  Lolo helped Mrs. McKensie hand out worksheets. Friday’s worksheet was all about time—which was going far too slowly for Lolo.

  If only she could make all the hands on the clocks spin and stop at Star Awards time!

  During music, Lolo couldn’t wait for the last line of a new song to end.

  Waiting for the Star Awards was painful.

  The final part of the school day was “free time,” so Lolo decided to read. And while she read—first one book, then another and another—she forgot all about time.

  By the time she had added the titles to her reading list, Mrs. McKensie was ready to announce the star winners.

  Shane, Rhapelang, and Corné got yellow stars. Gift, Aydon, Cleo, and Kay-Lee got red stars. Busi got a green star. And Dana Rose, who had managed to wash green glitter off her fingers during break, got a blue star. Then Lolo heard her name being called!

  “Lolo and Brendan,” announced Mrs. McKensie, looking through the reading lists.

  Brendan had read five books and Lolo had read six! She felt like melting with happiness as Mrs. McKensie placed a gold star on her forehead.

  “Clang-a-lang!” went the school bell. Lolo raced through the school gates; she couldn’t wait to show Mama and Gogo her gold star.

  When she reached Mrs. Ismail’s spicy doughnut stand, her face was hot from running. Mrs. Ismail’s little daughter, Sharifa, was pretending to be a shopkeeper. She handed Lolo a spicy doughnut in a paper bag and smiled sweetly.

  “Thank you,” said Lolo and sped off.

  “Mama! Gogo!” she called, bursting through the front door. “Look what I got!”

  Gogo looked up from her sewing and Mama peeped around a corner.

  “Molo, Lolo!” they said. “Hello, how was school?”

  “Look!” said Lolo. Mama and Gogo looked while Lolo pointed to her forehead.

  “Look at what, Lolo?” asked Gogo.

  “My gold star!” said Lolo impatiently.

  “What gold star?” asked Mama.

  “This one,” said Lolo, running a finger across her forehead. But all she felt was smooth skin. The gold star had gone!

  Lolo burst into tears as she explained how she had received a gold star for reading.

  “Where did you have it last?” asked Mama.

  “At school,” replied Lolo.

  “And what did you do after school?” asked Gogo.

  In tears, Lolo went over her route from school.

  “Well, it’s only a paper star,” said Mama.

  But it wasn’t. It was a very special gold star.

  “Dry your tears. We’ll go and look for your gold star,” said Gogo.

  Gogo helped Lolo retrace her steps round the corner and along the road back to school.

  And there, at Mrs. Ismail’s doughnut stand, they found Lolo’s gold star, stuck to the forehead of Mrs. Ismail’s little girl!

  When Mrs. Ismail heard Lolo’s sad story, she said, “Sharifa darling, that gold star you picked up belongs to Lolo.”

  But little Sharifa had fallen in love with Lolo’s gold star.

  And when Mrs. Ismail tried to remove it, Sharifa screamed so loudly that people thought something terrible was happening.

  Gogo turned to Lolo. “Sharifa’s too small to understand what is fair. But you are old enough to be thoughtful. Let her keep your gold star,” she said.

  Lolo thought for a while. The corners of the gold star had curled up and it looked as if it were about to fall off again. “OK,” said Lolo, “Sharifa can keep it.”

  But inside, she still felt sad. Gold stars were not that easy to win.

  Then at bedtime, Gogo brought Lolo something special she had made: a glittery gold star on a hairclip.

  “That’s for being such a good reader,” said Gogo.

  Then she kissed Lolo on the forehead and whispered, “And that’s for being such a kind, thoughtful girl.”

  Lolo touched her forehead and thought a little more as she drifted off to sleep: gold stars get curly corners and fall off, but kisses last forever!

  Lolo’s Hat

  Lolo fell in love with the hat the moment she saw it. It was floppy with blue and yellow stripes and a big pink flower right in the middle—it was the prettiest hat she had ever seen. She stood looking at it, wishing it was on her head instead of on the stand in a window of Fashion Corner.

  “Are you shopping with your eyes, Lolo?” asked Mama.

  “Yes, Mama,” said Lolo, “I love that hat so much!”

  “Well, I don’t have money for it now. But, maybe, when I get paid at the end of the week, I’ll buy it for you…if you’re good.”

  “I’ll be good, Mama,” said Lolo.

  The days went by slowly. Every night Lolo hoped she would dream about her new hat. And one night she did! She dreamed she was wearing it when a wind suddenly lifted it off her head and blew it away! When she told Mama about her terrible dream, Mama said, “Don’t worry, Lolo. Tomorrow is Friday and I will be paid a bit more money for some extra work. I will go to Fashion Corner and buy your hat before I come home.”

  The next day, Lolo couldn’t wait for Mama to come home. While she sat at the kitchen table watching Gogo make supper, she kept asking every few minutes: “When will Mama come home?”

  “When will Mama come home?”

  “Lolo, you are driving me crazy! Your mama will be home when she’s home!�
�� said Gogo.

  Well, Lolo didn’t know what that meant, so she asked again, “But when will Mama come home?”

  Gogo rolled her eyes, put her hands on her hips and sighed. Lolo knew what that meant: Gogo was losing her patience.

  So, before that could happen, Lolo went to her room, got out her paints, and painted a picture of herself wearing her beautiful new hat.

  And just as she finished, she heard the front door open and Mama say, “Molo, Gogo. Where’s Lolo?”

  Lolo rushed into the kitchen. She could tell something was wrong right away.

  “Lolo,” Mama said, “I’m sorry. Your hat was the last one they had, and it was already sold.”

  Lolo felt as though her tummy had turned upside down and inside out! She burst into tears.

  “That is not the only hat in the world, Lolo,” said Gogo.

  But Lolo was heartbroken. She loved that hat so much. Nothing Gogo and Mama said would change that. It was gone, gone!

  That Sunday, Lolo was still sad.

  As they walked to church, Gogo said, “I’m going to say a special prayer for you, Lolo, so that you will be happy again.”

  But there was no chance of that happening because, as they entered the church, Lolo saw something that made her tummy turn upside down and inside out once again. There was Thandi Makalima… wearing her hat!

  “I can’t believe it,” whispered Mama. “I told Thandi’s mother about the hat I was going to buy for Lolo. She must have gone and bought it for her daughter!”

  When it was time to pray, Lolo couldn’t even close her eyes. All she could think of was—how could her hat end up on someone else’s head! How?

  After church, they couldn’t avoid walking home alongside the Makalimas. The wind was blowing and Thandi had to hold on to her hat.

  “I hate this hat!” said Thandi. “It’s too small and keeps slipping off my head.” With that, she took it off and gave it to Lolo. “Here, you can have it,” she said.

  “But what will your mama say?” asked Lolo.

  “I’ll tell her the wind blew it away,” said Thandi. “She won’t mind.”

  But Mrs. Makalima did mind!

  Later, when Mama opened the front door and Lolo saw Thandi and her angry mother standing in the wind, she knew exactly what they had come for.

  “Lolo,” said Mama, “take Thandi to your room. Mrs. Makalima and I need to talk.”

  When they were alone in her room, Lolo asked, “Is your mama very cross?”

  “Yes,” said Thandi. “She didn’t believe the wind blew that silly hat off my head.”

  “It’s a beautiful hat,” said Lolo, picking up her painting to show Thandi. “See? That’s me wearing it.”

  “You painted this?” gasped Thandi. “It’s beoooootiful!” And before Lolo could say “thanks,” Thandi ran off with Lolo’s painting to show her mother.

  “Look at Lolo’s amazing painting,” said Thandi.

  “That is lovely,” said Mrs. Makalima, smiling.

  Mama was also smiling.

  “Mrs. Makalima has agreed for me to buy Thandi’s hat,” said Mama.

  “Or,” said Mrs. Makalima, “I will swap it for Lolo’s painting. It will look stunning framed and hanging in Thandi’s bedroom.”

  “Cool!” cried Thandi. “I’d love that.”

  “So, is everyone happy?” asked Gogo.

  “I’m happy,” said Mama.

  “I’m happy,” said Mrs. Makalima.

  “I’m super-happy,” said Thandi.

  “And how about you, Lolo?” asked Gogo.

  Lolo put on the pretty hat that finally belonged to her, and smiled.

  Lolo didn’t have to say anything!

  Lolo and the Lost Ring

  Whenever Mama, Gogo, and Lolo went for a walk, Mama would look up and say, “I love the clouds against the blue sky.” Gogo would look around and say, “I love those trees,” or “What a nice dress that woman is wearing.” Stuff like that.

  Lolo liked looking at the ground where flowers grow and where there were cracks to jump over on pavements.

  And that’s where she found it: a ring lying in a crack in the pavement!

  It wasn’t one of those play-play rings you get in surprise packets. It wasn’t one of those cheap rings from the market that Mama could afford. This was a real ring that was made of gold and had bright sparkly stones, a big one in the middle and a little one on each side.

  “Look what I’ve found, Mama!” said Lolo.

  Mama took the ring out of Lolo’s hand and had a good look.

  “This looks like a very special ring,” said Mama. Mama slipped it onto one of her fingers.

  It fit perfectly. Gogo leaned over and said, “Finders keepers!”

  “Can we keep it?” asked Lolo.

  “No,” said Mama, “this looks like an engagement ring. We must find the person who lost it and give it back.”

  “The lady who lost this must be very, very sad to have lost her engagement ring,” said Lolo. “Now she won’t be able to get married.”

  “It’s not as bad as that,” said Mama. “But it’s very sad to lose such a precious ring.”

  When they returned home, Gogo made tea and they sat down to decide how to find the owner of the ring.

  “We can put an ad in the newspaper, asking if anyone has lost a ring along the main road,” said Mama.

  Lolo was starting to feel quite excited about making a poster that would help to find the lady who had lost her ring. She got out her drawing pad, her felt tips, and glitter glue and began making a poster.

  In big letters she wrote RING FOUND and in smaller figures Mama’s telephone number. Then she made a flower border using all her brightest colors.

  And finally, to make the poster really special, she added blobs of glitter glue in the middle of each flower.

  “That’s what I call a fabulous poster,” said Gogo. “Let’s go and put it up where you found the ring.”

  And there, outside the art center, was a pole just the right size to tie the poster to.

  “Now we must wait and see who calls,” said Gogo.

  Well, no sooner had they gotten back home when Mama’s cell phone rang.

  “Hello, I’m phoning about the ring I lost,” said a gruff voice.

  “I see,” said Mama, “will you please tell me what your ring looks like?”

  “It’s a big ring,” said the man. “Well, not that big, but it has a big diamond.”

  Mama could tell that the man was making it all up. So she said, “I’m sorry, but we did not find your ring.”

  And that was that!

  “Eish!” said Mama, “there are so many ‘chancers’ out there.”

  Gogo said, “It sounds as though he was taking a BIG chance.”

  During the week, two more chancers called. One said her ring was silver, the other said the ring had a moonstone heart.

  Lolo started to feel disappointed. The last time she saw her poster on the pole, it looked a little bit torn by the wind. Perhaps they would never find the lady who had lost her ring. How sad.

  Then one morning a young woman called and described her lost ring. “It’s my engagement ring and it has three diamonds on a gold band.”

  “That’s right,” said Mama, “please come and collect your ring.”

  When Mama shared the good news, Lolo cried, “Yay! Can we have tea and biscuits to celebrate?”

  “Yes,” said Gogo. “After all those chancers, let’s celebrate someone who is honest.”

  And what a lovely celebration it was!

  “I’ll never take my ring off again,” said Belinda, the young lady. “But I teach art at the art center on Saturday mornings, and I didn’t want my ring to get any paint on it.

  It must have fallen out when I took out my car keys.”

  Belinda told them all about her handsome boyfriend, Sam, who she was going to marry. “And I want you all to come to my wedding,” said Belinda.

  And that was not all she sai
d!

  When she learned that Lolo had made the beautiful poster, she said, “Lolo, for being such an honest girl, I’d like to reward you by inviting you to join my art class every Saturday morning—for free!”

  Lolo just loved that!

  Here’s Lolo’s beautiful picture of Belinda and Sam’s wedding.

  See! Mama’s looking up at the sky, Gogo’s looking around at the pretty dresses. And there’s Lolo, looking at the ground that’s covered in confetti—glittering like diamonds in the sun.

  Lolo and a Dog Called Hope

  In Lolo’s backyard stood a small shed that Lolo loved to climb onto.

  From high up, she could look into the neighbors’ backyards. In the new neighbor’s backyard, Lolo noticed a dog, tied to a packing case with a bit of rope.

  She also noticed that when the old dog barked, a man would come out of the house and shout, “Shut up, Mutt!” It didn’t even seem to have a proper name. And if it didn’t stop barking, the man would give it a kick.

  Its bony body looked like an old brown sack with holes in it. The skin round its neck where the rope was tied looked raw. Lolo didn’t like what she saw.

  When she told Mama and Gogo about the poor animal, Mama said, “Lolo, you shouldn’t be spying on neighbors.”

  “I agree,” said Gogo. “It’s better to mind your own business.”

  But Lolo felt sorry for the old dog with no name.

  When winter came, the dog with no name lay on wet cement. It didn’t even have the energy to bark any more. Lolo wondered how anyone could be so cruel as the neighbor who shouted at it, kicked it, and called it “Mutt.”