Early the next morning Liza snuck into Peep's room to cover his bed with four leaf clover confetti. She wanted to wish him a Happy Saint Patrick's day. She knew she'd end up cleaning it all up later but the prank was worth it. Carefully she crept over to his bed holding large bag of green sparkly confetti then gasped.

Peep woke up. He saw the terrified look on his mother's face and worried something bad had happened. Then he remembered the fairies had taken back the scarf which covered his Lisa Simpson tattoo. His forearm laid outside the covers and Charlie the Centipede joined the tattoo parade.

Liza thought to herself. "He's only 9 and a half years old... Certainly these tattoos can't be real? But what about his pink hair? That's as real as it gets." Instead of confronting him about the tattoos she blurted, "You caught me!" She lowered the bag of confetti.

Peep realized what must be upsetting his mother. "Mom, are you worried about these tats?" He spit into his hand and began simulating rubbing off Charlie the Centipede. He lied, "A friend went to Chuck E. Cheese's and dared me to put these on at school..."

Liza sighed. "Well then... I'm glad you're making friends—but let's not annoy Principal Bowman anymore than necessary alright?"

Quoting Michelle from Full House he gave Liza a thumbs up and said, "You got it dude."

Liza rolled her eyes. "Please don't quote the Olsen twins!"

Peep couldn't resist so he quoted Stephanie from the same show, "Well that's rude." He desperately needed to keep his mom's mind off his tattoos. He felt his hair to make sure his bangs concealed the tiny horseshoe tattoo.

Whew... Locket where are you?

Liza tussled Peep's hair; he quickly hid under the covers. "Please don't dump that confetti on me."

"You know the rules! If caught doing a prank the prank is null and void. I'll go dump it on Oskar! Hurry up and take a shower. Scrub off those tattoos while you're in there. We've got a big day ahead of us!"

Peep had almost forgotten. Whenever Saint Paddy's Day landed on the weekend they'd go into the city for the annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade. Liza had left a green sweatshirt and a Leprechaun's hat on the end of his bed. "Ugh," Peep thought. "If mom knew how much trouble a Leprechaun caused me, I doubt she'd feel like celebrating today." He looked at the sweatshirt and was glad it had long sleeves and a hood. He'd live to hide his tattoos one more day. Peep conveniently left the sparkly leprechaun hat behind.

Peep yelled into the hallway, "Ma! Is it okay if I just wear the hood up so I don't have to cover my hair?"

Liza yelled back, "Only if you hurry! We gotta catch the 8:02 express train to Penn Station. Hustle!"

Peep heard Oskar scream as Lisa dumped a gallon of green confetti onto his head. She shouted, "Happy Saint Patrick's Day!" Peep loved how his mom always kept things fun.

Since March 17 tended to be bit chilly, in the Big ApplePeep, Peep got away with wearing a black beanie under his green sweatshirt hood. He found a black and green striped scarf to match so all of his tattoo buddies remained undercover.

After the parade they headed to the New York Delicatessen restaurant for lunch. Liza insisted Peep remove his hat. Peep embellished once again, "I've got the chills ma. Don't ya feel the draft in here?"

Liza let the boy alone. She'd learned, being a mom and elementary teacher, to choose your battles wisely. Instead of arguing she, Oskar and Peep chatted about the scary clowns and eerie Leprechauns they saw in the parade. Then they stuffed themselves with piled high pastrami sandwiches, sour pickles and mounds of steaming hot french fries slathered in ketchup.

After a long day in Manhattan everyone decided to go to bed early. Peep fell asleep wearing the kelly green hoodie pulled tight around his face. Hello the kitty nestled under his chin and purred loudly.

Liza quietly entered Peep's room and kissed him on top of his head then she crossed to his window. Feeling an icy breeze she shut the window and locked it tight.

Several hours later Peep woke to a, tap, tap, tap... TAP, TAP, TAP! Rattattttap! CRACK!

Locket flew through the window (now opened much more than a crack!) She flew over to Peep's face and asked, "Why'd you lock the window? And what's with the turtle impression?"

Peep could hardly believe his ears and eyes. Locket had returned looking brighter and bluer than ever. He sat up in bed. Hello slid down his chest. She mewed then crawled to the end of the bed. There she curled up in a tiny white ball and fell back asleep.

Peep removed his hood and nonchalantly smoothed out his hair. Peep stared at Locket. Locket stared at Peep. Finally Peep blurted, "Where the heck have you been? Do you know what you've put me through?"

Locket humphed and said, "Well that's a fine how-do-you-do? Never mind what I've been through!"

Peep jumped out of bed. "What you've been through? Why is everything always about you?"

Locket tilted her head and thought hard. "Hmmmm... I'm not sure why. It just is. Always has been."

Peep became frustrated. "Locket you've been gone months! I didn't know if something happened to you. I got stuck being Anabel the Terrible's Square Dance partner AND my mom saw my tattoos!"

"Oh? Did she like them?" Locket flew over to the globe and began running on top of it to make it spin. She loved its fairy to earth scale.

Exasperated Peep asked, "Did she like them? DID SHE LIKE THEM?"

Locket stopped spinning and sat atop the globe criss-cross-applesauce. "Well did she?"

"No Locket! She didn't like them. I lied and told them they were fakes from Chuck E. Cheese!"

Locket asked, "Who's Chucky Cheese?"

"Nevermind!" Peep continued. "I don't like lying to my mother. I'm not even 10 years old and I'm starting to be tatted like a rock star."

Locket flew over to Peep and sat on his shoulder and said, "You're welcome."

"You don't get it. Locket, the one person I can alway count on is my mom and you're forcing me lie to her."

"No.. Lying is naughty. I merely told you if you mentioned me and she didn't believe there'd be consequences..." Locket flew near the poster of Frank Sinatra. Her glowing blue light illuminated his eyes. "I like his eyes... They're the same color as my wings!"

Peep walked over to the petulant fairy and asked, "Locket would you please settle down and tell me where you've been?"

Locket stopped staring at Ol' Blue Eyes and focused on Peep. "Fairies never settle—especially down. I believe my Ladies in Waiting told you I've been detained in the Prison of Enchantment?"

"Grounded. You've been grounded by your mother Locket."

"Yes! Isn't it so awful? I literally couldn't fly! My own mother grounded me!" Locket began crying.

Peep fell into the roll of comforting friend. He patted Locket on her tiny back with his pinky finger. "There, there Locket. I've been grounded many times and I've hardly ever cried."

Locket sniffled and looked around Peep's room. Then she wiped her nose on his green sleeve and asked, "But what have you been grounded from?"

Peep got slightly offended. "Listen Locket, I may not be able to fly or cross into different worlds Willy-nilly like you do..." Peep thought about it and added, "But I can get grounded from playing video games and that's pretty darn close."

Locket bust out laughing. "Oh Peep you always manage to make me feel better!"

-End of Chapter 28-

Author's note: Are you glad Locket's returned? I know I am. I love Locket and Peep's relationship!
Please continue reading, voting, commenting and sharing! Yay you!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😻😻😻