is trained to sit too…for photos. Brides love having their photos taken with white doves flying around. And Serena can sit on shoulders or hands.’ Mr. Snip-pets looked more cheerful. ‘The birds are a significant blessing. Releasing them is a joyous wish.’
‘Do you lose many? ‘ asked Art.
‘Not many.’
‘Only the ones that can’t read the map,’ joked India. She looked at Art’s face. ‘Sorry.’
‘Forget it.’ Art didn’t have any trouble with maps. Maps were like pictures. You worked out the coloured bits or the lines.
‘Birds have a type of radar. They fly straight home unless they follow another bird, just for fun.’ Mr. Snip-pets showed them the big aviary. There were about twenty birds inside.
‘Is this Serena’s cage?’ Art pointed to a white cage with a white bow of ribbon. The cage was empty.
Art felt a curl of excitement. Another mystery to solve.
‘This is her performing cage. I take it to weddings. Otherwise, she’s in the aviary.’
Art looked closely at the sign on the cage.
India glanced at Art. ‘The Love Dove’ she said loudly. Art nodded and drew a heart on his clue pad. Sometimes words got in the way of being a sleuth. That’s when a readaholic friend like India, was useful. She could read things for him, but he’d have to pay her back.
‘Is Serena valuable?’
Asking questions on the spot was quicker than reading.
‘Very. She’s rare. Her tail is shaped like a beautiful fan. It took a long time to train her. She would be difficult to replace. The crested featherfoot fantail pigeon comes from India.’
‘I didn’t know that.’ India was surprised.’ My family came from there too.’
‘Some Indians believe that releasing the birds releases their worries.’ Mr. Snip-pets nodded. ‘But ever since I released Serena on the practice flight and she didn’t come back, I’ve been very worried.’
‘Tell us what happens with the birds at the wedding.’
Art was determined to solve the mystery of the missing Serena before Saturday.
Chapter 2
Lost Dove
Mr. Snip-pets told them about his wedding hire birds.
‘Fantails don’t fly up much. The pigeons do.’
Art listened carefully.
‘You said pigeons. I thought they were white doves.’
‘They belong to the same family. White pigeons are uncommon. It took trips to the market to find white pigeons. Then I trained them to sit and to fly home.
Mr. Snip-pets opened a drawer. ’Here. I’ve got some photos.
A dove with a tail like an open fan was sitting on a bride’s hand.
‘Your fantail?’ India looked closely.
‘Serena.’
The bride was smiling. So was the groom. Other white birds flew around.
‘Looks ace.’
‘Photographers love the birds. Brides relax with the birds around. They’re always wanting to buy my Serena, but I won’t sell.’
‘The brides or the photographers?’ asked Art quickly.
‘Both.’
‘How do you get the birds ready?’
‘Three days before the wedding, I wash them.’
‘With the hose?’ asked India.
‘No.’ Mr. Snip-pets smiled a little. ‘In the sink. Bird feathers have a natural wax. You wash them to get them clean. After about three days, their feathers shine form the wax. They look beautiful in the photos. I put the birds in the aviary with clean grit. That keeps their feet clean.’
Art worked that one out. ‘You wouldn’t want them walking on the bride’s sleeves with dirty feet.’
‘Right.’ Mr. Snip-pets nodded. “Sometimes I take them out a few days before. I load them on the van in a crate. Then we have a training run.’
‘... a training flight…’suggested India.
‘We drive to the church. Then I release them.’
‘And they use bird radar to get home?’ Art was sketching on his clue pad.
‘Yes. They fly and I drive. Usually they beat me home. Only this time Serena didn’t come back at all. The next wedding starts at 3 o’clock on Saturday. Photos at 3.45. I’ve promised the bride to have twenty doves and Serena there.’ Mr.Snip-pets tugged at his hair again. ‘Who could have taken Serena? Or could she have flown away by herself?’
Art listened carefully. He didn’t take notes; he just remembered things. He looked closely at the cage. There were scratch marks near the cage door.
Art pointed. ‘Were these scratch marks here before?’
‘I don’t know.’ Mr.Snip-pets looked closely. ‘I didn’t notice. My partner’s away and I’ve been so busy. Can’t even leave the shop to look for Serena.’
‘Did you use this cage for the training flight?’ Art was drawing again.
‘No. Only used for display at weddings. We all get dressed up then: the birds, the cage and me. I wear a dark suit.’
The doorbell rng and another customer walked in.
It was Mario, better known as Mars Bar.His grandad trained greyhounds.
‘The dog food order was messed up again,’ said Mario.’Grandad sent me to get the extra bags. He’s spewing.’
‘Okay Mario,’ said Mr. Snip-pets. ‘It wasn’t your fault this time.’
‘That’s what I told Grandad. But he never listens.’
Mario turned around, noticing the others. ‘Not you two again. Hope we’re not in the same class this year.’
School was starting tomorrow and Mario sounded just the same.
But Art was more interested in Serena.
‘I’ll try and find out for you Mr. Snip-pets,’ he offered, running his fingers over the bird cage
