Hoot

The Mother Paula’s story turns into a huge scandal over the next few weeks. It comes out that the company did complete the Environmental Impact Statement, and it documented three pairs of nesting owls. This means the company couldn’t build without serious legal issues and a public relations scandal. Later, the report turns up in Councilman Bruce Grandy’s golf bag, along with $4,500. The councilman denies that the money was a bribe and then hires an expensive lawyer.

Kimberly Lou Dixon cancels her contract with Mother Paula’s and publicizes her lifetime Audubon Society membership. Mrs. Eberhardt tracks the actress’s meteoric rise following this—Miss Dixon is even booked to do a movie with Adam Sandler. Meanwhile, Mother Paula’s stock value tanks. Chuck Muckle is demoted and is forced to take an anger management class, but he later quits his job to become a cruise director. Eventually, Mother Paula’s cancels the Coconut Cove location plans.

Now, everyone cares about the owls. NBC and CBS send crews to Trace Middle School to interview students and faculty—Roy is amused to hear from Garrett that Miss Hennepin told the crews that she encouraged kids to protest. One evening, Mrs. Eberhardt fetches Roy to come watch the news just as the Mother Paula’s president announces plans to preserve the Coconut Cove property as an owl sanctuary and make a donation to the Nature Conservancy. He says his company is committed to the environment and he regrets his employees’ “careless actions,” but Roy says he’s just lying to make himself look good. Mr. Eberhardt agrees, and Roy points out that he doesn’t even deserve all this credit. Mullet Fingers does.

After the protest, Mullet Fingers lasted two days at home. Lonna spent that time trying to get reporters to pay attention to her, so Beatrice helped her brother escape while Lonna and Leon were fighting. Unfortunately, a neighbor who saw Mullet Fingers climb out the window reported a burglary to police, so they caught and arrested him—Lonna told the police he'd stolen her jewelry. Mullet Fingers lasted 17 hours in juvenile detention before he broke out with none other than Dana Matherson’s help. Roy knows that Mullet Fingers only invited Dana to join him in their escape because Dana clearly isn’t fit—he’s a great decoy. Mullet Fingers was able to slip away and the police didn’t much care. Now, Roy knows he won’t see the boy again unless Mullet Fingers wants to make contact.

Back in the present, Roy assures Mrs. Eberhardt that Mullet Fingers will be okay, and Mr. Eberhardt suggests they go for a drive. They drive to the corner of East Oriole and Woodbury, where they join Officer Delinko and Curly to watch for owls. Delinko has recently been recognized for helping recapture Dana, while Curly has been driving his wife and mother-in-law around. The bird watchers stand in silence and gaze at the empty lot. Crickets appear as the sun sets and before long, owls emerge from the burrows. Even Curly admits that they’re cute.

On a Saturday after the Mother Paula’s scandal has died down, Roy attends one of Beatrice’s soccer games. He doesn’t miss Montana so much anymore, though he does miss real seasons. The heat reminds him of a different afternoon, so Roy slips away and rides his bike to the Molly Bell. He takes off his sneakers and swims out to the top of the pilot house, where he soon sees an osprey and then tarpon in the water. On his belly, Roy watches the water seem to boil—the mullet are coming. Roy attempts to snatch a fish out of the water, and he even feels one in his hand. But the fish squeezes free. Roy is convinced it’s impossible to catch one.

From the mangroves, Roy hears what sounds like a laugh and he calls for Mullet Fingers. No one answers, so Roy returns to shore. He dresses, but he can only find one shoe. The other, he discovers, is in the shallows and is tied to a root. Inside is a mullet. Roy gently lets the mullet go and listens intently, but Mullet Fingers is gone. It is possible to catch mullet. Roy will just have to come try again, like a “real Florida boy.”