The Adventures of Kung Foo Poo: The Case of the Beautiful Fire Mermaid

By Heidi Hamalainen-Stewart and Tracey Hanes

Kung Foo Poo is a crime fighting pink poodle with a soft spot for a damsel in distress. Leilee is a rare mermaid with a red golden tail. And The Captain is a big game hunter with his eye on the big prize (which just happens to be Leilee). Mix them together, and throw in a Siamese cat and a surfer dude for side kicks and you get the laugh out loud funny adventure - The Adventures of Kung Foo Poo The Case of the Beautiful Fire Mermaid.
Set in picturesque South Florida, this is a story filled with wacky characters, and high jinks that keeps the reader glued to the page to find out if Kung Foo Poo can save the day!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 29, 2009
• ISBN: 9781469118840

Heidi Hamalainen-Stewart

A self confessed ‘Poodle-holic’, Tracey Hanes delivers a entertaining character – crime fighting pink Poodle, Kung Foo Poo, in The Adventures of Kung Foo Poo – The Case of the Beautiful Fire Mermaid. Hanes is a transplanted Southern Belle, born in North Carolina, currently residing in South Florida. The lush tropical South Florida landscape provides the backdrop for this tale. Her educational and professional backgrounds are Business and Technology. She received a a B.S., Business Management from Nova Southeastern University and worked the IT field as a Database Designer. So, how does a business woman turn into a fiction writer? As the saying goes – ‘write what you know’. Her passion for poodles and writing resulted in The Adventures of Kung Foo Poo. Hanes shares her home with two beautiful mini Poodles, Owen and Teddy. Her hobbies include shopping, reading, traveling, and writing.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The morning sky was bright and sunny as Kung Foo Poo went about his routine. First things first, the Poo began his morning stretches. Rule number one with the Poo was, never start anything too strenuous after waking up without first doing the proper stretches.

A downward-facing dog stretch to slide off the bed, followed by a sun salutation with a big yawn, was the only way to go. You never knew what waited for you in the kitchen, so best be limbered up and ready for action! The Poo considered it a little-known fact that yoga was invented by dogs and was sure that the Dalai Lama himself learned everything he ever needed to know about the benefits of yoga from the canine.

Kung Foo Poo studied himself in the mirror and breathed a contented sigh. He was a self-described model of poodle perfection. The perfect measurements according to standard, the right amount of fluff in the pink coif (a masculine pink, mind you), and a stunning beauty. That Girl Who Owned the House was so lucky that he decided to move in.

Kung Foo Poo slowly and leisurely lumbered down the hall, which opened into the great room with the wide glass sliding doors. Surveying the backyard, everything looked peaceful; sun reflecting off the swimming pool, the soft hum of a lawn mower a few houses down, and the palm fronds rustling in the soft tropical breeze. All was good in paradise. Yes, thought Kung Foo Poo, everybody knows it is best not to cause trouble in my neighborhood.

Stepping outside to quickly drain the lizard, the Poo contemplated his day. Should he begin with some breakfast, take inventory of his toys, or correctly arrange the pillows on the sofa? So many choices, and so little time to get it all done.

Midcontemplation, something shiny flashed beneath the water in the canal in the backyard. Curiosity raised, the Poo decided to check it out and walked toward the seawall.

Now don’t try this at home, but being an expertly trained kung fu expert, the Poo felt ready and able to handle any danger that might spring up. Carefully the Poo peered over the edge of the seawall and saw . . . nothing. More minutes of intense staring at the glassy surface of the water, and then! Nothing. Relaxing a bit, the Poo sat down to think when—Yikes!—something came flying toward him from out of the shrubbery! A ninja? A Swamp Thing? A panther loose from the zoo? Like a rocket, the Poo shot toward safety behind a lounge chair.

Nice hiding place, Kung Fu Master, said a bored voice. The voice sounded familiar, but the Poo didn’t move because ancient kung fu training told him that it could be a trick.

The intruder spoke again, Excuse me, but are you aware that I can see your pom-pom tail sticking out from behind the chair? The Poo still opted not to move. What would Bruce Lee do? he wondered.

As the Poo daydreamed of Bruce Lee, a shadow loomed closer to the lounge chair: a tall shadow with pointy ears. The Poo struck a fighting pose, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Looks like I might have to fight my way back to the house, Poo thought. Why didn’t I have a little breakfast first, he wondered? It was always better to fight ninjas on a full stomach.

As the shadow came around the corner of the chair, the Poo struck! Hi yah! A chop to the air, a spinning kick, a punch, a flurry of jabs and pokes! Striking nothing and feeling a little winded, the Poo opened one eye to have a peek at the damage. Sitting regally, casually bathing a paw, was Christian, the Siamese cat from next door.

Are you quite finished with all that ruckus? asked Christian. I wouldn’t want you to throw yourself in the pool again like last week.

One, I meant to go in the pool, I’m training for the Olympics. And two, for your information, you were lucky that I didn’t unleash my full fury, or you would be the one practicing your backstroke! said Poo while fluffing his fur back into place.

Okay, sure, replied Christian with a roll of his eyes and a big yawn, exposing his impressive set of teeth.

Christian was used to this sort of conversation with the Poo. Christian felt the problem was that the Poo didn’t fully understand that cats would always dominate the world, a fact that dogs should just accept. Nevertheless, Christian had a soft spot for Kung Foo Poo and did what he could to aid him in fighting crime. It seemed to Christian that Kung Foo Poo just always found himself in trouble and needed good friends like him around to help out.

What are you doing in the backyard so early, anyway? asked Kung Foo Poo. Christian was a notoriously late sleeper.

Oh, I just thought I would do a little research on chameleons and see how they taste. I mean, um, see how they change their colors to camouflage themselves, replied Christian, coloring slightly.

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