Previously on the Phenomenosa Mysteries.
This website says food is the best way to get an owl's attention.
But then you have to spread a net up in the tree branches.
When the bird gets caught, you drop a towel over its head to calm it down.
And then carefully grab the bird with gloved hands.
Oof, that sounds scary.
Oh, and...
Leave owl catching to the experts.
Owls have strong beaks and sharp claws.
Call DC Animal Care and Control if you find a wild animal in trouble.
Guess I'll have to borrow a cell phone if I find the owl.
But what if Animal Control can't get here in time?
What if it's up to me?
My name is Fina Mendoza.
I moved to Washington, D.C. with my older sister, Gabby, because Papa works in the U.S.
Capitol.
He's a congressman.
Me?
I solve mysteries.
We're home.
You don't have to yell.
So now I sew the front piece to the back piece at the shoulders, right?
That's right, Mija.
And then you sew the sides together.
What are you two doing?
Plotting the revolution?
Ha ha.
Since you won't raise my allowance so I can buy some decent clothes.
Abuelita is teaching me how to make my own instead of upcycling my old stuff.
Check it out, Fina.
What is it?
A dress, duh.
Why black?
Why not something pink or purple with flowers on it?
Mm, mm-mm.
Not exactly your sister's style.
Come on, Fina Fina.
Let's see if there's any chocolate pudding left in the fridge.
How did you know what kind of dress Gabby would like, Abuelita?
Well, I did my research.
Instapost.
Almost all the clothes your sister puts on Instapost are shiny and black.
You'd make a pretty good detective, Abuelita.
And where do you think you get it from?
Ready, Senator Something?
It's okay, Senator Something.
I know the Rayburn Garage is not your favorite place.
What?
I know, I know.
But I won't let anybody run you over.
I promise.
We'll steer clear of the cars.
We've got to find the bird.
Okay.
I've got everything we need, Senator Something.
I didn't have a net, but we always save the string bags that hold the tangerines.
Gabby cut them apart for me and sewed three of them together.
She didn't even ask any questions.
Oh!
I've got a pair of papa's gloves and a dish towel with a burn in the corner.
I borrowed the family phone from papa's briefcase so I can call animal control if we find the bird.
Oh, and look what I've got in this box.
My friend Carl the janitor got it for me from one of the mouse traps in the capital.
It's a dead mouse.
I know, I feel bad for the mouse too, but I feel worse for Monica.
And look, I brought some fat thread from Abuelita's sewing box.
I learned that owls like to catch their dinner for themselves.
I need that dead mouse to do a little dancing.
Oh, and look what I brought for you.
Your favorite squeaky toy.
No, not yet.
It's for after you help me catch that bird.
It's your reward.
Now I thought about bringing two dogs.
But I wasn't sure that I could trust St.
Sebastian to behave himself.
It's up to you and me, Senator Something.
So I'm not sure the bird is hiding in the parking garage, but it's certainly a place with carbon dioxide.
I know I'm not allowed inside the Capitol, but nobody said anything about the parking garage.
Ready?
Where would you hide owl if you were an owl?
OK, Senator something.
You lead, I'll follow.
No, Senator Something, that's the construction zone!
Stop being so stubborn, Senator Something.
No, I said no.
Oh, all right.
When you make up your mind about something, everybody pretty much has to go along with it.
Okay, it's true.
You're usually right.
Just be careful.
Look, there's a hard hat.
Let me at least put that on.
Shh, be quiet.
Wow, what a mess.
They ripped out all the concrete over here.
I don't think it's safe, Senator Something.
Do you hear something?
It's Chick Charney, the burrowing owl.
Look over there.
Those little black jelly beans?
They're bird poop.
And oh, look, Senator Something, in that pile of concrete over there.
See them?
Lemon yellow eyes.
It's him, Senator Something.
Chick Charney, the burrowing owl.
I've got to call animal control.
Oh no!
Papa's phone is dead.
He probably forgot to charge it last night.
What are we going to do, Senator Something?
We don't have a phone.
We can't call the professionals.
We don't want the bird to escape again.
If we're going to catch Chick Charney, we have to do it ourselves.
First, we have to distract Chick Charney.
Stay right here and stare at the bird.
Don't bark.
Don't make a sound.
Just let him know that you can see him and he can see you.
Can you do that, Senator Something?
I agree.
You're the better bird dog.
Let me put on my gloves.
I've got the tangerine net and the kitchen towel right here.
Okay, little mouse, it's up to you.
Sorry, little fellow.
I'm tying the string around the mouse.
It's hard to tie a knot wearing these big gloves.
Okay, done.
Now we'll have to see if it works.
Hey, little bird.
I've got dinner here for you.
Come and get it, Chick Charney.
Nice and delicious.
That's right.
Watch the little mouse, not the great big dog.
Yum, yum.
I've got him, Senator Something.
He got the mouse, but I've got the string.
It's like flying a kite.
Okay, Senator Something.
I'm going to throw the tangerine bag over him.
Here we go.
That's right.
Back to the ground.
Now I just have to drop this towel over your head?
But then what?
Great idea, Senator Something.
Go get that big red bucket over there.
Good boy.
Now I'll just drop it right over the bird.
We got him, Senator Something.
Hey, what are you two doing over there?
This is a construction zone.
I'm wearing a hard hat, but your dog isn't what the heck is that.
It's chick charney, the bird that pooped on the president.
You caught the eagle.
He's not an eagle, he's an owl, a burrowing owl, and he's kind of scared.
Uh Bert, we got a situation here on G1.
Hello?
Monica, it's me, Tina.
Tina, how nice to hear from you.
I have some news for you.
It is about a new job?
Not to worry.
Things have a way of working themselves out for the better.
It's not about a job.
It's about Chick Charney.
What?
I found him in the parking garage over by where they were doing all that construction.
You found Chick Charney?
I did.
But he isn't a real Chick Charney with scary hands and a lizard tail.
He's just a little owl with spotted feathers and lemon moon eyes.
A burrowing owl.
Are you sure he didn't have a lizard tail?
Positive.
After the animal rescue guy came and put him in a cage, I got to see him up close.
He looked scared with all those people around him.
I told him not to worry, that we'd find a safe burrow for him.
Where did this burrowing owl come from?
I don't know.
Nobody knows.
Maybe someone smuggled him over the border in their suitcase or stuffed him in their pockets.
Maybe there's a drug dealer out there looking for his pet owl.
And Monica, I asked the bird if he had a message for you.
And what did he say?
Nothing.
No message for you.
No message for me.
No message for the president or Congress.
He didn't say a thing.
No message at all.
That's not true, Sina.
Messages arise in mysterious ways.
You wait and see.
The Fina Mendoza Mysteries are written and produced by Kitty Felde.
Our cast includes Amy Solano as Fina Mendoza, Monica Vigil as Gabby, Christine Avila as Abuelita, Stephen Cuevas as Papa Tamika Caton-Donegal as Monica, Daniel Leslie as the construction guy and Steve Dvorkin is Senator Something.
Andrea Felix-Cervantes is our stage manager.
Music is written and performed by Andrew Barkin, and our logo designer is Imelda Hinojosa.
Season two of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast is based on the book State of the Union by Kitty Felde, published by Chesapeake Press.
You can purchase an autographed copy of State of the Union at the website chesapeakepress.org.
And if you've been wondering how much of the Fina Mendoza mysteries are fact and how much are fiction, sign up for our newsletter.
Every week you will find out the real life facts included in the episode.
And if you sign up, you'll also get a free download of the 56 page teacher's guide to the book and the podcast.
Perfect for back to school.
Next time on the Fina Mendoza Mysteries... I thought we were having dinner.
Why is everybody standing around?
Josefina?
Uh-oh.
You only use my full name when I'm in trouble.
No.
No trouble.
You have mail.
Are you sure it's for me?
It's not my birthday.
Well...
I have a big white envelope with your name typed on the front.
Who sent it?
Look at the name up on the top left corner.
That's coming up next in the concluding episode of Season 2 of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries.
There will be bonus episodes, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
