Isabelle POV
Yes, to say that we were not pleased was an understatement. I suppose in a way we were spoilt with having Hattie as Mayor. Now there was a fine Mayor and no mistake. You asked her to put Stonehenge on the beach and it was there within the week. You asked her to give you a new greeting she would oblige with a salute you could use at a wedding. Who knew that life would so suddenly change.
At first, we noticed nothing peculiar. Yes she was coming out of Shampoodles with a boys haircut but you know each to their own. I continued working away at my desk in the town hall as usual. I did notice that Mayor Hattie wasn't coming in as much. Even when she did sanction town projects she no longer attended their unveilings. But worst was to come. I was hearing rumours of a most alarming nature. Fruit was being left on tree overnight. I don't know who she thought was going to pick the fruit. It's not our job. We are all far too busy asking her for furniture and standing around in flower beds. We can't be expected to do everything.
Then it hit me, this was not our Hattie at all. She has gone to that awful place known only as New Horizon and left the guardianship of her beloved town to a younger brother. Oh, why is it always left to me to fix these things. Honestly, I get no peace.
Anyway, I summoned dear friend Pierce. He has visited the good Mayor's house on many occasions so I knew that nothing would be suspected. I told him to just go along and see if there are any subtle changes to her house. Pink wallpaper swapped out for blue, that sort of thing.
Well he returned soon after with a report of a most alarming nature. All the pink had been completely eradicated from her house. Her doll house, her prize tea set and her upstairs ice cream parlour were all gone. There was a train set in the basement and several pumpkin heads I can only assume he bought from the travelling gypsies. He had an electric chair in the front room and a hanging skeleton. Oh, he's a right hooligan.
Things only went from bad to worse. Marcel came to the town hall not two days later to say that he asked our Mayor for a greeting and now he is being forced to say,
"Boyz in da house,"
I mean what does that even mean for heaven sake.
The only gardening this boy seems to want to do is plant bamboo shoots outside our doors in the hope that we can't get out of our houses, wicked boy.
I declare the last straw came when on Monday last he ran through the town dressed head to foot in black wearing a theatre mask and top hat and wielding an axe.
I think he thought he was going to scare us all but we were all fast asleep in our beds. We keep sensible hours in New Leaf. You want those crazy shinnanigans you can go to the Horizon Islands. They're all crazy over there but we New Leaf residents are up with the lark ready for another day of standing in flowerbeds and asking for furniture.
Anyway, we were all in bed. I only heard of it the following day from poor Dr Shrunk. He left his bed to come and tell me. The poor animal works nights, he needs his sleep. Such behaviour is not to be tolerated. And I don't appreciate having to organise ceremonies for town development projects like pipes and stop signs on our beaches.
Speaking on the beach I got a letter from poor Gulliver. He's horribly lost in the jungles of Peru. Take a wild guess whos fault that is.
I despaired, with such a Mayor how was anything to get done. The place was becoming overrun with old tyres, weeds and bamboo. And then one day, quite out of the blue Agnes came running in triumphantly holding out a letter for me to see. It was from Hattie, our real Mayor.
She said that although she loved the warm splendour of her island, she missed us way too much. Her younger brother with whom she had left the upkeep of our little town would be moving on to wreak havoc in that awful place known as GTA Vice City. No doubt he would be stealing cars and beating people up with the rest of the riff raff over there. Thankfully animals are not welcome in that city or I would have to call a meeting and warn our residents off going there.
And so our lovely Hattie had returned to us and just in time for the fireworks season. Oh they all venture out looking for new horizons but sooner or later they return. They always return. Good friends are hard to find.
Oh, I almost forgot, Hattie's little brother I believe has given up his reckless life in GTA Vice City. He is now Mayor of the very next village. Hattie goes off on the train to visit him. Apparently, he is doing so much better now. He has cultivated a massive apple orchard over there. Hattie brings him apples, tools and bells when she visits. Yes, he is doing much better now. One might say he has turned over a new leaf.