Project Mulberry

Julia and Patrick make fliers to distribute around town, advertising their search for a mulberry tree. Julia creates a secret agent alter ego to help her feign support for the project while simultaneously searching for alternatives. Based on the results of a past leaf project, she knows that Plainfield is unlikely to have a mulberry tree. A gas station attendant takes a flier and agrees to help with the children’s search.

At the Wiggle meeting, their mentor, Mr. Maxwell, approves the silkworm project (to Julia’s dismay). After the meeting, the gas station attendant informs them that she has found a mulberry tree. It belongs to a regular named Mr. Dixon; however, he didn’t take Julia’s number from the flier. Discouraged, Patrick decides to look for him based on his distinctive vehicle, a 1970s green Ford LTD. Julia pretends to help him search.

In the end-of-chapter dialogue, Park uses Agent Song, Julia’s secret agent alter ego, to explain how a story can take control of its writer. Julia warms to the idea of working together to write the story. Park mentions that ideas can come from any character, including Kenny; Julia dismisses this thought.