As they walked over to the Kowloon Restaurant, the Aldens soon forgot about the strange incident at The Underground. Martin, who was back to his usual cheery self, was telling them all about fortune cookies.
“The funny thing is,” he was saying as they went inside the restaurant, “most people think fortune cookies were invented in China. But you know something? Until recently, they were almost unknown there.”
Everyone looked surprised to hear this.
“Then who came up with the idea?” Benny wanted to know.
“Where were they invented?” Henry said at the same time.
“Right here in America,” Martin answered. He led the way to an empty table by the window.
A young woman in a white apron came over to greet them. She was tall and slender, with thick copper-red hair that hung down to her waist. “Welcome to the Kowloon Restaurant!” she said with a friendly smile. “My name’s Lucy Monroe. Auntie Two hired me to help out for the summer,” she added after everyone had introduced themselves. “I’ll be working here until college starts again in the fall.”
Jessie smiled as the waitress handed out the menus. “What are you studying at school?”
“I’m in the creative writing program,” said Lucy. Then she leaned forward as if about to share a secret. “Inventing stories has always been a great hobby of mine.” Just then, she noticed someone waiting to be seated and hurried away.
Everyone was quiet as they looked over the menus carefully. Each of them decided to order something different and share with the others. That way they could sample many dishes. Lucy returned and they ordered wonton soup, egg rolls, lemon chicken, chow mein, sweet-and-sour spare ribs, chop suey, and pork fried rice.
While they waited for their food, Dottie turned her attention to her birthday present. She quickly tore away the pink and gold wrapping. When she caught sight of the framed photograph, she laughed and clapped her hands. “What a wonderful surprise!”
Violet let out the breath she’d been holding.
“Violet took the picture herself,” Benny told Dottie. “She’s a very good photographer,” he added proudly.
Martin was quick to agree. “You’ve captured all the charm of our little bookstore, Violet. You’re becoming quite a pro.”
A flush of crimson crept across Violet’s face. “Thank you,” she said with a shy smile.
When their drinks arrived, Martin said, “I believe I ordered a cola, Lucy, not an iced tea.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Lucy slapped a hand against her cheek. “I’m always getting orders mixed up. Will I ever learn?”
Aunt Jane smiled warmly. “Don’t worry. We won’t hold it against you.”
When Lucy had gone, Martin reached into his jacket pocket and removed an envelope. “Just a little something,” he said, holding it out to Dottie. “Happy birthday.”
Dottie looked surprised — and pleased. “How thoughtful, Martin!” She opened the flap of the envelope and pulled out a heart-shaped birthday card. Inside were two tickets for the Friday night symphony concert. Dottie read the words on the card aloud: “ ‘To Dorothy Ruth Ursela May — Enjoy the concert! Love, Martin.’ ”
“I happen to be free Friday night,” Martin pointed out. “If you’re wondering what to do with one of those tickets, I mean.”
With a teasing twinkle in her eye, Dottie said, “I’ll keep that in mind, Martin.”
Violet and Jessie glanced at each other. They wondered if Martin had a crush on Dottie.
“There’s something I don’t understand,” Benny said as the soup was put in front of them. “Why are there only two tickets to the concert? What about all those other people?”
Dottie looked confused. “What other people, Benny?”
“Ruth, Ursela, and May.”
The corners of Dottie’s mouth began to twitch and then she laughed. “That’s me, Benny,” she said. “I’m Dorothy Ruth Ursela May.” When she saw the look of surprise on the children’s faces, she explained. “You see, my parents couldn’t decide which of four names to give me. So they just — ”
“Gave you all four names?” guessed Henry.
“That’s exactly what they did, Henry,” said Dottie. “Of course, folks in Elmford just call me Dottie.”
Martin put down his soup spoon. “I remember when you first arrived in town,” he said, giving Dottie a meaningful look. “That was my lucky day.”
Dottie sighed a little. “I can’t believe how the years have flown by since I left Keller’s Crossing.” She turned to Aunt Jane and the Aldens. “It was just after my husband died. That’s when I packed up my bags and left my hometown for good.”
None of the Aldens liked to hear the note of sadness in their good friend’s voice. As the soup bowls were cleared away, they tried to think of something cheery to say. But Aunt Jane spoke first.
“I take my hat off to you, Dottie,” she said quietly. “It takes courage to make a fresh start like that.”
“Thank you, Jane.” Dottie dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “I soon made new friends in Elmford. And I started The Underground with Martin.”
Auntie Two arrived with their dishes of steaming food. Benny piped up, “You didn’t run out of fortune cookies yet, did you, Auntie Two?” He sounded worried.
“Not much chance of that,” Auntie Two assured him with a cheery smile. The owner of the Kowloon Restaurant was a middle-aged woman with straight dark hair and sparkling brown eyes. “Like everyone else in town, I’m trying to drum up business, Benny. It just wouldn’t do to run out of fortune cookies. Look over there.”
Benny followed her gaze to a side table where beige cookies were piled high in a huge blue bowl. His face broke into a big smile. “Oh, there’s plenty to go around!” he said.
Violet helped herself to an egg roll, then passed the plate. “Do you make all the fortune cookies yourself, Auntie Two?” she wanted to know.
“Oh, it’s certainly a simple enough recipe, Violet. Just eggs and flour, sugar and water. But so many factories churn them out every day, I find it easier to buy them ready-made. Some companies even put lucky numbers on the little slips of paper. My customers seem to enjoy that.”
Benny gave the restaurant owner a puzzled frown. There was something else he was wondering about.
Auntie Two caught the look. “What is it, Benny?”
“Is Auntie Two your real name?”
“Benny!” Jessie gave her little brother a warning look. “That’s not really any of our business.”
Auntie Two laughed. “That’s okay, Jessie,” she said. Then she turned to the youngest Alden. “The truth is, I’m from a big family, Benny. My nieces and nephews have oodles of aunts. It’s hard for the little ones to remember so many names. It makes it easier if they just call us Auntie One, Auntie Two, Auntie Three, and ... well, it goes all the way up to Auntie Eight!” she told them before she walked away.
Benny kept his eyes fixed on the little beige cookies in the blue bowl. As they finished eating the main courses, he was quick to ask, “Is it time for fortune cookies yet?”
“Not quite, Benny.” Martin signaled to Lucy with a wave of his hand. The waitress gave him a smile, then disappeared into the kitchen. “I have a little surprise planned,” he said.
A moment later Lucy walked into the dining room carrying a big cake. Martin and Aunt Jane started singing “Happy Birthday,” and soon the whole restaurant had joined in. Dottie made a wish and blew out the candles. Then Lucy served chocolate cake to everyone at the table.
“Tonight we get two desserts,” Benny said, excited. “Cake and fortune cookies!”
“That’s a dream come true for you, Benny,” Henry teased his little brother. Everyone laughed, including Benny.
Aunt Jane turned to Dottie. “I’d love to hear more about your hometown,” she said. “What was it like growing up in Keller’s Crossing?”
Jessie leaned forward, interested. “Did you run a bookstore there, too?”
For a moment, Dottie said nothing. She just poked at her cake with a fork. When she finally spoke, her voice was strained. “Keller’s Crossing was a fine place to grow up,” she said. “It will always have a special place in my heart. But the past is best forgotten.” Quickly changing the subject, she added, “Now, where are those fortune cookies?”
Jessie stared at Dottie for a moment, wondering why she hadn’t answered her question.
Just then, Lucy arrived with one — and only one — fortune cookie on a small plate. She went around to the other side of the table and set the plate down in front of Dottie.
Benny looked bewildered. Had Auntie Two run out of fortune cookies after all? No, the blue bowl on the side table was still filled with the bow-shaped cookies. What was going on?
“I’ll get more fortune cookies in a minute,” Lucy promised, noticing Benny’s puzzled frown. “But the birthday girl should open the first one.” Then she turned and quickly walked away.
Dottie wasn’t having any of this. “You’ve been waiting long enough, Benny,” she said.
She held the plate out to him. “The first one is for you.”
Martin put up a hand. “Wait a minute, Dottie. The birthday girl should always open the first — ”
Dottie shook her head and cut in with, “Nonsense! The first one’s for Benny. And I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Is it all right, Aunt Jane?” Benny looked over at his aunt expectantly.
Aunt Jane smiled. “Help yourself, Benny.”
Benny was grinning from ear to ear. “Thank you very much!” With a few quick motions, he reached for the fortune cookie, broke it in half, and pulled out the fortune.
“Would you like me to read it?” Violet offered. Benny was just learning to read. As Benny passed the fortune to her, she silently read the words on the little slip of paper. Then her eyes widened and she gasped. |