That evening Grandfather and the children went out to Tío’s Tacos for dinner.
Grandfather parked the car, and the five of them walked two blocks to the restaurant.
“Look,” said Jessie as they neared the restaurant. “There’s Jonah’s Jewelry Store. It’s right across the street from Tío’s Tacos.”
“I didn’t know you were interested in jewelry,” Grandfather said to Jessie, who was already looking at the jewelry in Jonah’s window.
“I’m interested that Jonah’s Jewelry Store got robbed a few weeks ago,” Jessie explained. “I never noticed the store before.”
Violet and Henry and Benny looked in the window, also.
“I like Kayla’s jewelry better,” said Violet.
“Me too,” said Henry. “And it’s recycled.”
“I like Tío’s Tacos,” said Benny, looking across the street at the restaurant.
“Okay, okay,” Grandfather said with a laugh. “Let’s all cross the street.”
After they crossed the street, Benny stopped in front of the door to Tío’s Tacos. Even though the Alden family visited Tío’s Tacos often, Benny sometimes didn’t pay attention to signs. This time he noticed a sign in the window. Because Benny was just learning to read, he wanted to read it. “Open,” he read. “Until. One a.m.” Benny frowned. “What does a.m. mean?” he asked.
“That means that Tío’s Tacos is open very late,” explained Grandfather.
“One a.m. is one hour past midnight,” said Henry.
Benny’s eyes opened wide. “Do people eat that late?” he asked.
“Some people do,” said Grandfather. “People who work in places that close at ten o’clock or eleven o’clock might want to eat after they leave work.”
“Sí, that is correct,” said Tío as he came to their table. His real name was Miguel, but he insisted that his customers call him Tío, which means uncle in Spanish.
Tío shook hands with Grandfather and each of the children, calling them by name. “I could not help but overhear what you were saying,” he explained. “People who work the evening hours, they need a place to eat after work. The people who work in the jewelry store, for example. Their store closes at nine o’clock. Tío’s Tacos is open, and those good people come here to eat good food.”
“We’re here to eat good food, too,” said Benny.
Tío smiled at Benny. “Yes,” he said. “You and your family come here often. I am glad to see you again.”
“I’m happy to hear that your business is good,” Grandfather said. “That makes it worth staying open so late.”
Tío scratched his chin. “It is good, but it is slow after midnight. Only Mrs. Wickett comes in, and sometimes the man who used to work at the jewelry store.” Tío seemed lost in thought. “It would be good if three or four more people came in after midnight.”
“Look!” said Benny suddenly, pointing toward the ceiling. “You have new pi?atas!”
Everybody looked upward, where five new pi?atas were hanging from the ceiling.
“You have two fish, a star, a llama, and a donkey,” said Benny.
“You are a very observant ni?o,” Tio said. “And do you know why I have new pi?atas?” he asked.
Benny shook his head. Tío looked to the other children.
“New pi?atas are pretty,” said Violet. “Their colors are very bright.”
“That is it exactly!” said Tío, beaming with pleasure. “The old pi?atas, they became dusty on top. And their colors faded from the sun. So I bought new ones.”
“The new ones are beautiful,” said Violet.
Jessie and Henry and Grandfather all agreed.
“I am happy to hear that you like my new decorations,” said Tío. “I changed them a few days ago, and that made one customer very angry.”
“Why was that?” asked Henry.
Tío shrugged. “Who knows. He said he liked the old ones and didn’t like the new ones.”
“Are the pi?atas filled with prizes?” Benny asked. “Games and cookies and candy?” he added.
Tío smiled. “That is a secret.”
“Why is it a secret?” Benny asked.
“Because if I told you the pi?atas were filled with something, I think you would want to break one open just to see.”
Benny looked at the pi?atas. He thought it would be fun to break one open. He was going to say something, but just then manycustomers came in at once, and Tío had to seat them.
Violet looked at the people who had come into the restaurant. One of the people was Ethan, who was still wearing running shorts and a tank top.
“Look,” said Violet to her sister and brothers. “I wonder if Ethan is going to eat here.”
Jessie, Henry, and Benny all watched Ethan.
“Who’s Ethan?” asked Grandfather.
Henry explained that Ethan was a volunteer at the recycling center.
“Ethan is buying two bottles of Doo-Dah Tea from the front of the store,” said Benny.
“Mint-flavored Doo-Dah Tea,” said Violet, who could see that both labels were green.
The children watched as Ethan paid for his tea, said goodbye to Tío, and left.
A server came to take their dinner orders. As they waited for their food, the children and Grandfather talked.
“I’ll bet my bull pi?ata used to be in Tío’srestaurant,” said Benny. “I’ll bet Tío took it to the recycling center and Kayla found it in the Other Stuff bin and then I took it home. When we get home I’m going to break it open and see what’s inside!”
“Well,” said Grandfather, “it’s your pi?ata and you may break it open if you want to. But usually people save pi?atas for special occasions.”
“Yes,” said Jessie, “like a birthday.”
“Or a party with friends,” said Henry.
“Can we have a party soon?” asked Benny.
The children talked about whether or not to have a party, but they never reached a decision. Their food arrived, and soon they forgot about everything except the delicious tacos, tamales, and beans and rice.
As they were finishing their meal, Henry looked up as the restaurant door opened. He saw Mrs. Wickett walk in. She was dressed up. Henry saw a sparkling pin on her blouse.
She spoke to Tío, who was at the cash register. Tío turned to the cooler alongside the wall, opened it, and took out six bottlesof Doo-Dah Tea. Henry noticed that all bottles had red labels. Mrs. Wickett sure likes raspberry-flavored tea, thought Henry. He watched as she paid for the tea and Tío put the plastic bottles into a paper bag.
As she turned to go, Mrs. Wickett looked toward the Aldens’ table. She stared for a minute, then walked over to them.
“Hello,” she said to Henry and Violet. “Didn’t I see you this morning outside the recycling center?”
“Yes,” said Henry. He introduced Grandfather, Jessie, Violet, Benny, and himself to Mrs. Wickett.
“Tío told us that you’re a good customer of his,” said Grandfather.
“Yes,” she answered. “Tío serves wonderful food. When I leave work, the first thing I smell is the wonderful aroma from Tío’s Tacos. So naturally, I come here.” Mrs. Wickett patted the bag she was holding. “And Tío always has my favorite tea on hand.”
“You must work at Jonah’s Jewelry Store,” said Grandfather with a smile.
Mrs. Wickett looked surprised. “Why, yes,” she said, “but how did you know that?”
“Oh,” said Grandfather, “I’ve learned a few detective skills from my grandchildren.”
Mrs. Wickett looked confused.
“Jonah’s Jewelry Store is the only store that’s open late in this two-block area,” Grandfather explained.
“Ahhh!” said Mrs. Wickett. “Very good. I’m their bookkeeper. I could work days, but I prefer to work nights. Everything is quiet then so I can concentrate on the numbers. Well, it’s so nice to have met you, but I must get back to work.”
The Aldens said good-bye to Mrs. Wickett and watched her walk out the door and down the block.
“Did you notice the jewelry she was wearing?” Violet asked. “She had a diamond pin on her blouse and three diamond rings on her fingers.”
Grandfather smiled at Violet. “You make it sound suspicious,” he said. “But Mrs. Wickett works at a jewelry store. Maybe she’s supposed to wear jewelry while she works there.”
“Or maybe she can buy it because the store gives her a big discount,” said Jessie.
“Or maybe she’s not wearing diamonds,” said Henry. “Maybe she’s wearing glass that looks like diamonds.” |