The Amazing Mexican Secret. Sara Pennypacker

      ‘Looks more like eggs,’ said Arthur.

      Carlos chuckled. ‘Huevos means “eggs” in Spanish. Huevos rancheros is a special dish with eggs on top of a tortilla.’ He elbowed Stanley. ‘You will like the tortilla, amigo. It is flat like you!’

      Everybody dug in.

      ‘Ish ish delishish!’ exclaimed Arthur.

      ‘Please don’t talk with your mouth full, Arthur,’ Mr Lambchop said. ‘Harriet, you’ve outdone yourself. These huevos rancheros are delicious.’

      Stanley couldn’t agree more, so he shoveled another forkful into his mouth.

      ‘I made it with the seasoning that Carlos’s mother gave me,’ Mrs Lambchop explained proudly. For her birthday, Mrs Lambchop had a party with a cooking theme. Stanley had given her a spatula, although he was almost injured when Arthur tried to flip him with it.

      ‘Ah,’ Carlos said, nodding. ‘My great grandmother’s secret ingredient!’

      ‘Secret ingredient?’ Stanley’s mother leaned forwards. ‘What could it be?’

      ‘I cannot say,’ said Carlos.

      ‘We promise we won’t tell anyone,’ pleaded Mrs Lambchop.

      ‘I cannot tell you, Señora Lambchop, because I do not know.’ Carlos shrugged. ‘Nobody knows. My great grandmother guards her secret closely. There are spies trying to steal it from her always! It is sad, because when she dies, the secret will go with her.’

      ‘How old is she?’ asked Arthur.

      ‘She is a hundred and three,’ said Carlos, with a frown.

      ‘That’s quite young for a person over a hundred,’ said Mr Lambchop.

      ‘Carlos,’ said Mrs Lambchop, ‘I love cooking. And this – this is the most wonderful flavour I have ever known. I would be honoured to carry on the tradition of your great grandmother’s secret ingredient!’

      ‘But how?’ said Carlos.

      ‘I’ll call her up,’ said Mrs Lambchop.

      Carlos shook his head. ‘My great grandmother does not have a telephone. She lives in a very remote part of Mexico.’

      ‘I’ll write her a letter!’ Mrs Lambchop said.

      ‘She would never send her secret in the mail,’ said Carlos.

      Stanley’s mother thought for a long moment. Then, very quietly, she said, ‘We’ll send a messenger.’

      ‘I’m your man!’ Arthur leaped to his feet. He was always ready for an adventure.

      But Mrs Lambchop was not looking at Arthur. ‘Stanley, those red sweatpants look comfortable enough,’ she said. ‘I’ll fold you some tortillas for the trip. We have to get you in the mail!’

      ‘Aw!’ pouted Arthur.

      ‘You’re sending me to Mexico?’ Stanley gasped. His mother usually seemed more concerned about his health and safety.

      ‘Stanley Lambchop, you tasted the secret ingredient,’ said Mrs Lambchop. ‘We cannot let that secret die.’

      ‘Your mother is right, Stanley,’ Mr Lambchop said. ‘You have travelled all over the world. You explored the pyramids of Egypt.’

      ‘You practised martial arts in Japan,’ Mrs Lambchop chimed in.

      ‘You flew on arctic winds to northern Canada,’ grumbled Arthur. ‘That was another trip I missed.’

      ‘Why, Mexico is just south of the United States of America,’ said Mrs Lambchop. ‘That makes it practically next door!’