folks.â
âIâm one of the hungry folks!â Benny joked.
The Piccolos and Aldens barely had time to talk once the lunchtime customers came in. Henry had handed out a huge pile of flyers and coupons that morning. It seemed that every person who got one decided to come in at the same time. There were so many customers, people had to wait for tables. It took a while for Jessie to notice Tom Morgan standing in line right behind The Lady in the Red Hat.
âI guess Iâll just have to get a take-out pizza,â Tom said when Jessie finally spotted him in the crowd.
She gave Tom a big smile. âWell, we just ordered a good supply of take-out boxes. Big ones and little ones. What size would you like, Tom?â
âPlenty big,â Tom answered. âIâm bringing back some lunch for my helpers.â
âHelpers,â Jessie said, out of breath. âThatâs what we could use right now. For once, four Aldens arenât enough.â
Tom looked around the dining room. âIsnât Nick back yet? I havenât seen him around since he got sick. He must be better by now.â
âI wish,â Jessie sighed. She handed Tom a take-out menu. âMrs. Piccolo called him yesterday, but he wouldnât say when he was coming back. If things stay as busy as they are today, weâll definitely need an extra pair of hands around here.â
âNot to mention your delivery service,â Tom reminded Jessie. âHenry came by the station for bike parts. He said he wanted to build a delivery box on top of the bike so he could take pizzas to peopleâs homes.â
Tom pointed to the large Pizza Supreme listed on the take-out menu. âHereâs what Iâd like. My mouth has been watering for one of these for weeks now,â Tom told Jessie. âWell, it looks as if you kids have already made a difference with your good ideas.â
Jessie wanted to keep chatting with Tom, but there were onions to be chopped, cheese to be grated, and sausage to be fried. There werenât enough Aldens and Piccolos to get everything done.
âBoy, did that go by fast,â Benny said after the last customer had finally left two hours later.
âEverything was a blur, but a nice blur,â Violet said with a smile.
She and the other children sat down with the Piccolos to take a welcome break.
Henry checked the restaurant clock. âI guess weâd better get the dining room set up for the dinner crowd.â
âYou mean we have to do this all over again tonight?â Benny said in amazement.
Everyone laughed so hard, they didnât hear the bell on the front door jingle. When they finally looked up, they saw their steadiest customer, The Lady in the Red Hat, standing in the restaurant.
Only this time, she was The Lady with No Hat. âExcuse me,â the young woman called out nervously. âDid I leave my hat here?â
Benny ran to the Lost and Found box under the cash register! âHere it is!â he cried when he held up the womanâs red knit hat. âNow youâre The Lady in the Red Hat again!â
This made the young woman smile. âIâm also Laurie Baker,â she told Benny. âThank you for finding my hat.â
âI wish I could find the menu that was at your table yesterday,â Benny said. âItâs lost.â
The young womanâs smile instantly disappeared. She turned to leave.
âCome back,â Mrs. Piccolo called out. âShare a cup of tea with us.â
The woman looked pale and nervous. She didnât seem too interested in staying.
âPlease, Miss Baker,â Mrs. Piccolo said. âItâs cold out. Weâd like to thank you. Youâre one of the few customers who came to the restaurant in the last few weeks when everything was so slow.â
âSit,â Mr. Piccolo insisted, and the young woman finally did.
While Mr. Piccolo got up to put on the kettle, Mrs.