Free Holy Enchilada by Henry Winkler Page A

see who was in it because the windows were blacked out. I thought it was probably a movie star. Either that or a Met. I was wrong, though.
    It was Papa Pete! He is full of surprises.
    When he rolled down the passenger window and asked if we needed a ride, I thought Yoshi’s eyeballs were going to fall out of his head. Actually, I thought mine were, too. I had never ridden in a limousine in my life!
    â€œMeet Dave Waxman,” Papa Pete said, slapping the driver of the car on the back. “He’s the second-best bowler on the Chopped Livers, after yours truly.” Papa Pete’s bowling team is called the Chopped Livers. They’re first in their league. “When I told Dave about Yoshi, he volunteered to take him for a spin in this sweet little buggy of his.”
    â€œThank you, ojiisan,” said Yoshi. “You, too, Waxman- san .”
    â€œMy pleasure, kiddo,” said Dave. “Hop in.”
    We all climbed in the rear door of the limo. Inside, there was a telephone and neon lights, and smooth leather seats that felt like butter. It was so big in there that you could have played hide-and-seek, which by the way, we did. If you ever get a chance to ride in a limousine, I highly recommend playing hide-and-seek.
    â€œI could drive all the way to Japan in this car,” Ashley said.
    Robert cleared his throat. “Actually, you couldn’t, because Japan is—”
    â€œWe know, Robert,” we all groaned. “An island country surrounded by water.”
    â€œDude, don’t you have any other topics?” Frankie asked.
    â€œActually, I could speak about the spiny tailed iguana of Costa Rica. It is the fastest reptile on the planet, able to run twenty-one miles per hour.”
    â€œOh, Robert, you’re so interesting,” my geekoid sister said.
    Attention! Calling all nerds! There’s a meeting in the back of our limo!
    It’s only six blocks to my school, and we were really sorry our ride was so short. When we pulled up in front, we saw Yoshi’s father waiting on the steps, talking to Ms. Adolf. Boy, were they shocked to see us get out of that car.
    Yoshi gave his dad a hug and started blabbering to him in Japanese. I hoped he was talking about the limousine ride and not giving him an earful about Katherine’s nervous breakdown in our kitchen last night.
    Ms. Adolf gave me one of her nastier looks.
    â€œWhat’s the purpose of this vehicle? It is so extravagant,” she said as the limo pulled away.
    â€œHmmm, the purpose.” I thought it over. “It’s a fun way to get somewhere?”
    â€œFun is not appropriate, Henry. I won’t have my pupils just going about willy-nilly, having fun whenever they feel like it.”
    I had never heard the word fun sound so un-fun. I switched to a topic I thought she’d like better.
    â€œWe made enchiladas for the Multi-Cultural Day Lunch,” I said, sticking the pan under her nose.
    She looked into the pan like there were worms crawling around in there.
    â€œThey look extremely cheesy,” she said. “Are they spicy?”
    â€œThey have a little zing,” Ashley answered.
    â€œNot too much zing, I hope,” Ms. Adolf said. “I don’t respond well to spicy Mexican food. I’m sure our guests don’t, either. We don’t want to make them sick.”
    That was a scary thought.
    What if I put in too much chili powder? Will the enchiladas be too spicy? Will they make Yoshi sick? Will he go screaming out of the room, begging for water? Worse yet, what if they make Mr. Morimoto sick?
    Stop it, Hank!
    My thoughts were making me sick.
    I looked at the enchiladas in the pan. Exactly how zingy were they? There was only one way to find out. I had to taste them.

CHAPTER 18
    AS THE BELL RANG and everyone went inside, Ms. Adolf told me to take the enchiladas to the Multi-Purpose Room. That gave me an idea. I’d put them down and, when no one was looking,