Free Mystery of the Traveling Tomatoes by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

the windows were boarded up with big sheets of metal. A faded red, white, and blue sign that read “For Sale by Sally” stood in front.
    Violet, who liked things clean and tidy, liked the “now” photo better. The Sheas had painted the old house powder blue. They’d put on a new roof and porch. Large windows replaced the sheets of metal. The weedy back yard became a beautiful garden. The ugly old house changed into a bright, cozy restaurant.
    The Sheas grew much of the food they served at the café. But then last year, Mrs. Shea had twins! After Sophie and Tatum were born, she was worried that she would be too busy with the babies and the café to plant the vegetables. The Aldens volunteered to help out in the garden. They enjoyed hard work, and they were happy to lend a hand where they could.
    The Aldens learned plenty of new things while working in the garden. The secret to The Applewood Café garden was something the Sheas called “Black Gold.” One day Mrs. Shea showed the Aldens three big cans full of rich black soil called compost.
    “Rumpelstiltskin spun gold out of straw,” she’d told them. “David and I spin gold out of garbage.” She had picked up a fat worm and held it in her palm. “At the end of each day, we toss our kitchen and garden scraps into these cans. Hundreds of red wrigglers live inside. We feed the worms free meals, and they turn the garbage into gold.” As the worm moved, it left behind something that looked like a small piece of pencil lead.
    “Is that … worm poop?” asked Benny. Mrs. Shea laughed. “It’s called a casting. But, yes, Benny, it is worm poop. And it’s this ‘black gold’ that makes our plants grow so big and strong.”
    The Aldens had been amazed that something so small could make such a big difference.
    Now their lunch was ready at the café. “Here you go,” said Mrs. Shea, setting the plates on the table. Benny and Henry ate the Hopple-Popple, which was eggs scrambled with pieces of hot dogs, potatoes, and onions. Violet’s tuna salad was mixed with grapes and raisins and served inside a scooped-out tomato picked fresh from the garden. Jessie ordered the fresh fruit plate that came with a cup of strawberry yogurt and slice of banana bread.
    As the hungry gardeners dug into their delicious meals, other customers arrived for lunch. A sour-faced woman walked in with a husky young man. She plucked a menu from the counter and bent her nose to the page.
    “Who can read such small print?” she complained. “And what are those? ” She pointed at pretty little plants decorating the tables. “Is that parsley?” she said. “Mint? Basil?” She sniffed. “Whoever heard of putting herbs on tables instead of flowers? Humph!”
    “Come on, Aunt Faye.” The man led her into the café. “Let’s find a table.”
    As they passed the Aldens, the woman peered at everyone’s food. “What is that supposed to be?” she asked.
    “Oh,” said Jessie, “this is—”
    But the woman wasn’t listening. She frowned at the children’s clothing. “Hasn’t anyone taught you how to dress for a restaurant?” She glowered at Violet’s braids. Violet had clipped them up on top of her head to keep them from dragging in the garden dirt. “Such an odd hairstyle,” said the woman.
    “Let’s go, Aunt Faye.” The burly man led his aunt to a table. “I told you we should have gone to Le Grand Paris. You won’t find noisy children dining at fine French restaurants.”
    Benny glanced at his brother and sisters. “Were we being noisy?” he whispered.
    “We were not,” Violet whispered back.
    A man wearing a vest with many pockets sat at the table behind the Aldens. He leaned a metal detector against the wall. The children often saw people using detectors in the park and at the beach. They knew that the detectors found coins, jewelry and other metal objects people lost.
    Mr. Shea, who was the café’s chef, came out of the kitchen to the Aldens’ table. “How’s my