Map of Flames (The Forgotten Five, Book 1) by Lisa McMann

Author:Lisa McMann [McMann, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2022-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

A BIT OF A PROBLEM

Soon the food came. “Enjoy,” the server at Cosimo’s said. He set down a large plate of brisket hash between them, then two separate smaller plates with one sunny-side-up egg on each.

“Thank you,” Birdie said primly as the server filled their glasses with a pitcher, then left.

Tenner lifted his sunglasses and stared at the eggs. “Those are the biggest eggs I have ever seen,” he said. “And that hash looks weird, but it smells good.”

They each slid their egg on top of the hash, then portioned out their food onto their empty egg plates and began eating.

“I love brisket,” Tenner declared after a while. “It’s my new favorite thing.”

“This is delicious,” Birdie said. “Seven and Cabot would like it, too. Brix might be a little picky about the huge eggs.” She paused and took a drink.

Tenner wiped his mouth and sat back. “I don’t see Seven ever wanting to come here.”

“Here, to this restaurant?” asked Birdie.

“Here, to this city,” Tenner said. “He’d stick out. Badly.”

Birdie nodded. “I was thinking that, too. Do you like it here?”

Tenner glanced around. “It’s not bad. But I’d rather be home, where I don’t have to worry about doing something wrong.” He frowned and realized that wasn’t exactly true—he did have to worry about that at home. Birdie was often rolling her eyes because he’d talked too much or about the wrong things according to her. He was constantly trying to perform a certain way there. It had made him self-conscious, which usually led to him getting flustered and her looking down on him even more. Today was going pretty well, though, he realized with a note of satisfaction. Maybe it was because this was all new and scary to Birdie, too.

Birdie sighed and placed her fork carefully on her cleaned plate, then wiped her mouth. It seemed normal. A meal at a table. It was almost a letdown. “The mystery is gone,” Birdie said dramatically.

Tenner nodded, pretending to understand what she was talking about, as the server approached. “All set?” said the man.

Birdie looked at him quizzically.

“Finished?” the man said.

“Ah. Yes. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” There was a hint of warmth in his voice now as he picked up the plates. Before he left, he reached into his apron and pulled out a slip of paper, then set it on the table upside down. “I can take that up for you whenever you’re ready.”

The two kids exchanged a questioning glance. “Do you have the money?” Birdie asked Tenner. What else could the man mean?

“Yeah. Sorry.” Tenner reached for his backpack on the bench next to him. He rummaged through it and pulled out the money. Then he laid out each piece on the table in front of him.

The waiter’s eyes widened. “Oh,” he said at the sight of the bills.

Birdie saw his hawkish glance and reached across the table, gathering up all the money along with the receipt that the server had set down. “One moment, please,” she said icily.

“Of c-c-course,” said the server, who seemed strangely rattled now.

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