Starr and the High Seas Wedding Drama (Flower Girl World chapter book) Read Free Page A

lips. “I can’t wait to try it!”
    â€œGrandpa, we entered you into the contest too,” said Ivy.
    He tilted his head. “Ivy, you know I’m a terrible cook.”
    â€œIt will be fun! I can be your assistant. Starr and I are too young to enter on our own. I’ll help you, and she’ll help her grandmother.”
    Abuela and Starr slapped a high five.
    â€œBut there’s a soccer game on TV,” he said. “I love watching sports.”
    â€œAnd Abuela loves cooking,” said Starr. “Don’t forget, she ate ice cream for you.”
    â€œThat’s true!” said Abuela.
    The girls crossed their arms and waited for Grandpa Walt to respond.
    â€œOkay!” he said, throwing his hands in theair. “Let’s get cooking!”
    The ship’s huge kitchen included a separate area for demonstrations and contests. There were five mini-kitchens, each one set up with a stove and cooking tools. Abuela chose kitchen #4, while Grandpa Walt took kitchen #5. Starr watched him pick up a blender to examine it. She wondered if he had ever seen one before.
    Ivy gave her grandfather a piece of paper. “I found a recipe online.”
    Grandpa Walt shrugged. “I’m not good at following recipes.”
    â€œI know,” Ivy said.
    The cruise director, Jenny, stood in front of the contestants. “Is everyone ready for the contest to begin? When I start the timer, you’ll have sixty minutes to cook your sauce. On your marks, get set, go!”
    Grandpa Walt looked like a wild chicken as he flapped around, trying to locate allthe ingredients. Onions, chiles, tomatoes, garlic, tortillas, and chocolate needed to be chopped, diced, and cooked. Soon, his space looked like a refrigerator had exploded all over it. Ivy helped, but she mostly let Grandpa Walt make a mess.
    Meanwhile, Abuela’s station was spotless. As she worked, her eyes were fixed on Grandpa Walt. “Look at him, Starr. He’s using a coffee mug instead of a measuring cup. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
    But Starr wondered if Abuela knew what
she
was doing. Her grandmother kept adding spicy peppers to her pan.

    â€œDo you really want to use all those chiles?” Starr asked. She had never seen Abuela use so many before.
    Abuela didn’t answer. She was still focused on Grandpa Walt. “Now he’s eating the chocolate. Silly man! He won’t have enough for the sauce!”
    Starr watched Abuela add even more peppers to her pan.
    â€œGrandpa Walt!” Ivy snickered. “You put a lot of sugar into the sauce. The recipe calls for three tablespoons.”
    â€œYou can never have too much sugar!” Grandpa Walt grinned.
    â€œThat’s what you always say,” Ivy grinned back.
    Whirrrrrrr!
Blenders were chopping at all five workstations. The loud humming sound added to the crazy chaos of cooks working fast.
    Then suddenly—
Ding!
    As Jenny said, “Time’s up!” Grandpa Walt quickly threw more sugar and spices into his sauce.
    â€œWe have a special surprise,” Jenny continued. “We’ve invited a celebrity chef to judge the event. Please welcome Conchita Consuela!”
    Abuela gasped as a stern woman dressed in a white chef’s coat stepped forward. Conchita Consuela was Abuela’s favorite chef. And now this celebrity was about to sample her mole!

    With her nose in the air and a wooden spoon in her hand, Conchita began to tastethe sauces. She gave kitchen #1’s sauce a slight smile and an “Mmmm.” Kitchen #2’s sauce received an “Ahhh.” Kitchen #3 only received a head nod.
    â€œ
¡Bienvenida!
” Abuela squealed as the chef approached her counter. “I hope you like my sauce!”
    Conchita raised an eyebrow. She dipped her spoon into Abuela’s sauce and then placed it into her mouth. Within seconds, the chef started gasping for air. She managed to choke out two