Ch6-Find Me at the Greasy Spoon

CHAPTER SIX Find Me at the Greasy Spoon. Streetlamps were coming on as Jack, Annie, and Dipper walked away from Jackson Square. When they came to Bourbon Street, vendors walked the sidewalks, calling out, "Ice cream!" "Lemon pie!" "Ham biscuits!" "Hmm. Sounds good," said Annie. "There seems to be lots of good food in New Orleans."

"Best in the world!" said Dipper. People were sitting outside dance halls and restaurants, laughing and talking, eating and drinking. Outside and inside, musicians were blaring away on their instruments. "Hey, there's Dipper! Sing something for us, Dipper!" the ice cream lady yelled. Dipper waved and kept going. "Hey, girl, can you play that trumpet?" a man called to Annie. "Not till the time's right!" Annie shouted. "When's that?" the man said. "She'll know it when she feels it!" Dipper shouted.

At the end of the block, under a streetlamp, a trio was singing in harmony. It was Little Mac, Happy, and Big Nose Sidney. "Look, Dipper, it's your friends again," said Annie. "I see 'em," said Dipper. But he ignored the three boys and crossed the street. Dipper led Jack and Annie down a narrow alley to the back of a shabby, run-down building. Good cooking smells came from inside. "Y'all wait for me outside this greasy spoon," he said, and he slipped through the back door. "What's a greasy spoon?" asked Annie. "Smells like it must be a restaurant," said Jack.

Annie put down the trumpet. Jack put down his bag. They sat on the back steps of the greasy spoon. While they waited in the muggy twilight for Dipper, Jack wiped his forehead. He was starving and ached all over. Soon Dipper pushed open the back door with his foot. He was carrying a big bowl and a tall glass. "I got us some gumbo stew and some lemonade to share!" he said. "Talk about good!" "Oh, man, thanks," breathed Jack. Dipper sat between Jack and Annie on the steps. He pulled spoons out of his pocket for each of them. "Dig in, y'all!" he said. Together the three of them tackled the gumbo stew. They all ate their fill of spicy chicken, ham,

tomatoes, okra, onions, and rice. When the bowl was empty, they shared the tall glass of lemonade. Then they sat back on the steps and heaved big sighs. Jack felt stuffed and happy. "Mighty fine," breathed Dipper. "Mighty fine," echoed Jack. "Mighty fine," said Annie. "Nothing tastes as good as gumbo after a hard day's work," said Dipper. He stood up. "Well, I have to leave y'all now. Thanks a million for your help today. And don't forget to thank Teddy and Kathleen for sending y'all to find me." Before Jack and Annie could stop him, Dipper climbed down the steps and vanished into the dark. "Dipper?" called Jack.

There was no answer. "He's gone again!" said Annie. "And we totally failed in our mission for Merlin," said Jack. "We didn't help Dipper get on the right path to give his gifts to the world." "I know. We have to find him. Come on," said Annie. She hopped up and headed after Dipper. "Wait, the trumpet!" said Jack. He grabbed the magic trumpet and his bag and followed her. When Jack left the steps, it was too dark for him to see where Annie had gone. Thunder rumbled in the distance. The air felt heavy and thick as if the storm were about to break at any moment. "Annie!" Jack called.