Chapter 10

Chapter ten "Is this the TV station?" I asked my mom the next morning as we turned into a revolving door in a big glass building. "This is the address they gave me," my mom said. My mom, dad, and Papa Pete were there, along with Frankie and Ashley, and of course, Judith Ann. All of us walked into the huge lobby with big couches and hundreds of TV screens all over the walls. The guard took us to the elevators. "What floor?" my dad asked. "Thirty-five," the guard answered, pushing the button. "That's where it all happens."

And boy was he right. When the doors opened, we stepped out and immediately found ourselves smack in the middle of the Country Cooking for the City set. "Wow," said Papa Pete. "It looks so much bigger on TV." "Dude," Frankie whispered to me. "This is awesome." "Hank, look!" Ashley said. "There's the kitchen where the chefs work. And there are the cameras. Aren't you nervous?" I wasn't nervous. I was proud to be there. I was proud that my friends and family would be

there to see me win. "This could be the best day of my life," I told Frankie. "It ranks right up there with that time Dad and I won the three-legged race at the Root Beer Bust at school. Remember that, Dad?" "I remember I ripped my pants and had to spend fourteen dollars to get them fixed," he answered. "Oh my gosh," Ashley said, grabbing my arm. "OH MY GOSH. Look who's coming to get us." Walking across the studio to us was Chuck Hall, the host of Country Cooking for the City. He was tall, with a huge head of blond hair, and teeth as white as marshmallows. When she saw him, Judith Ann actually let out a shriek. She stepped forward and stuck out her hand.

"What an honor to meet you," she said to Chuck. "I've never missed one of your shows." Chuck smiled. I could tell he was expecting the rest of us to chime in, too. To be honest, I had never seen one of his shows, but I knew better than to say that out loud. "So," Chuck said to Judith Ann, "I assume you're one of my finalists. Who's the other one?" "He's your guy," Frankie told Chuck, pointing to me. "Hank Zipzer." "Nice to meet you, Mr. Zipper," Chuck said with a marshmallow grin.

"It's Zipzer," I said. "And by the way, do you know what has a hundred and thirty-seven teeth and no cavities? A zipper!" Everyone laughed but Chuck. "If you don't mind, son, I'll do the jokes," he said. "Now follow me, and we'll get you kids set up." My family and friends got to sit in the audience seats. Judith Ann and I were led over to the kitchen counter, which was in front of the cameras. Ms. Smiley was there, setting up the kitchen tools on the counter. "I have your blender, young man," she said.

"Thank you, Ms. S.," I said. I would have called her Ms. Smiley, but I was afraid that Smelly would come out of my mouth by accident. "And Judith Ann," she went on, "I have your mixing bowls and skillet. Both of you may begin placing your food supplies on the counter." I reached into my paper bag and took out the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the cookies, the milk, and the banana. Way down at the bottom I was surprised to see a pickle and half of a pastrami sandwich in a plastic bag. I knew Papa Pete had snuck that in, in case I got hungry. That's what I love about Papa Pete. "Are we going to be on TV?" I asked Chuck's assistant, who was walking by with a clipboard. "The winner of this match is," she said, without looking up. "Cool. What does the loser get?" "A hearty handshake," she said with a laugh. I didn't think that was funny at all.