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lost it.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Benny said. “But whatever it was, it was addressed to New York City and she sure didn’t want us to see it.”

CHAPTER 6
    A Familiar Face?
    â€œB enny, what are you going to use that star for?” Violet asked a few days later. Benny was at the kitchen table. He had glue, scissors, cardboard, and a small pile of shiny gold paper spread in front of him.
    â€œI’m making Watch a gold star for his doghouse.” Benny carefully cut out the cardboard star Violet had drawn for him.
    Violet smiled. “Watch has been doing well in rehearsal.”
    â€œYes.” Benny nodded. “Nothing’s gone wrong for a few days. Jim doesn’t even yell as much anymore.” Benny continued cutting the cardboard.
    â€œGrandfather is taking us all out to dinner,” Violet told Benny.
    â€œReally!” Benny exclaimed. He put down his scissors. “I hope we’re going to the pizzeria.”
    â€œIf that’s where you want to go, Benny, the pizzeria it will be,” Grandfather said as he came into the kitchen. “Are you ready to leave soon?”
    â€œI am sort of hungry,” Benny admitted.
    At dinner, Benny ordered two slices of his favorite pizza — pepperoni with special tomato sauce and lots of cheese. He also asked for apple juice and a green salad.
    Henry took a bite of his pizza. “You know, the man at the table by the window looks kind of familiar,” he remarked.
    Violet and Jessie looked sideways. “I think I’ve seen his picture in the paper,” Jessie said. She poured some dressing on her salad.
    Grandfather frowned a little. “I know I’ve seen him before, too,” he said slowly. “I just can’t remember where.”
    Benny reached for his glass of apple juice. “I don’t know him,” he said. “Oops!” Benny shouted as his glass of juice spilled onto the red-and-white checked tablecloth.
    Several people in the restaurant turned toward their table, including the man who looked familiar. When he saw the Aldens, he started to nod in their direction, then suddenly stopped and turned away.
    A waiter in a white apron hurried over with a wet cloth. Another waiter brought Benny a new glass of juice.
    â€œDid you see that?” Violet asked her sister.
    â€œWhat, the juice spilling?” Jessie asked.
    â€œNo.” Violet shook her head. “That man who looked familiar knows us, too, I think.”
    Jessie turned toward the man, but he had put on his coat and was heading out the door. She shrugged. “I guess he must have finished eating,” she said to Violet.
    Benny took a big sip from his new glass. “This juice tastes much better,” he told the waiter, who laughed.
    â€œEnjoy the rest of your meal,” the waiter said.
    Soo Lee carefully put her glass of grape juice on the table. “I hope it doesn’t spill,” she said.
    Grandfather said, “Don’t worry. Oh, Soo Lee that reminds me.” He turned in his chair to face her. “Alice dropped off a suitcase of clothes for you today. She said you could stay at our house until the play is over.”
    Soo Lee smiled happily. She liked staying with her cousins.
    Benny pushed aside his empty plate. “You know,” he told his family, “Watch really liked his gold star. I put it on his house before we left.”
    â€œHow do you know he liked it?” Henry teased.
    â€œBecause he tried to jump up and lick it,” Benny said.
    Grandfather chuckled. “I hope his stardom doesn’t go to his head,” he remarked, as he looked proudly around the table. “You’re all doing so well with this play.”
    â€œOh, we’re enjoying it,” Jessie said. “It’s just too bad so many funny things happened in the beginning.”
    â€œAt least, Melody’s been on her best behavior at rehearsals,” Violet