The Amazing Mexican Secret - Jeff Brown [8]
“Your mother is right, son,” Mr. Lambchop said. “We were worried about you.”
Carmen shuffled slightly to let the bull pass again.
“Of course, we were worried!” Mrs. Lambchop cried. “Our boy Stanley is about to get gored by a bull!”
Arthur rolled his eyes. “Well, I think what you’re doing is neat, Stanley,” he said.
“Thanks, Arthur,” said Stanley. It sure was good to see his brother.
“Mom, is it okay if I finish just this one bullfight?” said Stanley. “Please?”
“Yeah, Mom. Please?” chimed Arthur.
“I promise, Señora Lambchop,” said Carmen. “I will keep Stanley safe. He is a very special boy.”
Mr. and Mrs. Lambchop exchanged looks. Then, slowly, Stanley’s mother climbed off her chair and sat down.
A few moments later, Stanley’s toes lightly brushed the bull’s back as it rushed beneath him. He squeezed Carmen’s hands joyously.
Everyone in the stands went wild—even Mrs. Lambchop.
“Stay back, matador!” cried Carlos. He was standing on Stanley’s bed, holding Stanley by the feet like a giant knife and swinging him at Arthur, who stood a few feet back on the floor. “Or I will chop you in half like an onion with the flat American!”
“Oh yeah, Mr. Big Chef?” said Arthur. He grabbed Stanley’s hands and tugged.
“Ow!” said Stanley.
“I will never let you beat me!” cried Carlos, tugging back. “Never!”
“That’s what you think!” challenged Arthur.
“Arthur,” Mr. Lambchop appeared in the doorway. “Haven’t I told you no playing tug-of-war in the house? You’re going to stretch out your brother.”
Arthur rolled his eyes. “We’re not having a tug-of-war, Dad. We’re playing chef and bullfighter.”
“Well, that’s good,” said Mr. Lambchop, “because I’ve just received our photographs from Mexico.” He flipped through the pile in his hand and held up one so the boys could see.
It was Stanley being swung through the air by Carmen del Junco as an enormous bull passed inches beneath him!
“Whoa,” Carlos said.
“I told you it was cool,” said Arthur.
Stanley felt his cheeks turning red. He went over to his bulletin board. He pinned the photo right next to a piece of paper on which he had written, “The secret is not the ingredient. It is what you do with it.”
Stanley smiled. He felt as if he could still hear La Abuela’s laugh. He could still feel the grasp of Carmen’s hands. He could still smell the secret ingredient.
In fact, it was as if that smell was wafting right down the hall and into his room.
“Lunchtime!” Mrs. Lambchop called.
Stanley, Arthur, Carlos, and Mr. Lambchop stampeded for the kitchen.
THE END
MORE AMAZING MEXICAN SECRETS!
Besides being the third largest country in Latin America, Mexico is the country with the most Spanish speakers in the whole world!
Each of the three color stripes in the Mexican flag is deeply symbolic: The green stripe represents the ideals of victory and hope, the white stripe symbolizes purity, and the red stripe symbolizes the blood sacrificed by Mexico’s heroes.
Mexico is located in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region named for the vast amount of volcanic and seismic activity it contains, and is home to many active volcanoes, such as the Citlaltépetl (also called Orizaba) and the Popocatépetl.
Though Spanish is Mexico’s official language, there are sixty more indigenous languages spoken in this country, such Huastec, Maya, Mazahua, Mazatec, Mixtec, Nahuatl, Otomí, Tarastec, Totonac, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, and Zapotec.
Every year on November 1, Mexicans celebrate a national holiday called “Día de los Muertos,” or “Day of the Dead,” in which they honor loved ones who have passed away. Festivities include decorating their houses with pictures of those who have passed and eating treats shaped like skulls and skeletons!
Mexico is the original home of chocolate!
The border between Mexico and the United States is the second longest border in the world (second only to the border between Canada and the United States), and it spans about 1,933 miles.
Mexico’s capital, Mexico City, is the second largest city in the world by population,