"Jason's here!" Bobby cried.
Jason ran to his friends. It was summertime. Everyone was taking a cooking class together at a farm. Jason couldn't wait to see what they cooked first!
"We're all here now," Nina said.
"Except for Ethan," Izzie said.
"He's having fun surfing in California," Bobby said.
"Well . . ." Jason grinned. "We'll be having fun with a real chef!"
A tall man came over. "My name is Charles. But my students call me Chef. I'll show you junior chefs around the farm. Follow me."
"He seems serious," Nina whispered.
"He's a real chef," Jason said. "So, he is serious—about cooking!"
Several chickens ran around the farmyard.
"Aw!" Izzie saw goats too. "Look at the cute goats in their pen!"
Chef gave the kids baskets. "We're making omelets today," he said. "Let's go to the coop to gather eggs."
At the coop the kids began collecting eggs from nests.
"Be careful not to crack them," Chef said. "We can't use cracked ones. And I don't like to waste food!"
A big dog ran up, wagging her tail.
"This is Cinnamon," Chef said.
"At least the dog is friendly," Bobby whispered.
Finally they went into the farmhouse kitchen.
"It's huge," Jason said.
Chef nodded. "This is my first class for kids. But . . ." He pointed to a poster of kitchen safety rules. "I expect you to follow the same rules that grown-up cooks follow."
"Chef is mean!" Izzie whispered.
"No, he's not," Jason said.
Jason saw a recipe for a cheese omelet on a screen.
"That recipe looks easy!" Bobby said.
Chef frowned. "It's a simple recipe. But making an omelet is not easy. Folding it can be difficult. Let's get started."
The kids washed their hands and put on aprons.
Nina read the instructions. "First we have to crack the eggs."
"I'll crack them!" Bobby said.
"No, no! Not against the bowl!" Chef snapped. "Crack them on a flat surface."
Nina and Bobby carefully cracked two eggs into a bowl. Bobby added salt and black pepper and whisked the mixture a few times.
"Keep whisking!" Chef said.
The eggs were finally ready.
Chef heated a pan on the stove and melted the butter. "We can add the eggs now."
Nina poured in the eggs. They cooked for a few minutes. Then Izzie sprinkled cheese on one side.
"Now we'll fold half of the omelet over the cheese," Chef said.
"Can I do it?" Jason asked. "I know how!"
Chef handed over a spatula. "Be careful."
Jason loosened the omelet's edges. He could feel Chef's eyes on him. When he tried to fold the omelet, his hand shook. It broke apart!
"The omelet is ruined!" Chef sighed. "Let's just eat it and make another one."
Jason hung his head as Chef passed out servings. "Izzie's right," he thought. "Chef is mean."
"Yum!" Nina and Izzie said.
"Best omelet ever!" Bobby said.
Something amazing happened. Chef smiled!
"The omelet doesn't look perfect, but it tastes wonderful. Good job." Chef Charles nodded at Jason.
Chef Jason grinned—and took a taste.