LITMIR.BIZ

      Stanley read.

      Everyone took a seat around the kitchen table.

      ‘I hereby call this special session of the Lambchop family meeting to order,’ announced Mr Lambchop.

      ‘Let’s begin by welcoming our esteemed guest,’ said Mrs Lambchop. ‘Mr Dart, would you like a snack?’ She slid a bowl across the table. It was filled with chips sprinkled with the secret ingredient that Stanley had recently retrieved from Mexico.

      Stanley stared at his hands. He was thinking that he should go to Africa to see the flat skull. Maybe he wasn’t so alone after all. ‘I want to get mailed to Africa,’ he declared.

      ‘Absolutely not,’ said Mrs Lambchop. ‘It’s one thing to fly airmail to a major city like Tokyo, Cairo, or Mexico City. Who knows how often mail is delivered in the most remote regions of Africa?’

      ‘Your mother is right, Stanley,’ said Mr Lambchop. ‘It isn’t safe.’

      ‘But I have to! What if that skull is the same as me?’

      Mr and Mrs Lambchop exchanged looks.

      ‘No way,’ Arthur blurted, as if reading their minds. ‘I am NOT missing another big adventure. Stanley gets to circle the globe, while I have to stay home and miss all the fun. It isn’t fair!’

      ‘These are the most delicious chips I’ve ever tasted!’ said Mr Dart, shovelling another handful into his mouth.

      ‘Maybe we should all go,’ Mr Lambchop suggested.

      ‘I can’t, George,’ said Mrs Lambchop. ‘I’m hosting my fund-raiser for the Grammar Society on Saturday. I still have to dot the i’s and cross the t’s on all of the place cards. Besides, how could we possibly afford plane tickets to Africa?’

      ‘Perhaps you could fly courtesy of the Famous Museum,’ said Mr Dart. ‘After all, investigating a major archaeological find would qualify as official museum business. It’s the least we could do for you, Stanley, after all your help.

      ‘Of course, we could justify only two plane tickets to our board of directors,’ added Mr Dart.

      Arthur groaned. ‘That figures.’

      ‘I could stay folded in the pocket on the back of the aeroplane seat,’ Stanley offered, ‘so both you and Dad could come.’

      ‘You would do that?’ said Arthur.

      ‘Sure,’ said Stanley. ‘I’d only slip out from under the seat belt anyway.’

      ‘That settles it,’ decided Mr Lambchop. ‘Boys, pack your bags for Africa!’