Josh Jennings

“Benny hopped up on a stool to watch Grandfather flipping pancakes. “Your pancakes smell different than Mrs. McGregor’s,” said Benny. “Do they?” Grandfather asked. He leaned over and sniffed. “You’re right,” he said. “That’s because Mrs. McGregor makes everything from scratch.” Mrs. McGregor was the Alden’s housekeeper. She was on vacation in Ireland. Grandfather slid a spatula under the pancakes. He began lifting them from the griddle onto a platter. “Since I’m not much of a cook, I made these pancakes with Panquake mix.” Benny laughed. “You mean pancake mix.” “Nope,” said Grandfather. He nodded at a box on the counter. Its big letters said Panquakes—The pancake mix that’s fun to fix. Jessie showed Benny the lettering. “See? The name of this pancake mix is Panquakes, so the first letter is a capital P.” Violet grinned. “Like the capital V in my name. The color violet doesn’t have a capital V, but a person named Violet does.” “Well, however you spell it,” said Benny, “I’m going to eat it.” Just as Grandfather finished putting the pancakes onto the platter, his office phone rang. “I’ve been expecting an important business call,” he said, hurrying down the hall. “Go ahead and eat. I’ll join you as soon as I can.” As Jessie lifted the platter of pancakes, a cool morning breeze blew through the kitchen window. “Let’s picnic out at the boxcar,” she said.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, The Hundred-Year Mystery