“We’re getting off soon anyway.” She leaned out the open window, turned her face to the sun, and closed her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re going to meet JJ. I was trying to remember how long it’s been since I’ve seen her. It’s got to—”

“Maybe you could call it mutton but use lamb,” Jeanine yelled from the back seat.

Mom opened her eyes. “Jeanine, I said no.”

Just then, my pocket buzzed. I pulled out my phone.

Josh: I’ve been thinking. Once we have the Donut Robot, we’ll need to hire drivers to get the donuts to stores

Me: I’m not even on the show yet!!!!!

Josh: U r going to get on and u r going to win

“Don’t count on it,” I typed, then suddenly remembered what Jeanine had said about how it was impossible to do something you didn’t believe you could do and I got worried I was jinxing myself, so I deleted it.

Me:

In the rearview mirror, I could see Jeanine flipping through A Cultural History of Pre-Revolutionary America. “What about…pease porridge?”

“Mmm. That sounds even tastier than chewy flesh,” I said. “What could be better that pea oatmeal?”

“It’s not cereal. It’s a savory—that means not sweet.”

“I know what savory means.”

“‘Pease porridge is a savory pudding dish made of boiled legumes,’” Jeanine read. “‘Usually split yellow or Carlin peas, with water, salt, and spices, and often cooked with a bacon or ham joint.’”

“I’m not making pease porridge either.” Mom honked at a car trying to cut in front of us.

Jeanine turned the page. “What about boiled meat?”

“Another winner,” I said.

Jeanine knocked me on the head with the book. “Whose side are you on?”

“Ow! The side without boiled meat.”

Mom put the car in Park and turned around. “No boiled meat, no pease porridge, no mutton. I will come up with some themed dishes if and when I have the time, and if Jim gives this whole idea a green light.”

Jeanine slammed the book shut. “What about changing the name? Like instead of The Station House, you could call it The Station House Tavern.”

Mom turned around and put the car back into Drive.

“Mom?”

Mom leaned her head back on her seat and closed her eyes again. “I think JJ will recognize me. I mean, I don’t look that different.”

“Mom!” Jeanine shouted.

“Oh, fine!” Mom scowled at the rearview mirror. “I’ll think about changing the name to The Station House Tavern.”

“Thank you.” Jeanine grinned and went back to reading her book. Mom closed her eyes again.

I opened the box on my lap to check the doughnuts, as if somehow they were going to escape when I wasn’t looking.

Yup, still there.

A short time later, we turned off the highway. Buildings, people, and cars flew by in a noisy, squirming swirl.