Alice-Miranda In New York 5 Read Online Free Page B

like a very tasty little girl. In fact, I think I could eat you up right . . . now!’ He grabbed Alice-Miranda from behind. She shot into the air with a squeal.
    â€˜Daddy, stop!’ Alice-Miranda giggled as Hugh twirled his little daughter up onto his shoulders, where she dangled over his back.
    â€˜Come on, you two,’ Cecelia admonished with a smile. ‘There’s a lot more to see so we’d better get a move on.’
    â€˜Goodbye Gus,’ Alice-Miranda called and waved.
    It was hard to believe that a couple of hours had flown past by the time the family left the zoo and headed out into the park.
    â€˜Well, I don’t know about you ladies but I’m feeling rather peckish,’ her father advised. ‘What about lunch at the Boathouse?’
    â€˜Daddy, couldn’t we just have a hot dog fromthat man over there?’ Alice-Miranda squeezed her father’s hand and pointed at a vendor with his mobile cooking station. ‘If we go to the restaurant it will take much longer and there are so many more things to see.’
    Alice-Miranda’s parents exchanged glances.
    â€˜I’m game if you are,’ Cecelia smiled.
    â€˜All right, hot dogs it is,’ Hugh replied.
    The family purchased their lunch and went to sit on a bench in the middle of a patch of green lawn. The smell of food brought some other critters out and soon two squirrels were playing hide-and-seek up and down and around a tree beside them.
    â€˜They’re so cute,’ Alice-Miranda declared.
    â€˜Yes, but don’t touch,’ her mother warned. ‘They’re still wild animals and people shouldn’t feed them or they can become a problem.’
    Alice-Miranda just loved watching the way they would sit still for a few seconds, twitch, and then run away at lightning speed.
    â€˜Well, you know, sweetie, that was the best hot dog I’ve ever tasted,’ her father declared as he ate the last bite.
    â€˜It’s probably the first hot dog you’ve ever tasted.’Cecelia Highton-Smith arched an eyebrow at her husband.
    â€˜Of course you must have had hot dogs before, Daddy. That was simply scrumptious,’ said Alice-Miranda.
    â€˜Well, not for a very long time, I have to admit,’ her father replied.
    â€˜I’ll be back in a minute.’ Alice-Miranda leapt from the bench and ran along the path back in the direction they had come.
    â€˜Darling, don’t go far,’ her mother called.
    Alice-Miranda reached the hot dog vendor, who was sitting on a folding chair reading the newspaper. His face was lined with the stories of life and his hair had the misfortune of having fallen out in a perfectly round circle on the top of his head. A bushy moustache stood guard over his upper lip.
    â€˜Hello, my name is Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones,’ she said, smiling at the man.
    He looked at her quizzically. ‘And to what do I owe this introduction?’
    â€˜Do you have a name, sir?’ the child asked.
    â€˜Yes, of course, it’s Lou. Lou Gambino,’ he replied slowly.
    â€˜Well, Mr Gambino, I just wanted to say that wasthe most delicious hot dog I’ve ever tasted. Thank you very much.’
    The man smiled. ‘Really? It was good?’
    â€˜Oh yes, delicious,’ Alice-Miranda replied.
    â€˜Would you like another one?’ he asked.
    â€˜I would but not today if that’s all right. I couldn’t fit another thing in.’
    â€˜Maybe you can come back and see me again sometime,’ he offered.
    â€˜I surely will,’ Alice-Miranda replied. ‘I’m staying in the city for a month and I’m starting school tomorrow and I can’t wait.’
    The man shook his head. ‘You’re a breath of fresh air if you ask me, Miss Alice-Miranda and I can’t remember the rest.’
    â€˜It’s Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones,’ she replied.
    â€˜Highton,’ he mused, looking up