“Sorry!” Ted said. “I didn’t know it was a secret.”
Jill slapped at him playfully, but Ted ducked in time.
“You little clowns stop performing and get ready for supper,” Mrs. Kenton said. “We’re eating early because I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise!” Jill echoed. “What is it?”
Her mother smiled secretly but did not answer. Jill ran off to her room and the boys went to theirs. When the children had dressed and washed, they seated themselves at the dining-room table. Mrs. Kenton brought in a large platter of real roast beef.
“This is the surprise!” Jill said.
“If it isn’t, I’ll settle for it!” Ted put in.
Beef was a rarity on Martian tables. It was brought in only occasionally on the rocket supply ships. Most meat was of the dehydrated and cube variety that took less space.
“No, this is not the surprise I was talking about,” Mrs. Kenton said, “although it was to me when the supply boat drove up this morning with special rations.”
“Do you mean there is still another?” Jill asked.