Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures #11 by Jeff Brown Page A

recently, Stanley,” he said. “They believe the Mona Lisa will be next.”
    â€œImagine! The Mona Lisa stolen from the Musée du Louvre, the greatest art museum in the world!” Agent Lunette cried. “We cannot let this happen!”
    â€œHe’s right, Stanley,” Mr. Dart said. “And as strange as it may seem, you are now a leading expert on museum theft. I’ve already spoken with your parents, and everything is taken care of. You’ll be flying to Paris and staying with your aunt Simone.”
    Mr. Dart pressed a button, and the on-screen display split in two. “Staaaaaanley!” Stanley’s aunt Simone squealed as she appeared on half of the screen beside Agent Lunette. Stanley hadn’t seen his aunt since he was small, but he remembered her bright-red lips and her stylish red hair, which fell in a slant across her face.

    â€œHi, Aunt Simone!” Stanley said.
    â€œLet me see how you’ve grown!” she said, gesturing for Stanley to turn around. “Mon chéri! You are too thin! You must come to Paris and eat!” she crooned.
    â€œI’m not too thin, Aunt Simone,” said Stanley. “I’m flat.”
    â€œCome!” Aunt Simone repeated. “We will delight in the City of Light! The food! The fashion! The culture!”
    Agent Lunette cleared his throat. “Pardonnez-moi , Mademoiselle. But Monsieur Lambchop cannot be seen in public in Paris. His presence will be a secret.”
    Aunt Simone huffed. “No, pardonnez-moi , Monsieur! My nephew will enjoy his visit!”
    â€œNo, no!” Agent Lunette snapped. “Absolument non! Absolutely not!”
    â€œOui! ” Aunt Simone shouted back. “Yes!”
    Aunt Simone and Agent Lunette glared at each other from opposite sides of the screen.
    â€œWe’ll have fun, Aunt Simone, I promise,” Stanley interrupted. “And don’t worry, Agent Lunette. I’ll keep a low profile.”
    Aunt Simone and Agent Lunette both nodded grudgingly.
    Mr. Dart glanced at his watch. “Your flight leaves in a few hours, Stanley. We’d better get you packed!”

Hello , Please , and Thank You
    In an empty airplane hangar, Mr. Dart stood holding a floppy hat with a fur brim and a shirt with puffy sleeves. “While in France, you will be disguised as a member of King Francis I’s court, as painted by the magnificent Renaissance painter Jean Clouet,” he told Stanley.
    Stanley blinked. “You mean I have to change now ?”

    â€œI’m afraid so,” Mr. Dart said, handing Stanley the hat and shirt. “The only way to keep your arrival secret is for you to travel like any other priceless work of art.”
    Stanley changed his clothes, and a makeup artist powdered his skin and attached a beard on his face. When he was finally ready, Stanley climbed inside the frame. Because it was only a portrait from the waist up, he had to fold his legs behind the canvas.
    Mr. Dart stepped back and looked Stanley over. “Clouet painted all the most important people in France during the early sixteenth century,” he said. “But if I do say so myself, this may be his best work.”
    Mr. Dart carefully lifted Stanley’s frame and laid it in a wooden crate. The crate had airholes and was filled with shredded paper for comfort. “Your mother has sent a cheese sandwich, some celery sticks, a bag of pretzels, and a juice box for your trip,” he said, placing a small bag in Stanley’s hand. “Also, here is a French dictionary and a book light. Good luck, Stanley.”
    â€œThank you, Mr. Dart.”
    Then Mr. Dart closed the crate tightly, and Stanley’s adventure began.
    It was a little bumpy when Stanley was loaded onto the plane, but then the crate came to a rest. Soon he heard the roar of the airplane’s engines, and everything tilted upward. The plane had taken off.

    Stanley switched on the book light and