Like Grandma Used to Make

Posted on Wed Jul 5, 2023 @ 7:08pm by Lieutenant JG Adrian Hayes

515 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Shakedown
Location: Taylor Residence, Earth
Timeline: MD 2, 0430

Hayes awoke to darkness. He looked over at the chronometer next to the bed to see that it was oh-four-thirty hours. The sun had not yet peeked over the horizon and the house around him was quiet, very different from what he’d gotten used to the last few years aboard ship.

Part of him wanted to go back to sleep. He wanted to enjoy what little time he had left before he had to return to all of the routines, schedules, duty shifts, but his body wouldn’t let him. The idea of this day being the start of something new (i.e. his new assignment) had him feeling excited…too excited to sleep anymore. And so, after a couple of failed attempts, he decided to stop trying and get up.

He got dressed quietly, doing his best not to disturb anyone else, and moseyed out into the kitchen. Through the large window, he could see rays of sunlight starting to appear over the horizon. It was enough to make him pause and watch with fascination as they bathed the sky in increasingly vibrant color.

“Some things never change…”

The sound of the voice startled Hayes out of the moment, and he quickly turned from the window. Across the kitchen, standing in the doorway opposite, was his grandmother in her morning gown. She looked at him with a smile. “You always were an early riser,” she said, “especially when you were looking forward to something.”

Hayes returned the smile with a small one of his own, but inside, his heart fell a little. That he should be looking ahead instead of being in the moment felt…ungrateful. It seemed he had only just gotten there (even though he’d been home three weeks), and here he was getting ready to leave again.

The older woman gave him a look. Though he had not said a single word, it was clear she knew exactly what he was thinking. And without saying a word herself in return, she was telling him to knock it off.

“Well, I suppose…if we’re going to be up,” she said, stepping into the room, “we might as well make ourselves useful.” She crossed over to the cabinets near the stove, reached in, and started pulling things out - skillets, mixing bowls, various utensils. “Be a dear and give me a hand, will you?”

“Yes, grandma,” Hayes replied.

It didn’t take long for their work to bear fruit. Within twenty minutes, the smell of sizzling bacon, fresh scrambled eggs, & cinnamon French toast were filling the house. One by one, the other occupants emerged from their rooms, drawn by the aromas. Each appeared at the doorway of the kitchen, and each were put to work helping with something. When it was finally ready, they all sat down at the table together.

Hayes looked around. Whatever doubts he might have had melted away. This was the perfect end to his visit, an experience that he never would have had aboard ship or in transitional housing. And for that, he was grateful.

 

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