Page 96 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“And don’t you forget it.”

Papa grinned and got eggs, cheese, and grapes out of the refrigerator. He handed the grapes to Ollie before getting out the bowl, pan, and bread. Ollie popped a grape into his mouth and waited for Papa to get the bread out of the package. His job was to put it in the toaster and push down the button once Papa gave it to him. Papa said they were a well boiled machine. Papa said the weirdest things sometimes. Even Ollie knew that boiled meant when the water bubbled and was super extra hot and he wasn’t supposed to go near the stove. They weren’t super extra hot water.

Ollie got the toast put in while Papa cracked the eggs into the bowl. Then he handed Ollie a fork and let him poke the yolks and stir. He held the bowl extra tight like Nana showed him so he didn’t drop it. When Nana first showed him, he didn’t know how to hold it right so he made a big old mess. He thought Nana would be mad at him but she wasn’t. She just laughed and they played a cleanup game. She even let him help wring out the mop and they sang a song while they did it.

But on mornings when Nana didn’t come to help make breakfast, Ollie and Papa did it together. Papa poured the eggs into the pan, and then handed Ollie the bag of cheese. He sprinkled it over the top and watched while Papa stirred it all together.

“Want a grape?” Ollie asked as he held one out.

Papa nipped it from between his fingers with a grin.

Ollie grinned back and ate another one.

“I forgot to get out the butter. Will you get it for me?”

Ollie nodded, and Papa helped him down from the counter. Nana kept the butter in a special spot in the door so he got it out and took it to the counter just in time for the toaster to pop up. Papa took out their pieces and added one of the bagels Daddy liked next with all the gross stuff on top.

“Forks and plates,” Papa said.

Ollie’s next job was to get the table set. Sometimes they ate at the counter where there were tall stools so Ollie could see, but Papa liked sitting at the table best. Papa began to hum quietly while Ollie put the plates on the table.

“Papa?”

“Yes?”

“If eggs come from chicken butts, does cheese come from cow butts?”

There was a crash from the bedroom, but Papa didn’t look concerned so Ollie waited for Papa to answer.

“No. Cheese comes from milk. We can watch a video about it after breakfast.”

“Papa?”

“Yes?”

“If you love Daddy and Daddy loves you, how come you’re not married like Grammy and Pop-pop?”

Something crashed from the bathroom again. It was so loud Papa looked that way. Daddy opened the bedroom door and he was still wet. Half his face was covered in the white stuff he used when he shaved. Ollie giggled. “Daddy, you look funny.”

“Yes, Daddy. You do. Go get dressed. Breakfast is ready.”

Papa turned back to Ollie with a smile. “Daddy and I are mates. That’s why we’re not married. We might decide to get married one day, though. We’ll see what happens.”

“Okay. I wanna wear the suit with the thing on my neck.”

“A tie?”

Ollie nodded. “Pop-pop wears them. Pop-pop said they’re for work times and fancy times.”

Papa grinned at him and leaned over to kiss his forehead. “We’ll get you a tie, then, like Pop-pop. Deal?”

Ollie ate another grape and his belly rumbled.

“What’s the matter, buddy?”

Ollie shrugged. “I think my belly is hungry.”

“Okay. Let’s eat.”