A sunny start, OTA

[stepfordbot]

Routines are important. Establishing them, maintaining them- a lifetime spent with a house full of children that required minding and strict standards to follow as to their care filled Grace's days and gave her purpose. As the family waxed and waned, as the children grew and lives became infinitely more complicated the routine changed. But one thing remains the same no matter how old or young, no matter how full or empty the house has become. The most important meal of the day.



Nutrition dictates a certain variation now and then, but a single dish tends to surface over and over. Be it the dietary value or the aesthetic- or that it was one of the few ways she could, when they were young, offer the children a moment that was close to normal. Normal children aren't raised with an unloving and distant father, Normal families don't run drills with knives and violence instead of nursery rhymes and storybooks. Normal families and normal children had eggs sunny side up with smiling faces made with bacon.

Which is on the menu today alongside a stack of pancakes and a few prepared, wrapped and warmed sandwiches of egg, sausage, cheese, and english muffins for those that need to eat and run. Sliced fruit and glasses of fresh squeezed orange juice.

She's singing under her breath, something simple and lilting as the smell of bacon fat and frying eggs fills the air. No matter what happens, she's been able to feed and provide. As soon as the first set of eggs are finished she calls out- "Children! Eggs are ready."

Comments

[upsidedowns]

Elle had been up for just a few moments before Ben knocked, answering the door still in borrowed pajamas and rubbing sleep out of her eye. She looks up at him for a moment, mildly confused until the smell of bacon hits her. Her bedroom door is then slammed shut and there's the sound of drawers opening and closing.

It's about two minutes before Elle comes out in an old Sonic the Hedgehog T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Whose clothes they were, she couldn't say, but she was glad to have them.

She looks up at Ben and nods. "Ready." Lead the way, big brother.

[the_horror]

Ben was always a early morning person when he had the right amount of sleep. He liked the silence of the halls as the others slept in. It was good reading time, really. So he's not surprised she was only just getting up.

He had jumped when the door slammed shut nearly on his face, but chuckled as he rubbed at his nose as if it had been hit. "Okay..." But he was getting used to her non verbal way of things.

When she opened the door again he gave a nod, hands in his gray hoodie pockets, and nodding to lead the way. "Good morning to you, by the way." He said, and wandered down to the kitchen with Elle. Making sure she didn't miss the most important meal of the day.

Coming into the kitchen he perked up. "Hi, Mom."

[stepfordbot]

Elle's something of a special case in Grace's mind- not quite one of hers but nowhere near a normal, well-adjusted child and therefore more in need of support and affection. Of all the care she has in her to spare. Some might call it doting, the extra care and attention she puts into cooking for Elle, and it might be just that.

So in addition to the usual eggs and bacon- there's a stack of pancakes in the shape of animals. A rabbit, a duck, and the sliced fruit is arranged on a side plate or her in the shape of a flower.

Normal, special things for a girl that needs normal. When they arrive Grace beams, motioning to their places at the table. "Your eggs are almost ready, Ben. Elle, eat up."

[upsidedowns]

Elle looks at everything set out for her with less of her usual wariness and more of her open curiosity. These people were kind. Loving. They cared for her in ways she'd never experienced, but would gladly get used to if people kept making her pancakes shaped like animals.

She grins at Grace and speaks, just a few words, her word count growing more every day.

"Thank you, Grace."