“Come in!” Leanna’s grandmother called when Leanna knocked on her bedroom door the next morning.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Leanna asked, sitting down on the side of the bed.
“You know, I have never been in bed so many days in a row in all my life. This is getting very tiring. Why did a grown women like me have to do such a stupid thing as break my hip? I’m sure I knew better,” Granny Donald laughed and Leanna joined in.
“I dunno, Granny. What should I make for breakfast?” Leanna was still smiling. Her granny knew how to take life with a smile on her face.
“Do we have stuff for pancakes?” Granny looked at the girl before her.
“Yeah, we can do that,” Leanna stood up.
“Granny seems to be in good spirits this morning,” Leanna told Gretchen a few minutes later as the two girls mixed up pancakes. Gretchen had come over the night before to watch a movie with Leanna and Granny, and then spent the night.
“That’s good to hear. I love her sense of humor. Is that where Fritz gets his sense of humor?” Gretchen gave Leanna a shy look.
“Yep, it’s from the Donald side,” Leanna nodded. “I’m going to go set up the table in Granny’s room so we can all eat together. You can get the pancakes going,” Leanna left the kitchen. Leanna always ate with Granny who was not used to eating alone. They had a table they could set up if more then just Leanna and Granny were there and things were so set up in the room as to use the table then store it away. Fritz often stopped by to catch at least one meal a day with Granny and his sister. It was free and meant he did not have to cook. It was great having family in town when going to college.
Gretchen watched Leanna walk out of the room. She was having a really good time with Fritz’s sister. Gretchen put the first batch of pancakes in the hot pans then hurried to the room she had shared with Leanna the night before to get her earrings she had forgotten to put in when she got dressed.
Turning to leave the room she caught her reflection in the mirror. She turned looking over her shoulder at her back view seeing just how well she looked. Fritz would be there soon. Suddenly remembering the pancakes, Gretchen flew to the kitchen. Leanna was already there standing by the stove.
“Where’s the spatula?” Leanna asked when Gretchen arrived.
“Right…well it was right here,” Gretchen pointed to the counter.
“They’re starting to burn,” Leanna wrinkled her brow, glancing around the kitchen.
“If I’d only got out here sooner. I’m a vain little thing. I was admiring myself in the mirror.” Gretchen confessed, looking under a dish towel.
“Well you have to look nice for when my brother gets here,” Leanna teased, then an idea hit her,
“Is he maybe already here?” Leanna looked at Gretchen.
“I did not here anyone come in and I was not gone that long.” Gretchen looked from Leanna to the pancakes that had started smoking.
Leanna’s head whipped towards the living room from where she thought she heard a small sound. She got a glowering face on as she marched into the next room and up to the back of the sofa.
Looking over the back she saw her brother lying there, holding the missing spatula and trying to surpress his laughter.
“Oh you’re so mean!” Leanna hopped onto her brother and grabbed the spatula. Jumping off, she ran to the kitchen to rescue the pancakes.
“Your eating these,” Leanna told her brother as he walked up behind her
“Do I have to?” he grinned, hugging her.
“You look nice,” Fritz stepped over and taking Gretchen’s hand, raised it to his lips.
“Good morning,” she smiled up at him.
“I did not think I would have so much fun sneaking in here.” Fritz turned and leaned on the counter next to Gretchen.
“I should have known right away what happened to the spatula,” Leanna flipped the new batch of pancakes. Gretchen looked from brother to sister a little puzzled.
“Fritz has a habit of hiding the spatula on the cook. He has been doing it since I can remember,” Leanna explained. Gretchen looked at Fritz who shrugged.
“It’s fun,” he smiled mischievously. “I’m going to go say good morning to Granny. Then I’ll help get breakfast on the table,” Fritz moved away out of the kitchen.
“Yeah, the Donald humor for sure,” Gretchen smiled and shook her head.
“Something anyway. I just call him Mr. Tease anymore,” Leanna handed the spatula to Gretchen and went to get the dishes out.
“He just hides the spatula for fun?” Gretchen was amused.
“Yep, just like that,” Leanna looked over her shoulder at Gretchen. It looked to her like Gretchen still had a lot to learn about her brother.
“What shall I do?” Fritz came walking back into the room.
“Help set the table,” Leanna handed him a stack of plates. She grabbed a table cloth off the counter and led the way to Granny’s room.
“Leanna is so easy to tease,” Fritz bent and kissed Gretchen’s cheek then followed his sister. Gretchen smiled as a blush heated her cheeks.
Fritz stayed in Granny’s room setting the table and chatting with her while Leanna went back and forth to the kitchen to help finish the food.
“Where are my burned pancakes?” Fritz asked when the two girls walked into the room with the rest of the food.
“She wouldn’t really make you eat them, would she?” Gretchen looked at Leanna, though she was talking to Fritz.
“Oh yes, she would!” Fritz said while Leanna and Granny looked at each other.
“Well, I rule this time. And you don’t have to eat them. They’re not fit for anyone to eat,” Gretchen set the syrup down.
“I think I like it when you cook,” Fritz pulled out the chair for Gretchen and she laughed.
“He will flourish under her good cooking,” Granny prophesied, waving her arm dramatically. Leanna rolled her eyes and faked a gag. Fritz tousled her hair as he pulled out her chair. Taking his own seat, he held out his hands to Gretchen and Leanna.
“Fritz, you ask the blessing this morning,” Granny instructed when they had all joined hands.
I hope you enjoyed this scene. =)