Two Birds On A Wire

ch 41

Ivan sighed for the umpteenth time as he sweeped Mia off her feet and carried her to his mom. "Mom, please, keep her here with you!"

"She just keeps running for the batter" Ivan's mom shook her head and gave Mia's cheek a slight pull, making her giggle.

"I guarantee you, Mia. The batter tastes so much better baked. But I doubt if I'll be able to bake it if you keep dipping your finger in it"

Mia only giggled even more. Luckily for Ivan, someone rang the doorbell and the little girl took off to check who it was. "Go on, boy. I'll keep her busy", his mom turned him around by the shoulders, pushing him into the kitchen and she went to get the door."Mia, let me".

Ivan had a guess who the guest might be. He heard the door unlock and his guess wasn't wrong.

"Johann, it's been so long!" The place suddenly seemed to become more chattery and Ivan found a genuine smile creep up his face.

"Where's Ivan?" He heard Johann ask and he busied himself with whisking the batter. He didn't want to make himself look like he had been expecting the boy.

"Ooh, Mia, why didn't you tell me ya'll found yourself a new housewifey?"

Ivan scowled and turned around to see Johann snicker from the doorway, Mia giggling in his arms. "Hey Barry", he greeted.

Johann grinned even wider as he made his way to the other boy. "You do look great in an apron", he winked and Ivan didn't know if it was meant to be a complement or an insult. He made an eyeroll and went back to doing whatever he was doing before he was interrupted, only to jolt his head back up when Johann dipped a finger into the bowl of batter.

"Wow, tastes good, don't you think so too, Mia?" Johann dipped another finger and let Mia taste it.

"Barry, you're even worse than a five year old!"

•••

The place eventually turned into a play field for Johann and Mia. They kept annoying Ivan, pulling at his apron and throwing around spoonfuls of whatever they found in the kitchen cabinet.

"Ivan, how does this taste?" Ivan turned around, only to have a bowl full of flour dumped on his face.

"JOHANN JUVAN BARTHOLOMEW… YOU ARE DEAD MEAT!!" Ivan grabbed a handful of flour himself and threw at the other boy, only to have an egg smashed against his head.

He was losing this battle big time. Not to mention how Mia had sided with Johann, providing him with stuff to throw at Ivan. He somehow managed to smash an egg against Johann's chest and the boy screeched, "Eek, that's my favourite shirt!"

"Do you really think I give a --" Ivan was cut off by his mom, lured by all the commotion, gaping into her once-clean kitchen with wide eyes. "Ivan, what is this!?"

The entire place fell frighteningly silent and the boys looked around, blinking in unision. The kitchen looked like a blown up warehouse.

"Juvie threw a bowl of flour at Evie and now he is all white" Mia giggled.

"That is the least of my concerns! Now, what have you done with all the food!?"

Ah, there it goes.