Nova's Universe

Chapter 6 (1999)

Nova

"Alright, Aoede," George announced, peering down at his niece who was perched on his lap. "I think the butter is finally softened up enough."

Aoede clapped her hands excitedly. "Finally! Let's get baking!" She bounced, eager to be deposited on the counter so she could race over to the ingredients.

"So, have you remembered all the steps?" George teased her playfully.

Aoede furrowed her brow in mock seriousness. "Uncle Geogie! Of couwse I have! We get a bowl, in hewe." She gestured towards the cupboard beneath the counter, then looked up expectantly at her uncle for permission to open it. George chuckled and gave her a nod. Aoede, with all the strength she could muster, pulled the cupboard door open with both hands.

"The yellow one or the blue one?" she pondered, peering into the cabinet.

"Whichever one you prefer."

"Yellow!" Aoede declared without hesitation.

She disappeared into the cupboard, the sounds of bowls clanging echoing out. A moment later, Aoede's voice rang out, "Uncle Geogie! I need help!"

George chuckled heartily and knelt to investigate. "What's the matter, pipsqueak?"

"I wanted to get the bowl, but it was stuck, and I bumped my head!" Aoede explained, a touch of indignation in her voice.

"Are you alright?"

"Yep! I'm tough, just like Dad!" she said, giggling.

The first thing to emerge from the cupboard was the yellow bowl, which George promptly placed on the counter. He then scooped Aoede up, carefully extracting her from the cluttered space.

"So, what's next?" George asked, setting her down on the counter within easy reach of the ingredients.

Aoede furrowed her brow in concentration as she recalled the recipe. "Now we put butter and sugaw together!"

"Are you going to measure the sugar, or should I help you with that?" George inquired.

"I measuwe, and you mix!" Aoede declared confidently.

I watched from the kitchen table, already resigned to the inevitable mess that would soon engulf George's kitchen. Aoede's measuring skills left something to be desired; a good half of the sugar ended up scattered across the counter, with a few rogue sprinkles reaching the floor.

George, however, didn't seem to mind in the slightest. Charlie had told me that George considered baking cookies with Aoede to be one of his favourite activities. Instead of reprimanding her for the mess, he winked at me from across the room, a playful grin plastered on his face. Wand in hand, he strode back to his niece.

With a single, practised flick of his wrist, the spilt sugar vanished. Now they could continue their baking adventure uninterrupted.

"Okay, now we need the egg and vanilla extract," George announced.

"Vanilla for me!" Aoede volunteered, eagerly grabbing the tiny bottle George handed her while he cracked the egg into the bowl.

"Oops!" Aoede exclaimed, pressing her lips together tightly after pouring in the vanilla.

George chuckled. "Let's just hope your mum loves vanilla because I think you might have gotten a little carried away."

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle myself. Honestly, the outcome of the cookies didn't matter one bit. Witnessing the pure joy radiating from those two was all that mattered.

Charlie wasn't particularly close to Fred and George growing up. They were either off on their adventures, pulling pranks, or leaving him to chase them around the house. Despite their differences, Charlie was proud of his brothers and fiercely loyal. He'd stood by them when their mum disapproved of their dream of opening a joke shop, a sentiment that resonated with him - knowing what it felt like to have your dreams dismissed.