Stranger, Help Me

WAFFLES

"Well, good morning to you, Evangeline. You're lucky it's the school holidays and I am free to talk."

"You go to school?"

"Hah... Do I sound old?"

"No. I just... Don't."

"Oh? Why?"

"Can't afford it."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"It's okay. I read."

"You have a phone?"

"My mother bought it for me. She said to call her if anything came up... But she never once called back so I gave up."

"That's mean."

"I guess."

"How's your sister?"

"She's great. She texted me saying she felt much better. She said she wished I was here and that she'd do her best to convince my mother to let me join them."

"That's nice of her. Hey... Why do you call her your mother?"

"I don't know."

"Oh. Where's your... Father?"

"He went out. I'm cleaning the house right now."

"Wow. With your injuries? You should be careful and take it easy."

"... I guess. What are you doing?"

"Eating waffles in my bedroom."

"... Waffles? How do you make them?"

"You don't know?"

"I don't exactly live happily."

"Sorry... I didn't mean it like that."

"I know."

"..."

"How do you make them?"

"Oh. Right. So... Do you have a waffle iron?"

"...yes. I found it... On top of the kitchen shelf."

"Are you going to make some now?"

"... hmm. Why not?"

"Sweet! Okay, so. What you want to do is..."

[ explanation of how to make waffles ensues with the occasional growl of the stomach ]

"They smell good. Waffles are nice. We don't have honey here..."

"Plain and crunchy is just as delicious."

"Waffles. I like waffles."

"You sound like you're smiling."

"Maybe."

"I guess today is a good day?"

"...mhmm. Do you make waffles every morning?"

"Hah, I wish. If I did, my mother would smack me with her spatula. Because I drizzle too much honey, she says it's unhealthy."

"She does?"

"Yeah. Honey is just as healthy to exfoliate my skin, counter any allergies, acts as an antioxidant and helps prevent diseases! And all my mother says in reply is something along the lines of I don't care go do the dishes."

"She sounds really nice."

"She is. You are too. Thanks for listening to me. Nobody really does that."

"Listen to you?"

"As in, listen to my life, what happens around me."

"Really? No one?"

"Not really. Some people just care about outer appearances."

"...I... I think you're really nice."

"Thanks, Evangeline."

"How do I make waffles again? I'm going to write it down."

"Oh. Firstly, to make the batter, you need..."

[ repeat of the explanation with less stomach growling ]

"By the way, want to hear about the time I was scouted by a soccer coach?"

"Yeah."

"It was a hot afternoon day and these soccer guys from the club were practicing on the field. I was with my class playing another sport. A special soccer coach came by and watched the soccer guys play, but they were partially annoying us. So in my frustration, I stormed up into the field, stupidly challenged the captain and had a one-on-one with him."

"Oh no..."

"I was laughed at, but not matter. By some miraculous miracle, I side-stepped him, kicked the ball into the air and towards the goal. I kicked it up, and swung my leg YOLO-style and poof! In the goal it went! After that, the soccer coach actually tried recruiting me."

"Really? And you started playing soccer because of that?"

"Yes! It's so funny! My mates laugh about with me all the time. Now I'm captain, all because I swung a leg."

"Hahaha, I can't believe you did that."

"You have a nice laugh, Evangeline."

"Oh. Oh. Thank... thank you. So um... is it possible to put ice cream on waffles?"

"Put whatever you wish. I recommend ice cream, strawberries, banana and icing sugar. Honey drizzled on top."

"Healthy."

"Oh, totally."

"Did you know butterflies taste with their feet?"

"Pretty neat, right?"

"Yeah. I like butterflies."

"Really? That's cool. There's this bunch of butterflies that migrate to my mother's garden."

"Lucky. I want to see them."

"Maybe one day."

"Pardon?"

"Oh, nothing. So you're sure you're not busy today?"

"I don't - oh! The washing! I have to go now."

"Haha! We talked for almost an hour."

"Whoa... Can I call later?"

"I'm not busy."

"Okay... Bye..."

"Bye."

Beep, beep...