Simple Manipulation

Chapter 16

"Stiller children! Report for pancakes!" I heard the heartwarming voice of my mother wake me from my slumber. I really did miss that. Especially on pancake Saturdays!

Pancake Saturday is another one of our family traditions. Every Saturday we take turns making the entire family pancakes. Not to brag or anything, but next to Drew, I make the best pancakes. I may or may not have picked up some tips from working in his restaurant.

"Come on Marren it's pancake day." I said shaking the sleeping Marren.

"Yasssssss my favorite!" She said half yawning and half using her normal way to say yes, which isn't all that normal. "Is it your day?" She asked sitting up now.

"No. Mom's day. Now get up and let's go before the others can get there first." I slid out of bed and stretched cracking my back and my neck. Marren followed suite, and we headed down the stairs and sat down at the counter.

"Goodmorning two fourths of the Stiller girls." My mom greeted us with a smile and two heaping plates of pancakes.

"Morning Mrs. Stiller!"

"Now Marren. If I am going to consider you as one of my own, I would only wish you could do the same. Please call me Alice or mom!" My mother said with sympathetic eyes.

"Will do Alice! Thank you." Marren gave her a hug and went back to stuffing her face.

"Alright girls I have to go wake the others and then I'm off for errands. Peyton would you take a note?" My mom asked.

I stood up from my seat and grabbed a piece of chalk from our chalk tray and positioned myself in front of our chalkboard wall.

"Mom - out running errands all day. If needed contact via cell.
Stacy and Drew - apartment hunting until 5:00 pm.
Dad - at work DO NOT CALL WORK PHONE.
Nasher - spending the day at Greg's.
Justin and Jared - need to be picked up at 6:30 pm.
Amber - dance class at 7:00 pm.
Peyton and Marren - day out together." My mom recites each and every event of the top of her memory.

"Got it!" I said.

"Oh and add feed the dog. I'm not sure who's turn it is but someone needs to do it." My mom put in her second earring while taking a bite off a plain pancake. "I put some money down on the counter over there for you and Marren to go out for lunch. My treat! Have fun girls!" She kissed both of us on the head and made her way upstairs.

"Oh and Peyton! One more thing to add!" She called back down.

"Yes mom?"

"Peyton - date with Luke 2:00 pm!" I hesitated for a second thinking I may have heard her wrong.

"Excuse me could you repeat that? I don't think I quite understood."

"Peyton - date with Luke 2:00 pm! Did you hear that time?"

So apparently I heard right.

"Mom I don't have a date with Luke!" I called out.

"Of course you do! He called while you were still asleep saying he would pick you up at two o'clock sharp! Don't you remember hearing him say he'd see you tomorrow yesterday?"

Creating my kill list has moved to the top of my to do list.

"Don't worry Alice I'll have her ready in plenty of time!" Marren said grinning.

Sighing I went back to stuffing my face with the delicious syrup covered fluffy goodness. Pancakes take all my worries away!

"Okay girls I'm off! Dad has already left so hurry up and get ready, and have fun!"