The Unlikely Friendship

Life is like a human pretzel

Unedited.

I was awoken at four in the morning to the front door opening. Creeping to the window I saw a taxi pulling away from the house which could only mean that my father was finally home. Relaxing after knowing this I walk back to my bed and fall back asleep. But, unfortunately, I get up an hour later at five to the sounds of my mother banging pots around in the kitchen. Walking downstairs I discover the kitchen in a complete mess, my father sitting at the kitchen island, and my mother in the middle of the said mess. There was flour all over every counter surface and dirty pans stacked into a high pile by the sink. My mother is in one of her stress baking moods from the looks of things. She usually does this when she is nervous, why she would be nervous I do not have a clue. So, being as calm as I can I walk into the kitchen cautiously.

"Mom is everything alright?"

She looks up from whatever batter she was currently mixing. Her always well-kept appearance was disheveled and she had flour everywhere.

"Everything is peachy! Why would I not be alright?"

"Grandma is coming in for a visit," My dad says calmly while taking a sip of coffee. Mom's eyes got big and she starts mixing the batter vigorously.

"Ohhhhhh,"

Well, that explains everything. My mom and grandmother do not get along at all. Grandma believes that Dad could have married someone better, a person who she picked out and thought was perfect. Instead, Dad fell in love with my mom's spontaneous and adventurous attitude. 

I yawn and my father pulls out a chair and hands me a cup of coffee. I take it graciously and drink it. Dad and I just sit there and watch my mom in action. She puts the batter in a cake pan and places it in the oven.

"Anyone want pancakes? I'll make some pancakes," and then she starts to pull out the ingredients for the pancakes.

I look at the counters in our kitchen and they are filled with all kinds of cookies, cakes and all different kinds of desserts.

I turn to my dad, "How long has she been like this?"

"Since I came home at four this morning." He gets up and walks over to my mom and grabs her shoulders. "Joan, calm down it isn't that bad. She will be here for a week and then she will go back to New York."

"Right a week it's only a week.," she lets out a little breath and starts to calm down. "Where will she be staying?"

"I don't know it's up to her."

And that causes my mom start to make pancakes.

"I'm going to go and get dressed," I tell my dad and walk back upstairs.

I take a shower and get dressed. Straightening up my room, I grab my books and bag. I walk downstairs and hear a knock at my door. I open it and there, leaning against the door was Ben.

"Hi come on in."

"You're up early."

"Grandma is coming in for a visit."

"Ah, I see. Well then, why don't we go and see what goodies your mom has made." He says while rubbing his hands together and walking past me into my house.

We walk into the kitchen together and see that my mom has made a huge pile of chocolate chip pancakes and apple cinnamon pancakes.

"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Clarkson. How are things?" Ben asks in a cheery voice.

"Good morning Benjamin." My father nods to him while sipping his coffee.

"Want pancakes Ben?" my mom asks him as she was making a plate up already for him. One does not argue when it comes to food and an Italian mother.