𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

𝐓𝐞𝐧

10 | Z A C K

I stirred the vegetables and beef inside the pan, before adding the fried mushrooms. The rich, promising aroma wafted down and beckoned the kitchen. Making breakfast every weekends has always being my passion. I love cooking and enjoying the spicy perfume of the saturated air. My mom and I are the only volunteers when it comes to cooking but aren't alone when it comes to eating.

Every two to three weeks, we visit our paternal grandmother who lives about an hour in the outskirt of Denver alone. We go from dusk til dawn. We enjoy spending our time with her in her enormous, isolated, yet cozy cottage.

"I'm literally dying of hunger and this aroma isn't helping matters." Eden whined bitterly the moment she stepped inside the kitchen and dropped down on the stool.

I nudged a plate packed with French toast roll ups farther from my side in response. She jumped from the stool right away and took the plate with her.

"Thank you!"

The front door opened and closed as footsteps echoed on the granite floor tiles. Kassidy popped up, her eyes dilated as she devoured the aroma coming from soup I was stirring.

Kassy was a college undergraduate living with her boyfriend in their own apartment. She's twenty-one with a charismatic and lovely personality. My sister looked akin to us with her short blonde hair, deep blue orbs like the sea, soft features and a below-the-average height, she was the reincarnation of our mother when she was her age.

"Hey guys. What' you doing?" She asked curiously.

"Hi Kassy" I greeted her with a smile. She air kissed me on my left cheek.

"Wow. This kitchen is on fire like literally, I just had breakfast but my stomach is suddenly empty in starvation."

"Yeah Kassy, Zack's scrumptious dishes are very tempting. I think he should consider culinary arts to be one of the best chefs in the world - apart from Mom." Eden said.

"Ewww! Don't talk with your mouth full." Maya scrunched up her nose in disgust as she stared at her sister. She had quietly crept down the stairs without us noticing.

Kassy shook her head and sat next to Eden. "Dad's almost done warming up the car. Where's Mom?"

"Upstairs," Maya shortly replied before fixing back her attention on her phone. "By the way, where is Nathan?"

Nathan is Kassy's long term boyfriend. They have being together for the past three years. A few times, he joined us on our trip. He's quite okay, so we're on good terms. "He decided to go out with his friends today." She faintly replied.

"Eden, have you taken the casserole to the car?" Mom called out from the top of the stairs. She rushed down, now fully dressed instead of the crazy morning mess she always appears to be in.

"For the hundredth time, yes." Eden replied irritatedly.

"Kassidy!" She finally noticed her eldest daughter and gave her a motherly hug.

"Hey Mom. I thought I was late but it isn't what I was expecting."

"Your brother wants to cook his grandmother's favourite dish and we had to wait."

At last, I finished and cascaded the soup inside a food flask. I opened the freezer and pull out the bottles of cold berry and yogurt smoothies.

"Maya, Eden help me get these to the car please." I have to beg my tyrant little sisters to come to my aid which they sometimes don't.

Mom rubbed her hands together with a bright smile, "ready to go?!"

We're already waiting in wings.