Breakfast
Niko woke to the sound of a crash in the kitchen. Sophia was gone on "business" so the sound could only mean one thing - Cal was up. Niko had not felt well the night before and was really hoping to sleep a little late this morning. He got up and walked to the kitchen with a small sigh.
Four year old Cal stood on a stool at the stove with his back to Niko, humming to himself as he stirred something. There were eggshells on the floor at his feet and burnt toast on a plate on the counter. Niko put his hand on the corner of the counter without looking and felt his hand land in a puddle. He looked down to find imitation grape juice dripping from his fingers onto the floor.
"Cal what on earth are you doing?" Cal turned smiling happily.
"Oh hi Nik. I'm making you breakfast in bed, 'cause you're sick. Course you have to go back to bed so I can do it right."
"Cal those were the last two eggs. I was saving them for when we ran out of cereal. You know Sophia didn't leave us much food and we have to make it stretch!" Niko didn't mean to yell, he really didn't, but he didn't know how he was going to feed his little brother till Sophia got back - and now they had even less to work with.
Cal's face fell and his voice dropped to a whisper. "But Nik the milk is bad so I couldn't make you cereal and I wanted to make you feel better and take care of you like you do me. I can eat dry cereal. It tastes just as good. Please Nik don't be mad. I mess everything up!" Cal dropped off the stool and onto the floor sitting hunched in on himself.
Niko felt two inches tall. "I'm sorry little brother. I'm just grouchy because I'm sick. I'll go back to bed and you can bring me my wonderful breakfast. We can share it so we both will feel better, okay?"
Cal looked up with a small smile back on his face. Niko went back to the mattress they shared and settled in. A couple of minutes later Cal came in walking slowly and carefully with the plate and glass the purple liquid leaving a trail behind him. Burned toast, runny eggs, and imitation grape juice. The best breakfast ever.