Tuesday 19th December, 2017
...
A fuzzy sensation on his cheek greeted Zack the next morning- not to mention a pair of curious brown eyes full of concern. A red and black striped sweater vest loomed over him.
"Hey, Zack- what are you doing sleeping on the floor?" Milo asked, offering a hand to his friend.
Zack took Milo's hand and let the other boy pull him up to his feet. "I'm not sure of that myself," he replied. He remembered his insomnia, and how he was pacing round Milo's room in the dark- he must have collapsed from exhaustion at some point.
"Hey, what time is it?" He asked reluctantly, rubbing his neck- it was exceptionally stiff and very sore.
"It's half past ten!" Milo answered brightly. "Melissa called earlier- she said she was going to call last night, but she got distracted. I told her you were asleep and she said she'd call you later,"
"Great," Replied Zack wearily, stifling a yawn. "Are our parents up?" He asked, to change the subject.
"Yeah, but they're working. And Sarah went with your dad to run some errands."
Zack's eyes popped open at that. He was alone in the house...with Milo?
"Oh, don't worry- my mom's in her office outside." Milo added reassuringly, on seeing alarm cross his friend's face. "Come on- I'll make you some breakfast." He added kindly. "How do waffles sound to you?"
'Oh, someone help me!' Zack pleaded silently. The macaroni explosion he and Melissa got caught in crossed his mind.
...
Once in the kitchen, Milo bravely endeavoured to make waffles, and then pancakes. But each attempt failed miserably- due to food getting stuck on the ceiling ('Oops, my bad!'); Diogee stealing some pancakes ('No, Diogee, those are for Zack!'); ducks breaking into the kitchen and setting the maple syrup on fire ("Anatidae arson!")
Then Milo obtained a very painful burn on his left arm from accidentally coming into contact with the hob after trying to stop the batter from spilling all over the floor.
"Woah, Milo- you should get that seen to, buddy." Zach said, indicating the nasty red burn on his best friend's arm. "Don't want that getting infected."
"It's okay, Zach- I've got it," Milo insisted, with his arm under the cold tap.
"No, no, let me- it'll be easier if someone helps." Zack said firmly. He went to the kitchen's first aid kit box – Melissa, Bridgette, Sarah and Zack knew where these kits were located throughout the house- brought out some bandages and scissors, before dressing the wound as quickly and efficiently as a doctor.
"Wow- thanks Zack!" Milo said gratefully, examining his friend's handiwork. "You did a really neat job with this."
"Hey, there's no need to thank me, Milo," Replied Zack, looking round the kitchen. Broken eggs and batter oozed from every nook and cranny, and burn marks were on the worktop. Several of Bridgette's pans were covered in slimy pancake batter, and two ducks were fighting over a waffle.
Then, Milo's cell phone rang from his shorts pocket. Fishing it out, he held it to his ear. "Hello? Oh, yeah, he's here- and awake." Milo handed the phone to him. "It's for you, Zack."
Zack took his friend's phone and held it aloft. He had a feeling he knew who it was "Hello, Melissa."
"Hey, Zack- just wanted to see how you were getting on." Melissa replied. "Though you don't sound happy to talk to me..." She teased. "So, how are you doing so far this morning?"
'Terrible,' Zack thought immediately. He was tired, stiff, and he hadn't anything to eat- but he wasn't about to make either of his friends feel bad, so he just replied "Okay, I guess...?"
"Cool!" Melissa answered. "So, why didn't you pick up your cell this morning? I called you earlier, but I didn't get a response, so I called Milo instead."
At once, the African American remembered what had happened.
Zack was upstairs in his bedroom when his cell phone rang. He grabbed it off his desk and on seeing the caller I.D, he accepted the call immediately.
"Hey, Zack!"
"Hi, Melissa- what's up?" He asked.
"The sky of course! Hey, I was wondering if maybe you, me and Milo could hang out this afternoon and have a snowball fight in the park."
"Um, sure!"
"Great! Me and Milo are heading out, so we'll meet up at the bus stop, okay? You know, where we usually meet for school? Say, in ten minutes from now."
"Alright, I get it. See you guys later!" Zack said.
"Okay, see you later, Zackinator!" Melissa answered mischievously, and hung up.
Zack tossed his phone onto his bed as he threw on another pair of socks, a winter jacket, boots, hat and scarf.
"Dad, I'll be out with Melissa and Milo, okay?" He called out. "Do you need me to get anything while I'm gone?"
"No, son, that's fine." Marcus answered. "I'm going out later, anyway. You just enjoy your day out."
"Thanks, dad!" Zack called out, and hurried out of the door.
"My cell phone...went up in flames..." Zack realised, and groaned. This was truly a horrible day, and it wasn't even 12 yet!
"Ouch..." Said Melissa. "Well, don't worry, Zack- I'm not giving up that easily."
"Thanks, Melissa." Zack replied- just before he heard a voice shout Melissa's name.
"Ugh, I gotta go- I'll see you guys later, okay?" Melissa said, and hung up.
Zack returned Milo's phone to its owner and said "So, Milo, do you want some help with that?" He gestured to the kitchen.
"That would be much appreciated Zack." Milo responded. "But you'll still need breakfast." He reminded him in concern.
"I'll be fine," Sighed Zack. "I think you'll need all the help you can get to clean this mess up."
"Great! Could you get the egg and batter off the floor whilst I chase the ducks out of here?" Milo requested.
"Sure." Zack sighed. This was going to be a long day.
