Peach Pie Cobbler
Three year old Ryoma Echizen skipped happily along the sidewalk while he sucked on his grape ice pop. It was mid-July and it was a heat wave throughout all of California. He hopped over a crack in the pavement and walked up the stairs to the large white house.
An older boy was waiting for him on the porch, swinging along with the light, rare breeze. His brown hair blew a bit into his eyes. He removed his glasses and wiped them before replacing them and standing up.
"Come on Ryoma," The five year old said as he walked towards the tot.
"Mitsu, are we going to eat Aunty Aya's kubla?"
"It's 'cobbler', and yes."
"I like kubla!"
--
Twelve year old Echizen Ryoma looked at everyone staring at him, "What?"
"What did you say, nya?"
"I said that I like kubla."
"What's a 'kubla'?"
"You don't know?" Ryoma gawked at them. "Kubla's like a dessert that's fruit filled and baked with dough that rises. It's yummy!"
"Echizen," Tezuka stepped up from behind everyone. I swear, they parted like the Red Sea. He placed a hand on the rookie's head, "It's 'cobbler'."
"I like Aunty Aya's kubla."
"Cobbler," Tezuka said shortly.
"But I like kubla."
"It's cobbler."
"Peach pie kubla is the best."
"You're missing the point." Ryoma shrugged.
"Am I going to your house today? Aunty Aya said that she would be making some kubla today."
"It died."
--
Seventeen year old Ryoma looked at Atobe, who was starring him down.
"What I say?"
"What is a 'kubla'?"
"What is up with people and kubla? Where do you live; under a rock!?" Ryoma threw his hands into the hair and stomped away from the infuriating Monkey King.
--
Twenty four year old Ryoma smiled at his long term boyfriend before looking at the dish in front of him.
"It's like you're the only person who knows how much I love kubla."
Tezuka looked at the short man before smiling.