“It’s for the science fair.”
Logan grabs a box of cereal from the shelf, then some milk from the fridge.
“And what are you planning?”
He picks up a bowl and a spoon, then looks at me doubtfully. “Do you really care?”
“Sure.”
“Then sit down.”
I take my freshly brewed coffee and join him.
“I’ve made a list of probable choices. I have to present three of them to my teacher and together we will choose the most suitable one to present.”
“And is it a long list?”
He shows me a paper.
“Definitely long.”
“And it is not the first one I have written down. My previous ideas were all rejected.”
“Why?”
“Because he is a nerd. And nerds always have to complicate things.”
Mason joins us in the kitchen. He also gets some cereal and a different box from his brother. I watched their different choices: Logan poured the multigrain cereal into his bowl, while Mason chose the one with honey and nuts.
“How come you’re up too?”
“I could hear you with my head under the pillow.”
“I didn’t know we were talking so loud. We’d better be careful not to wake Emily and your uncle.”
“Even cannonballs won’t wake Uncle Seth,” Mason mumbled, before shoving a spoonful of cereal into his mouth. “Emily’s just locked herself in the bathroom.”
“And what does Emily eat for breakfast?”
Logan points to the other box on the shelf. I stand up and pick it up: Oreo cereal.
“You don’t have any oatmeal, do you?” I ask.
They both say no.
I guess multigrain are not so bad.
I prepare a bowl and spoon for Emily, and they both say no again.
“What?”
“Emily’s is the pink one with the hearts.”
I thought it was Seth’s, but I don’t say it out loud.
I change the cup and put it back on the table as Emily joins us.
“Good morning, Mason,” she walks over to him and plants a kiss on his cheek. “Good morning, Logan,” she walks over to her second brother, who leans in to allow her to plant a kiss on his cheek as well. “Good morning, Rowan,” she says, looking at me expectantly. I take a few seconds to realise that she wants to greet me properly, too. I lean down. She stands on her toes and plants a very tender kiss on my barely shaggy cheek, which makes me smile immediately.
