Jelly Bean Sandwiches

There it was again, the smell of bacon, coffee, fried chicken, and cookies drifting into Billy’s room. Each smell was distinctive, yet all of them together. I’m told a dog can smell like that. Billy stretched and yawned, trying not to wake up too much, yet strangely drown to the aromas. What a way to awaken. It must be heaven. Mom’s oatmeal never did much for his motivation to get out of bed. Still, he turned over and shut his eyes tightly. If this was a dream, why would he want to be awake? He was so groggy he barely noticed it was still dark outside. It was summer vacation so why would his mom be in the kitchen cooking at this hour? Suddenly, both eyes popped open with the thought that maybe we were going on a picnic and his mother was getting the lunch ready for a surprise trip to the lake. Maybe she needed an official taster, he thought, so he threw his legs over the edge of the bed and walked down the hall to the kitchen. The fabulous smells encircled him and he envisioned the kitchen table covered with cookies, cooling on the rack.

As he entered the doorway to the kitchen, whoever it was stood facing the window so they couldn’t see him walk in, or hear his bare feet softly sneaking across the tile floor. Maybe he could grab a cookie before he was seen. Just as he was about to reach the table, which did have chocolate chip cookies on display, a voice suddenly spoke to him, one he didn’t recognize.

“You’re about to taste the ultimate breakfast dish, Billy. I’m trying to decide on a name for it.” The person speaking turned and smiled broadly, showing what seemed like all of his teeth. “Sit down, say grace and You can be the one to name your new favorite breakfast.”

Billy stood frozen in his tracks next to the table. This was not his mother, or father, or anyone he knew at all. Nervously, he summoned enough courage to ask, “Who are you? How did you get in here? What are you doing in our kitchen? My favorite breakfast, or anytime food is jelly beans and you should know my mom won’t let me eat them early in the day, and certainly not for breakfast.

The stranger stepped down from the little step stool. He was a very small, slender man, with an unusual face. His forehead was very high and his chin, well, it made his face look extra long. His eyes were noticeably green and they seemed to look straight into your soul. Oh yes, he wore on small earring.

The voice was soothing and kind. “I’m Alfred and I’m fixing your breakfast. Crawled through the dog door because I forgot my key, and yes, I know you love jelly beans.”

This was incredible. It couldn’t possibly be really happening. Billy decided to play along with whatever it was. “Does Mom know you’re in here? You know you are making a bigger mess than Dad does. I’ll just bet you’re going to be in big trouble, Alfred. What is really going on here?”