Breakfast Out

Dad was home for the day, and had invited everyone to breakfast at Cracker Barrel, aside from OLeif, Joe, and Rose
(who were either at work or school all day).
Puck was happy to be visiting another restaurant for the second time in four days, and scooched himself into his booster chair at the round table. He spent a happy hour stuffing himself with pancakes, French toast, and bacon, while also incorporating the use of a straw in his cup. Fortunately, he was not aware that Linnea had a fresh glass of chocolate milk in front of her, or he would have been begging for it. Instead, he watched Linnea play with the pegboard, giving it a whirl himself, before the breakfast platters had arrived.
After Puck had been safely secured in slumbers in Carrie’s room for the afternoon, Collette hit the road with Mom and Carrie-Bri for Trader Joe’s, where cardboard crates of fat orange pumpkins lined the front sidewalk. Puck needed more frozen blueberries, and Carrie picked up a bottle of their special wine. And of course, their annual display of pumpkin bread boxed mixes. Trader Joe’s in autumn was one of the best times to visit. Pumpkin plants, cider, cakes… always a good place.
After waiting half in hour in the car on the mall parking lot for Rose to come out from work, Carrie received a text from Rose, saying that she would be working another 45 minutes longer than scheduled. So back it was over the bridge to get the frozen food to the house.
And just as they crossed the bridge, Dad called to ask whether it was alright for Puck to share a small box of Linnea’s Fruit Loops. It was.
Collette took a walk while OLeif fed the Chubby his fourth meal of the day. The clap of leaves in the wind that evening, had the peculiar sound of lollipops clattering against one another.
She returned in time for the inevitable basket of laundry to fold, and chocolate-covered pretzels.