Denver Cereal -- Chapter 700 (part three)

Return to normal?

Sunday morning — 10:17 a.m.

“You know what’s weird?” Paddie asked.

They were coloring on a big sheet of butcher paper at the kitchen table in the main Castle kitchen. Mike was making something “amazing” for lunch. This usually meant that any minute now, Mike would give up on cooking and get them French fries and burgers. Not wanting to miss even one fry, Katy and Paddie were right there for when Mike gave up.

“We’re not in Sunday school?” Katy asked.

Paddie chuckled.

“That is weird,” Paddie said. “But Mommy’s not feeling good, and your mommy went with the girlfriends and. . .”

“I’m not sad,” Katy said. “About not going to Sunday school, I mean.”

“Are you sad about something else?” Paddie asked.

Katy shook her head.

“Should I be sad about something?” Katy asked.

“No,” Paddie said. His face pinched with worry. “Don’t be sad, Katy.”

Katy hugged him.

“Shit,” Mike said.

Katy and Paddie pulled away from each other. They looked at Mike with hope.

“Are you okay, Uncle Mike?” Katy asked.

“I hate cooking,” Mike said.

Katy nodded.

“I don’t know why I get myself in these situations,” Mike said.

Paddie giggled and clamped his hand over his mouth. Mike turned in place to look at them. His eyes went from Paddie to Katy. Mike opened his hand and threw a jolt of power at Paddie, but Katy held up the Vanquisher in front of Paddie. The energy rebounded to Mike.

The energy hit Mike in the chest, and he flew backward, across the kitchen.

“Nicely done,” Mike said, rubbing his chest.

Mike had been practicing this very thing with Katy since Paddie and Katy had returned from their adventure with Uncle Nelson.

Mike pointed at Katy.

“You put this idea in my head,” Mike said.

“You had the idea,” Katy said with a shrug. “I just made it seem possible.”

“Why?” Mike asked.

Katy gave him her most wide-eyed innocent look. Mike laughed like it was the funniest thing that he’d ever heard. Katy chuckled.

“We should go get some squid soup,” Mike said.

“No!” Paddie and Katy groaned.

“You aren’t in Sunday school,” Mike said.

“Neither are you!” Katy said.

“I am an adult,” Mike said.

“Uh huh,” Paddie said.

Mike laughed like he’d never heard anything funnier.

“How about some burgers and fries?” Mike asked.

“Uncle Mike, are you sure?” Katy asked.

Denver Cereal continues tomorrow...

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