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“Now that the sugar is creamed and we’ve added the vanilla it’s time for the egg,” Shaun stated as he held an egg out to Cody.
The newly six-year-old first grader was standing on a chair pushed up against the counter, Shaun right behind him keeping him safe as he took the egg in hand and looked at it, “I get to crack it, really?” he asked in excitement.
“It is for your class, it’s only right you do the work,” Shaun said solemnly, “And you are a first grader now. That comes with responsibility, like helping to make your own class treats,” he explained, “now are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes, lets crack it,” Cody said in excitement as he started waving his hands around, including the one with the egg that was starting to slip.
“Whoa, careful there,” Shaun said as he wrapped his hand around Cody’s helping to keep his grip on the egg, “we don’t want that egg going anywhere but into the cookies,” he said as he used his other hand to slide a small cereal bowl over, “we want to tap the edge of the bowl, not too hard but just enough so we can crack it,” Shaun explained.
“Not too hard,” Cody repeated, “but how hard is just enough Uncle Shaun?” Cody asked as he frowned and looked over his shoulder at Shaun.
“That’s not something I can really explain which is why we’re going to do it together so you can feel how hard we need to hit the egg,” Shaun explained as he guided both of their hands to bring the egg to the edge of the bowl. “Ready?”
“Ready,” Cody replied and with a look of concentration both hands tapped the egg on the rim of the cereal bowl, just barely cracking the bottom of the egg. “The egg isn’t coming out,” Cody said with a pout.
“Sometimes that happens, just means the egg needs another little tap. But first we turn the egg,” Shaun said as he helped Cody turn the egg a little so part of the uncracked shell faced the bowl, “lets tap it again,” he said.
Cody giggling in delight as the egg cracked more fully in their hands this time, most of its yoke and whites going into the bowl as a little got onto their hands.
“We did it, we did it,” Cody said in joy as he jumped and danced on the chair as Shaun tossed the eggshell into the sink.
“Yes, we did, but we’re not done yet. We have to check and make sure there aren’t any shells in the bowl,” he said as he made a show of checking the bowl for any white flakes. “Do you see any?” he asked.
Cody copied him and looked the bowl of yoke and whites over carefully before making his announcement, “No shells, it’s shell free,” he declared.
“Okay then, now we mix by sliding the lever again,” Shaun explained as he and Cody slid the lever over that turned on and sped up the mixer, “and add the egg,” he added as he poured in the egg.
They both watched as the egg mixed with the other ingredients before Cody looked at the already measured bowl of flour.
“Now we add the flour?” Cody asked as he reached for the bowl, sliding it closer.
“Yes, but we have to make sure we add it slow so it can mix in properly,” Shaun pointed out as he helped pick up the bowl, “we don’t want to tip it too fast, just a little,” he explained as he helped Cody hold the bowl.
“Like this?” Cody asked as they tipped the bowl just enough to let some of the flour slide in.
“Yes, just like that,” Shaun agreed just as they both heard keys in the front door.
“Uncle Zach, we’re making cookies,” Cody yelled as he jumped up in excitement.
Which tipped the bowl more than just a little as all the remaining flour slid into the mixer causing clouds of flour to fly out, covering Cody, Shaun, as well as the counter in the fine white powder.
Shaun blinked for a moment at Zach who had stopped halfway in the doorway, watching them and clearly struggling not to laugh or react.
“And this Cody, is why we are careful not to pour in the flour too fast,” Shaun commented deadpan as he turned off the mixer.
***
“You still have flour in your hair,” Zach pointed out as he brushed his lover’s hair.
“Yeah, I’m going to need a take a shower and change to get rid of it all after we’re done here. It went everywhere,” Shaun commented even as he pulled a few containers away from the wall to get the flour that had fallen behind them.
“It made a mess, but he was having fun,” Zach said as he looked at Shaun, “you’re really good with him, ever since you met him. Digging out sandcastles, making him whatever he asks for, teaching him to bake,” Zach went on as he leaned in, hugging Shaun even as he kissed his partner.
Returning the kiss Shaun smiled as it ended, “it’s easy to do all those things with him, you raised a great kid,” he said, putting a finger to Zach’s lips and shushing the other man when he tried to speak, “and yes you raised him. Maybe not alone, but you raised him,” Shaun made clear, only removing his hand when Zach no longer seemed to want to object.
“Now why don’t we finish cleaning this mess up and enjoy the hour we have together before we need to get to sleep, school starts really early,” Shaun suggested as he grabbed the washrag he’d been using and went back to work on his part of the counter.
“Maybe we can get to bed a bit early ourselves tonight, it might be the only night we get to this week,” Zach proposed with a grin.
“Early? We’re alone and you want to-you said bed, not sleep,” Shaun realized as he returned the grin, “well let’s get cleaning then.”