The annual Pancake Breakfast is the only fundraiser for the organization that Ben belongs to. It is a group that hosts social events like bowling and decorating Christmas cookies, so that people who may live in the margins of society can have fun. The chance to flip flap jacks is a time they can give back to their community.
When
Benjamin was in high school his class put on weekly bake sales. He enjoyed both making brownies, and then selling them to the other students. I was never there to witness, but I heard about it.
The community we live in supports this. The room was full of families content to pile strawberries and whipped cream on a stack, and begin their weekend in the fine company of neighbors. Benjamin wore an apron working beside his friend, and was proud to tell his siblings
about it all.
When Ben was much shorter we attended a church camp. The cooks provided dessert with whipped cream, but there were no seconds on the whipped cream. Except that this very silent four year old kept showing up with naked pudding, having licked off the good stuff. He would look up at the very tall cook. When no one was looking, the cook would give another squirt of topping. This went on for a while.
I remember those
mornings long ago when John and I were Team Pancakes for our own brood. Sometimes we would take special orders, which were easy enough if the child asked for a heart or Mickey. One day the middle son was more creative.
"I want one of me playing basketball, and the ball is just going through the hoop."
I looked askance at John,
"Easy," he mouthed. He spread a few blobs in the frying pan, and did a quick
marketing spiel.
"This is you, and here is the ball. Great job!"
Micah smiled. Imagination is a wonderful thing.
My own imagination comes to the rescue when I wonder how Benjamin's life will play out when his parents are gone. Having recently mastered the art of frying eggs, I can picture him in an apron at a mom-and-pop cafe. He will not be a short order cook, in that speed was never his modus operandi.
But he will tell jokes. Plus he will be generous with the whipped cream.