The Pancake Notebook

On Saturday mornings, Idris stood beside Dad on the kitchen stool. He tipped flour into their blue bowl. Mum used to pour the milk. Now she was working far away. She would be away for several months. Her chair stayed empty at pancake breakfast.

“Will Mum be home for pancakes today?” Idris asked. He had asked last Saturday too. Dad turned down the heat. “Not today, sweetheart.” “Which Saturday, then?” “I don’t know the date yet. Her work finishes when winter ends. She will come home after that.”

Idris looked at her chair. Winter had only just begun. There would be lots of breakfasts before it ended. His throat felt tight. “I’m sad. I want her here.” Dad sat beside him. “You miss Mum. It’s okay to be sad about that. I miss having her here too.” Idris leaned against Dad’s arm for a little while.