Marleen Hulst

Pancake Day

Whenever the conversation at the office was on family life and dinner, J was never without a story. With four teenage sons, he and his wife had been there, done it all, and seen it all. Saturday dinners were his responsibility, and over the years Saturday had become Pancake Day. Being a master in efficiency, he used two pans simultaneously for over an hour until the bowl with batter was empty and the pile of pancakes reached the kitchen ceiling. When everyone had gathered inside and found their seat at the table, it took the ever-hungry boys less than ten minutes to make the pancakes disappear and lick the last traces of sugar and maple syrup from their plates.

He made the story sound like some kind of weekly ritual. And to be honest, I am sure it was.

spring heat
imitating baboons
at the zoo