Breakfast With Dad

Mornings like this are classic.

Bright and early on this Tuesday after I dropped off my older son Aleq at high school, I raced back home to oust my third grader Nicolas from his nice warm bed.

"Gotta get up. This morning it's Breakfast with Dad!"

He actually DID get up quickly.

That's a clear sign he's on this Breakfast with Dad thing like a rat on a Cheeto.

I get ready.

Nicolas gets ready.

So far so good.

Breakfast with Dad has been a yearly event for me and my boys for so many years.

Each year the elementary school hosts this special time in the cafeteria.

Cold eggs, weak coffee, no place to sit.

This is always the stuff memories are made of.

This morning we arrive a little late.

Last in line at the famine I guess.

Not much food left?

No worries.

We'll take what we can get.

Here's our $8.

We're handed plates not much bigger than a SILVER dollar.

And these aren't Silver Dollar Pancakes.

Then they put a couple of sausage links on top.

They roll off.

Onto the floor.

Twice.

What? No cold scrambled eggs?

Okay.

At the next table the kind ladies offer us blueberry topping and whipped cream for our pancakes.

Thanks ladies.

A miracle: we find a place to sit!

I run over to get some OJ and weak coffee.

I'm on my way back.

In fact, I'm within 2 feet of Nicolas.

I'm just about to say...." be careful cutting the pancakes because...."

And then it happens.

He tries to cut 'em.

The plate falls into his lap before I can get to it.

I think to myself... "Why couldn't they serve cold eggs like they did the last.. oh I don't know.... 10 years?"

I remain calm.

Sort of.

I wet a white napkin.

Don't ever use a white napkin on blue sweat pants.

Now the spot is kind of white.

I call 911.

I mean... my wife.

She gives me advice.

We eat and make the best of it.

We put the emergency plan into action.

We're happy with the results.

We hang out for a little while.

The bell rings and it's the start of another day in the third grade.

He heads off to his classroom, but not before turning and flashing a huge smile.

"Bye, Dad."

That smile on his face makes him look like he's just spent the day at Disneyland.

Nope.

It was just Breakfast with Dad.

Total cost: $8.

I just got the bargain of the century.