Miracle

The door to her mom’s bedroom opened as she was whisking the eggs to make omelets. She found some flour so she also decided to make pancakes with it. Unfortunately, they didn’t have syrup.

Anita had already woken up and saw what she was doing. She wanted to help Dawn but was told to do other stuff instead. So she reluctantly went to the yard to clean.

“What are you doing?” Her 47-year-old mother, Estela looked at her in surprise and worry. She had never seen her only child attempt to cook other than rice.

“I’m making some omelet, Ma. And pancakes. We should buy some syrup.” She smiled at her mother warmly.

From now on, the girl’s mom and grandmother are also her own.

Estela blinked a few times, unable to believe what she was seeing. ‘Is she really cooking? She’s not going to burn it and waste the ingredients, right?’

“We’ll see.” With her gaze trained on Dawn, she took out a ceramic mug from the cupboard and made herself some coffee, adding a creamer at the end.

She brought the mug to the table and sat facing Dawn, observing her, praying she won’t injure herself while attempting to cook.

She wondered what came over her daughter that made her wake up early. She even looked to have just showered as well. ‘This is some kind of miracle. If only, she’s like this every day then I would have less worry.’

Moments later, she watched her daughter flip the omelet causing her heart to stop for a moment. She waited to hear a splat as it would land on the floor. But it never came. The omelet landed safely back on the pan. Her daughter even looked unperturbed. After she finished with the omelet, she started on the pancakes and did the same action, and once again, she looked like an expert.

‘When did she learn how to do this?’

After she was finished, she brought the omelet and pancakes to the dining table.

“Let me call grandma..” She felt a pang in her heart as she called them mama and lola, the same way she called her own mother and grandmother back then. She missed them dearly.

She went inside Estela’s bedroom and saw her grandma about to walk out with her green bag.

“Lola, I made breakfast. Come, eat first.” Her 68-year-old grandmother, Isidora Cordova would usually head back to her own house a few blocks away from theirs. She would stay there for the whole day then would walk back to their house in the evening. This was routine.

“Oh? I’m not hungry yet though.” Isidora was reluctant. She didn’t want to eat burnt food and then have indigestion.

“I made some omelets and pancakes.”

‘WHAT?!’ She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

She walked up to her grandmother and hugged her grandmother’s arm affectionately. “Come on, let’s go eat before the food turns cold.”

Isidora sighed. ‘Fine. It’s not every day that she cooks. Let’s see if she at least didn’t waste the ingredients.’

Dawn was clueless as to what her mother and grandmother were thinking, but at least her grandmother obliged and followed her to the dining table.

Isidora was surprised to see pretty omelets and pancakes. There was no trace of having been burnt at all.

She placed her bag on the side and took a seat. “Would you like some coffee, lola?”

Isidora nodded mindlessly, she was still shocked at what she was seeing.

Dawn quickly made herself a cup of coffee and placed it on the table. She served them the food.

‘Ah! I forgot about Anita.’ From the girl’s memories, Anita eats at the same table at the same time as them.

So she opened the door to the yard and called out. “Big sister! Come and eat!”

Anita almost tripped when she heard her call.

Dawn had always acted spoiled and arrogant before. Today has been strange from Anita's point of view.

“Okay!” She quickly put away the broomstick and washed her hands before she joined them on the table. Like Isidora and Estela, she was also surprised to see what Dawn cooked.

She even made it better than she ever could.

‘What brought such change? Is it going to be only for today?’

She even served Anita the omelet and pancake as well.

Anita’s hand shook. ‘How good it would be if she’s always this nice.’

They ate in silence.

Isidora, Estela and Anita savored the food she made. They still couldn’t believe that it was not too salty, too soggy, or even burnt.

“How is it?” Dawn has always had a habit of asking other’s opinions on her cooking so she would know where to improve.

“Good. It’s okay.” Estela muttered.

“Mn. It’s edible.” Isidora said.

“It’s delicious!” Anita smiled brightly, silently encouraging her to keep doing this.

“Good. Glad you like it.” Dawn chuckled.

She wasn’t saddened by her mother and grandmother’s lack of praise. If it were not because her own mother who was used to American life, she also would have been the same as their distant relatives. They would compliment but they wouldn’t use too many words in doing so. Usually, when they’re praised, they would think the person was only joking. They don’t dare accept the compliment as they would seem like they’re praising themselves by doing so.

“Ma, I’d like to go to the city today. I have to go to the internet cafe for a bit. I need to check something.”

“Mn. Okay. But come home before lunch. I’m only giving you money for transportation and for the hours on the computer.” Estela was in a good mood so she obliged her daughter. Of course, she still had to set limits as their finances were not unlimited.

“That’s okay. That’s all I need. I’ll be back home once I’m done.”

She was relieved that her mom obliged her easily this time. In the girl’s memory, she would have to convince her mom why it’s important to go to the city. If her mom won’t oblige her right away, she would throw a tantrum, slamming the doors and such. It turns out, just by doing a few household chores, speaking calmly and being honest would be enough to sway Estela. She could probably sense the girl lying to her back then. Instead of going to do a project, she would watch anime or Asian dramas online instead. Dawn was never a good liar, to begin with. One could sense her lie easily.

After they finished breakfast, Dawn picked up the plates and utensils and proceeded to wash it without being told.

The three women who were left behind on the dining table looked on with shock on their faces. Anita could only get up to wipe the crumbs from the table and sweep the floor before Dawn would think of doing it for her also. If she would continue to let her, what use would be of her as the hired help?

“Lola, just wait for me to get changed and I’ll go with you. I’ll drop you off at your home before I leave for the city.” She called out to Isidora.

“Okay. No hurry.” Isidora was pleased with her present behavior. She felt her lips curved into a smile, even her eyes were smiling like crescents.

Dawn changed into a white and green raglan shirt and blue jeans. She then put on her white converse shoes and pulled her hair into a ponytail.

‘I knew I once told myself it would be nice to stay young. But heck--this is exaggerated!’