The pie department.

 Monday 29th September 2025

The first thing out of Eric’s mouth this morning, when he came in for breakfast with Dad, was:

“Okay, where’s my apple pie then?”

I can’t decide whether he and Dad have been plotting together or whether Eric happened to bump into Rob over the weekend. Either way, I think he was hoping to catch me short in the pie department.

Fortunately, there was still some of our apple pie left over from yesterday. I told him he wasn’t having it for breakfast and would have to wait until lunchtime.

Mum gave me one of her knowing looks, the kind that speaks volumes without her saying a word, while Dad chuckled and said,

“You’ll have to get up earlier than that to catch my girl out, Eric.”

There’s a way Dad shows his pride in me that is so plain, yet never overbearing. It always settles quietly inside me, warm and steady.

Eric laughed and shook his head.

“I think if I stayed up all night, I still wouldn’t catch this one out.”

I told him, “I don’t know why you go to so much trouble. You might have guessed I’d put some by for you.”

Of course, the truth was that it was nothing but pure luck there was any left — but I wasn’t about to admit that.

And so the kitchen filled with the sound of easy laughter, Mum smiling softly over her teacup, Dad enjoying the banter, and Eric pleased with his small victory of teasing me. It was one of those moments that stitched itself quietly into the fabric of home life — simple, cheerful, and warm. Breakfast time really is one the highlights of my day.