Jerome

Jerry desired to know what kind of surprise his parents had brought him.

Glass figurines, another pet horse? He had plenty of those already.

Oooo, maybe it was a late late birthday gift after his birthday in August.

He thanked Mr.Edwards for getting him ready before heading for the Dining room where his parents would be eating breakfast.

Ugh. His dad's voice was still booming  as he was descending down the flight of stairs.

What did he want this time? He always loathed how loud and irritating he could be, especially during his childhood.

He was like an annoying ambulance siren, but with a scraggly moustache, intense grey eyes, a receding hairline and a height that could rival the abominable snowman.

If his father was that, then his mother was a slightly taller mixture of the seven dwarf and Honey Lemon. A cheerful burst of rainbows with a touch of moody thunderstorms.

How they got together, Jerry has no idea, but they did have one thing in common.

They were the pioneers of Helicopter Parents. Always in his business. If they could jump in the shower with him, they would.

Well not for long. Despite finishing Highschool after being homeschooled since kindergarten, he had turned eighteen. He was now an adult. No more being bossed around. And he was going to demand to go to university whether his parents liked it or not.

He was going to be free. And he was going to experience Teenage life finally.

Finally, he had reached the dining room. He always wondered why it had been heavily decorated with artistic murals of food with a chandelier that burst with light and drapes laced with gold and emerald. He always thought that it took away the attention from eating food, especially with guests.

His dad and mom were sitted on opposite ends of the table, which was long and slender, filled with appetizing, mouth-slathering delicacies courtesy of
Chef Aloïs Sebastian.

He gasped. And they were his favourites. Honey glazed pancakes with blue berry toppings. Iced brown tea. Gasp. And bacon that was crisped and crunchy on the edges. And chocolate muffins. Banana Bread. Scrambled eggs

Gasp.

Chef Aloïs normally made this on special occasions. But today wasn't a special occasion.

He checked his phone for the date. August 5th. It did not make sense.

He suddenly gave his parents side eyes. Did they tell Chef Aloïs to make this? And why?

They only did him special favours when they wanted him to be more agreeable to something. He remembered how

What plan were they concocting?

Well, Jerry wasn't falling for their tricks.
Even though their tricks were making his stomach roll in anticipation.

He would not relent.

"Sit my child," Jerry's dad gestured towards the table, "Eat."

Jerry sat but did not start eating. "This was the surprise." He raised his eyebrow. He was not that impressed.

"Heavens noooo," his mother beamed, "Well yes but we have another surprise we'll tell you after you eat Munchkin. We want you to experience it on a full stomach after relishing on your favourite food."

Jerry wanted to say no and leave. The logical side of him said so. But his less rational side as always was appealed by the food infront of him. The sweet smell of the honey on the pancakes was too tempting to ignore. And the smell of banana bread... it transported him to heaven. The sight of the bacon made him visualize how crunchy and delicious it would be in his mouth. It would transcend his body to realm of spirits.

Don't fall for their tricks dont fall for their tricks don't fall for their tricks.

He spent ten minutes without eating, his jaw clenched and ready not to relent. His parents were nearly done with their food.

His mother picked a piece of bacon that she had apparently saved for last and begun to chew it happily...

He fell for their tricks, munching the food like a rabid animal. The manners in him had disappeared entirely, along with his resolve. He munched and munched,drank, and drank...until finally, he was stuffed. His belly protruding outwards.

Ugh. His less rational side had won as always but now he was starting to question its dependability.

His parents were looking at him with a smug expression, but he didn't care. He'd had the best meal of his life.

"So," he said after releasing a burp of surprise. "What was the other surprise? Please tell me its not another meal. I'm stuffed."

As if to reinforce that statement, he released another burp.

"Actually," his father began to straighten his pinstriped suit. "It's something much better. Your mother and I believe its the best surprise, one that will insure your life for years."

He exchanged a look with Mom.

Oh oh. That statement was code for "ruining your son's life" As long as it didn't ruin his chances to go to a normal college, he could take anything by its horns.

"We've hired a tutor for your college studies," his mom said cheerfully, "isn't that great?"