Sallie's birthday.

[realmrsreynolds]

Today is Sallie's birthday, and she's not overly thrilled with that notion.

She'll live with it, though (like she does every year), and when she gets out of bed she finds that one of the Loompas has started making the birthday present deliveries earlier than usual - there is a potted mini-rosebush sitting on one of her kitchen countertops.

Dinner tomorrow? I know you must have a date tonight.
Happy birthday, Mother. Wo ai ni.

Malcolm

Sallie just laughs, sticking the card into one of the pockets of her robe as she starts to move around and make herself some morning coffee. Not a bad day's start.

Comments

[mnr_splinter]

What's that at the door?
Why, it's a crisp two-count knock.

[realmrsreynolds]

Not too many people knock like that.

"Come in; you know better by now."

[mnr_splinter]

The door opens and Splinter leans his head in.

"I was not sure if you had woken for the day or not."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Just barely, to tell the truth of it."

Sallie near-toddles over towards Splinter at the doorway to give him a good-morning kiss before moving back to the kitchen. "Have you eaten yet?"

[mnr_splinter]

"I have had tea, but have not yet eaten. Have you?"

He remains by the door. Suspiciously so.

[realmrsreynolds]

It takes Sallie until disappearing around the entranceway to her kitchen to figure out that Splinter hasn't followed her, so she peeks her head back out again.

"...No. Why."

[mnr_splinter]

"Oh good," he says before leaning outside of the door to retrieve a rather large basket.

"I made muffins."

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie gasps and comes back around to Splinter's general vicinity. "Yay! Oh, good, this is so much better than my actual plan for breakfast this morning. [Perfect!]"

Finally noting the size of the basket, though, "Um. How many did you make, exactly?"

[mnr_splinter]

"I may have lost count."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Baobei..." trails off while Sallie chuckles, gesturing Splinter towards the kitchen. "Let's break into 'em then."

For the next week?

[mnr_splinter]

He carries the basket towards the kitchen.

"The rats assure me that what we do not eat will freeze wonderfully."

So there's that!

[realmrsreynolds]

"Clearly we will put that to good use. Truth though, this is perfect. Thank you very much - what a good start to the day."

Also: muffin. Sallie digs out a couple of plates and starts to fish around in her refrigerator for the preserves.

[mnr_splinter]

"You are most welcome," he says placing the basket on the counter. A second later he's on the hunt for a frying pan and turning the burner on her stove to medium.

"There are blueberry, cranberry walnut, carrot, apple spice."

[realmrsreynolds]

"...You heat up muffins on the stovetop?"

It's possible!

[mnr_splinter]

"To toast them, yes."

He reaches into one of his sleeves and retrieves the knife he'll use to slice the muffin in half, then places the muffin cut side down on the frying pan.

[realmrsreynolds]

"I own those, you know. Knives. Mike even gave me one."

Really, she's quite an armed old lady.

[mnr_splinter]

His head tilts to one side in puzzlement, until he realizes he's holding one of his throwing knives in his hand.

"Force of habit," he says as sheepishly as he ever gets.

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie shrugs with a grin. She doesn't expect Splinter to be different than he is.

It's another quiet few minutes preparing and gathering, but soon enough Sallie's got blueberry muffin halves on a plate next to her on the table and Splinter looking rather pleased with himself, really.

"Very impressive, baobei."

[mnr_splinter]

"I am glad they meet with your approval.


...

Also that they are edible."

[realmrsreynolds]

"You have any other surprises up today?"

[mnr_splinter]

"Why do you ask? Is today a special day for some reason?"

He lies like a rug.

[realmrsreynolds]

"It's Tuesday. Tuesdays are always special."

Geez, Splinter.

"Also there were muffins. That makes me think you find today to be a particularly impressive Tuesday."

[mnr_splinter]

"Perhaps I was merely attempting to make Tuesday feel like less of a..." he pauses to clear his throat. A sheer sign he's going to repeat something one of his sons has said in passing. "Red-headed stepchild of the week."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Hmm. I suppose.

"Or you wanted a euphemism for butterin' up somethin'. Either or."

[mnr_splinter]

"That must be it. There is precious little I approve of more than a good euphemism."

Dignity, always dignity.