7 Breakfast

I woke up to the sun shining in my face and the smell of bacon permeating my sinuses. Hunger stabbed my belly, beckoning me to go search out the source of the glorious odor. I stretched under my covers and raised myself up to a seated position. I quickly scanned the room I was looking for clothes I could change into or at least a robe I could cover these bunny print... Wait. I looked down at my pajamas and noticed they were not light pink bunny print but black with neon green paw prints. How and when they got changed, I don't know. Truth be told, I don't really know what day it is. The last thing I remember is trying to close the window last night. I ran to the window and found a normal window, no bars. Stupid nightmares are getting too real.

'Good Lord, I'm going to lose my mind here.' Not finding any clothing, I wrapped myself up in a black robe I had found hanging off the end of the bed and headed through the bedroom door. I stepped into a hallway not really having any idea where to go. To my left was a hallway with several rooms on other side of it. To my right was a shorter hallway with a bathroom at the end of it. Right in front of me just a bit to my right was stairs that ended in a large foyer. I assumed the smell was coming from a downstairs kitchen, so I descended the stairs following the glorious scent of bacon. I could hear indistinct conversations to my left at the bottom of the stairs, so I opted to check it out. Chances were good they were chatting over breakfast. I stepped slowly through the doorway into what appeared to be the dining room. The table was a large picnic style wood table with rustic, low-back wooden chairs. At the head of the table was my rainbow headed grandmother and to her left was my aunt May. I didn't know any of the others. Two other women and three men; one of which was the darkest black man I had ever seen in my life. He stood out like a sore thumb among all the glow-in-the-dark white people at the table. He was the first to notice me in the doorway. He smiled at me. "Come, join us my dear." He waved his hand beckoning me to the table.

I must have looked like a scared rabbit because May popped up from her seat and rushed to my side. "I hope you're hungry, sweetness. We got a lots bacon and eggs cooking up."

Gram had leaned her chin upon her hands, elbows on the table. She looked at me with unrested eyes. "I'm glad you could finally join us. Take a seat. Please."

May pulled an empty chair near hers for me and I sat. "Uhm..." I stuttered. "Finally?"

"Yes," The blacker than black man with a thick foreign accent answered. "You've been kinda out of it for three days."

"Out of it?" I shot a questioning look to Gram. "What does he mean?"

Gram leaned back in her chair with a sigh as if she were searching for the right words to use. Her violet eyes scanned over as much of me as was visible to her making me feel a bit more exposed than I was. Weren't her eyes blue? "Just a figure of speech, Magpie." She finally said. "It's a nice way to say your withdrawals were a bit more intense and time consuming than any of us were expecting."

"Withdrawals?! Withdrawals from what? I don't use drugs." I was not yet willing to admit anything. That, and I'm sure she was exaggerating a little. There was no way I've been out for three days. I'd be too weak to walk if that were true. I've seen documentaries on withdrawals and comas

She cocked an eyebrow at me. "Still have a ways to go, I see." She reached for the bell on the table near her and rang it. A woman of modest build and appearance entered the room. Without looking in her direction Gram addressed the woman. "We're ready to be served, Melinda. Thank you." The woman nodded and retreated from the room. Gram has servants?? Oh my god, is she like rich or something? In less than a minute Melinda returned with two other women and place platters of food on the table between us. There was bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, eggs, hash browns and pork chops. My stomach growled in anticipation. "Eat up, ya'll. We have a busy day ahead of us."

The folks at the table started digging as if they hadn't eaten in days. I took some the bacon and some eggs and took small bites. I was famished, yes but part of me was afraid to eat. The nightmare I had last night had left my stomach in knots. If I had been 'out of it' for days as they say, then I probably haven't eaten much if anything at all. I looked at the people at the table in wonder. They all seemed so huge. Not fat, of course; just tall and built like linebackers. I have never felt so small among adults before. I was trying to rein in my nervousness by forcing a nonchalant attitude while nibbling slowly on a strip of bacon.

The black man was sitting across from me smiled a lot. I caught him winking at May who winked and smiled back. Hmmm. The man sitting next to him looked a lot like me with short dark hair and black-brown eyes. He only looked in my direction once and I didn't see anything friendly in his glance so I avoided further eye contact with him. The next dude looked to be around my age-ish; maybe a little older, with messy brown hair that he had pulled into a ponytail at his neck. How fortunate for him to have such a full head of hair. 'Maybe Tuna ought to give that boy a shave like he did me' I thought to myself.

But apparently Grandma Dreads here is a mind reader because no sooner did I think it that she responded with, "Tuna has shaved everyone at this table at least once."

I sat there dumbfounded at her remark. My cheeks were hot with embarrassment, convinced they all knew what I had thought. I wanted to ask why. I wanted to know everyone's story behind the shaved heads, but I also wanted to not care. I didn't want to get too involved with these people. Family or no, I was here against my will and I didn't really want that to change. So, I went with indifferent curiosity of another subject instead. "I've heard a lot of weird names in my time, but Tuna? Maybe? They some sort of nickname or something? And what's with calling me Magpie? My name is Melissa."

Gram smiled for the first time since meeting her. My question seemed to amuse her. "I guess it's about time for introductions." She said without answering my question. "You've already met Maybe, your aunt and right next her is her sister Jitterbugs with her daughter Lilypad. Over here," she continued waving her hand to the men, beginning with the black man; "This handsome young man is Jams, or as his patients call him Dr. Jams. He's Maybe's husband and the local OB/GYN." She rested a hand on my forearm with a wink. I'm not sure what that wink was supposed to mean. I don't need any kind of doctor. "Married seventeen years and they still flirt like lovesick teenagers. The beautiful man in the middle is my son Jimmy. He's your dad's twin. In looks, not age. And lastly, at the end there is Tuna's boy, Mackerel."

"Lilypad? Jitterbugs? Mackerel?! So, everybody has a weird name?? Is it like a requirement to adopt some ridiculous pet name to be here?" I turned my attention to the boy. "What's your legit name? Or does your birth certificate actually read 'Mackerel'?"

He blinked and shot a wide-eyed glance towards Gram. I saw her nod in my peripheral vision. He swallowed before looking back at me. "Michael," he nearly whispered. "And my dad's name is Tony."

I shot Gram a cold stare. "Michael." I said flatly. "What's so wrong with Michael that you can't get it right? And why doesn't Jimmy Joe John Boy here have a ridiculous nickname? What makes him so stinking special?" I stood feeling a little wave of nausea wash over me. I looked at Michael, called Mackerel and stated, "Well I will call you by your given name, Michael." And to Gram, "My name is Melissa. Not Maggie, Missy, Magpie, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, Buttercup, or any other crazy names you can dream up. Melissa. Now if you'll excuse me. I think I need to go throw up." I ran upstairs to the restroom just in time. So much for bacon.

**

The folks left at the table burst out laughing at Melissa's little rant. "Jimmy Joe John Boy! That's a hoot." Gram guffawed. "Think it'll stick?"

"Unfortunately." Jimmy replied though his own stifled giggle. "Quite the pip, she is."

"Yes, well," Gram offered. "genetics being what they are... Better go tend to her Jams."

"Yes ma'am. Won't you join me May? I don't think she will be too comfortable with me alone."

"But you're such sweetheart." She jokingly protested. See ya later, Jimmy Joe John Boy." She said with a playful wink.

"See ya later... May Be." Jimmy quipped. "Come on, Michael. We got chores to do."

"That's Mackerel to you," He replied.

"Y'all get crazier by the day around here." Jeannie giggled. "Jitterbugs? Really?"

"At least you got a cool name, Mom. I get Lilypad? Really? Why not Frog's Landing? Or Toad Stool?"

"Same, same." Gram said. "Off you go. Stock trailer is hitched up to the Dodge. Sale begins at eleven, so you'd better get moving."

"Okay Gram," Jeannie said. "Come on, Lilypad. Let's grab Tuna and go."

"Mooom."

"Now, Lilypad." The woman left with her daughter whining as she followed her out.

Melinda entered with her coworkers to clean the table, but Gram interrupted them. "No need, Melinda. I'll take care this today. Thank you for your help this morning. I appreciate it."

"We really don't mind, Gram. We're happy to help."

"I know, honey. I know. But go on, I've got this. You and your girls can take off. I hear the zoo is having their grand opening today." She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out three tickets to the zoo.

Melinda threw her arms around Gram. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I really wanted to go to this. Thank you."

"It's the least I could do for your services this morning." She smiled as the girl beamed with anticipation. "Now get." She said snapping the girl back to reality.

"Oh! Right. Of course. Girls let's go. Thanks again, Gram. I love you!"

"Love you too, honey. Have fun."