The warmth of the sun shines on my face and through the window. I slowly open my eyes and rub them. I get up and feel a little tired, but not exhausted. Candy is still asleep on my bed in my bedroom. I walk out of the front door and onto the front lawn. It has stopped raining. The grass is still wet. I can see the storm clouds far away and over the mountains. They are heading north.

The smell of the after rain is wonderfully great sent. I take a deep breath and inhale the smell of the moist air. I sit on the dewy grass. I don’t mind the grass being a little wet. I take off my shoes. I can feel the wet grass under my bare feet. I close my eyes, feel the sunlight, and raise my arms. I love feeling the warmth of the sun in the morning. I can feel the water drops falling from the tree branches above me.

Candy wakes up in my bed and yawns. She rubs her eyes and gets off my bed. She walks out the front door and sees me sitting on the front lawn under an oak tree. I hear Candy walking behind me. I turn around.

“How did you sleep?” I ask.

Candy yawns. “I slept fine. How about you?” she asks.

“I slept fine as well,” I answer.

Candy walks and sits next to me on the lawn. “What cha’ doing?” she asks.

“Shhh, I’m lessenin’ to the sounds of the watah’ drops, the birds, the rivah’s, and the wind,” I say.

Candy looks around. There are no birds or rivers anywhere in the neighborhood.

“Where are they?” asks Candy.

“The birds are very high above clouds. The sounds of the rivahs are the guttahs. I can hear the birds chirpin’ to each othah’ as they are flyin’ in the blue mornin’ sky. The sound of the rivah’ is left ovah’ watah’ from the rain storm last night. If you sit still…and listen to everythin’…you can hear’em,” I say.

Candy sits still on the lawn and closes her eyes. She waits. All she can hear is the sound of the traffic cars honking, people shouting at each other, and lawnmowers.

Candy sighs and opens her eyes. “This isn’t working,” she says.

I open my eyes and look at Candy. “I guess you ain't as good as hearin’ as I am. I didn’t mean to sound so mean. I just think it’s weird that I’m the only one who could hear the sound of natuah’. Even though we live in a town, I can still hear the many sounds of natuah’ up in the far mountains. I can hear the sound of the trees movein’ in the wind, I can hear the birds chirpin’, even the baby ones, I can hear the sound of the rivah’s flowin’ down the mountains, I can hear the watah’ falls crashin’ down the on the rocks, and I can hear many woodland creatah’s,” I say.

Candy stares at me. She looks amazed.

“Wow. That’s so cool,” she says.

I chuckle and gently pat Candy’s back. “Yes, it is. It’s wired, but still cool,” I say.

Something catches my senses. It is the smell of breakfast food in Linda and Bryan’s kitchen on their side of the duplex. I take one sniff and I know exactly what they are cooking.

“We’re havin’ none fat bacon grilled on a pan, ten eggs, five without yoke, pancakes with four cups of watah’ and three teaspoons of vinegah’ oil, homemade syrup with pancakes’, sugah’, vanilla and cinnamon,” I say.

Candy and I get off the grass and head for the kitchen. We wipe our feet on the doormat and walk into the kitchen. I was exactly right about what we were having for breakfast. There are eggs, bacon, pancakes, and homemade syrup on the table. Candy slowly gasps and looks up at me.

“How did you do that?” she asks.

“Do what?” I ask.

“Found out what we are having without peeking?” asks Candy.

I lift my shoulders.

“I just know what senses I have,” I answer.

Linda and Bryan are passing the food on white glass plates. The four boys, Candy, and I are sitting around a wooden table. We are waiting for the food. Linda and Bryan pass the plated food to the four boys and Candy.

I am so excited to eat this delicious breakfast. Bryan sets the plates with bacon, eggs, and pancakes in front of me. I groan and feel something in my stomach. My stomach feels a little queasy like I just ate some bad food. My stomach feels like a garbage disposal moving around. I pick up a tiny piece of bacon and stiff it. I gag with a little vomit in my mouth.

But what’s the big deal? I loved the bacon, eggs, and pancakes that I had yesterday. But this morning I don’t have the nerve to eat them. I put the piece of bacon back on my plate and push it away. The other kids are eating their food. They are enjoying their breakfast, even Candy.

Linda notices that I am not eating my food. “Are you ok?” she asks.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

I shake my head and groan.

Bryan looks at my food plate. “You haven’t touched your food,” he says.

I look up at Bryan from my chair. “I did and I sniffed it too. But I think I lost my appetite.” I groan.

Bryan picks up my plate with bacon, eggs, and pancakes. He sniffs it.

“Smell’s okay to me. Now please eat.” Bryan sets my plate in front of me.

I push the plate. “I told you, I’ve lost my appetite. Can I have some carrots or veggies instead? I don’t think I’m in the mood for carbs, sugah’, meat, and eggs. Do we have any veggies?” I ask.

Tim, Timmy, Tom, and Tommy stop eating and look at me. Candy looks at me too. I wonder why they are all staring at me. Tommy swallows a glass of chocolate milk.

“What about chocolate milk, will that help you?” he asks.

I pick up my glass of chocolate milk and sniff it. It smells rotten, even though it is brand new. I set the glass of chocolate milk back on the table and shake my head.

“Smells like crap. I mean, it smells bad to me,” I say.

Linda looks in the fridge to find any veggies. Bryan closes the fridge and shakes his head.

“He needs to eat his breakfast. Eggs and bacon are good for him,” he says.

“A person can change his mind or appetite.” Linda opens the fridge.

She finds only one carrot, but it is a week old and a little brown. I can smell the carrot from my end of the table. I lick my lips and the carrot smells so good. Better than breakfast food. Even though the carrot is rotten, I still want to eat it so badly. I cannot wait to eat it. I don’t care if it is a week old. It seems to be the only thing that will satisfy my hunger. Bryan sighs and rubs his head.

“Fine you can have the carrot, Jake Grant,” he says.

I get off my chair. “Thanks, Bryan,” I say.

Bryan takes the carrot out of the fridge and holds onto it.

“After you’ve eaten your breakfast,” he says.

I groan and let out a loud sigh. “Oh come on old mate!” I snap.

“Son, just eat your breakfast first then you can have this carrot. Linda and I made this family meal for all of us. This kind of food didn’t bother you yesterday. So please, don’t disgrace our cooking,” says Bryan.

“I’m not disgracin’ anyone. I just don’t feel like eatin’ those of food for breakfast, that’s all. What evah’ happened to eatin’ healthy?” I ask Bryan.

“You used to like bacon, eggs, pancakes, and Linda’s cooking,” says Bryan.

“Oh, Crikey! It isn’t about her cookin’! I just don’t feel like eatin’, eggs, pancakes, and bacon today! I just feel like my appetite has changed. I can’t explain it, Bryan. There is somethin’ that is makin’ me not like this kind of food anymore. And I told you. I’ve lost my bloody apatite!” I shout.

“Hey!” shouts Bryan. “Watch your language!” he shouts back.

I am calm so I can stop feeling angry. Bryan calms down. We take a deep breath and exhale.

“Fine! Do you want me to eat my breakfast? I’ll eat it!” I snap.

I sit on my chair and hog my bacon as fast as I can. I gobble my eggs and grab my pancakes. I am eating a lot of food all at once. I am eating like a pig. Timmy, Tom, Tommy, Tim, and Candy are watching me hogging my breakfast.

“Son, slow down,” says Bryan.

But I won’t listen. I keep hogging all of my food. I do not stop eating.

“This is what you wanted?!” I ask with a mouth full of food.

I keep eating my food.

Then I pause. Linda places her hand on my shoulder. I groan in pain.

“Are you okay, Jake Grant?” asks Linda.

My mouth is full of food. I finally swallow it and pant for breath.

“Well, that was…” I do not my sentence because my stomach feels very queasy.

I feel so nauseous and my stomach hurts badly. I get off my chair, crouch down, and run to the bathroom.

“Oh, Crikey!” I shout.

I finally make it into the bathroom. I close, lock the door, and then let out a weak vomit.

I am lying on my bed. The four boys are in the backyard. Linda is watching them. Candy is in my bedroom sitting on a red leather chair. Bryan is in the same room with Candy and me.

“It’s going to be okay. I’ve already called an old friend of mine,” says Bryan.

I groan and rub my stomach. “Oi, my stomach,” I say.

“Take it easy, Jake. Your stomach needs to settle,” says Bryan.

“Who is your old friend that you called?” I ask.

“He is a Doctor. His name is Dr. Millard,” answers Bryan.

“When will he be here?” I ask.

My front doorbell rings. Bryan walks to the front door and opens it.

“Dr. Millard. Long time, no see,” says Bryan.

“You too, Bryan. Where’s the patient?” asks Dr. Millard.

Bryan and Dr. Millard walk into my bedroom. Dr. Millard is wearing a long brown suit jacket, with a white suit shirt under it, a color orange pumpkin tie, short-cut grey hair, black pants, and black Sunday shoes.

He is here to check on me. My stomach still feels very queasy. I groan in pain. Dr. Millard sits next to me on my bed.

“Hello, Jake Grant. I am Dr. Millard and I will be checking on you today,” he says.

I nod. Dr. Millard takes out his stethoscope. He places the metal part of his tool on my chest.

“Oi, it’s cold,” I say.

“Sorry. So, did you enjoy that rain storm last night?” asks Dr. Millard.

“Oh yeah, I did. I love rain,” I say.

“That’s good.” Dr. Millard moves his tool onto my stomach. “And what did you eat this morning?” he asks.

“I hogged my breakfast. They were eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Am I sick because I ate too fast?” I ask

“I don’t think so. Many people hog their food and then have to digest it for an hour. Your condition is different,” answers Dr. Millard.

He is done checking up on me. Dr. Millard walks to Bryan.

“How is he?” asks Bryan.

“He’s going to be fine. He just vomited after he ate some food. But he might want to lay off meat, flour, eggs, and anything else that he doesn’t like to eat anymore. You should make a list of things that Jake would like to eat to stay healthy,” answers Dr. Millard.

“I will do that. But how long will this last?” asks Bryan.

“A long time,” answers Dr. Millard.

“Define a long time,” says Bryan.

“Well, for the rest of his life, I think,” says Dr. Millard.

“Doctor, he was fine last morning when he ate his eggs, bacon, and pancakes,” says Bryan.

“Most people just change their appetite,” says Dr. Millard.

I heard what Dr. Millard said. “Told you so,” I say to Bryan.

Millard and Bryan walk up to my bed. “Dr. Millard said that you should lay off the food that will make you sick,” says Bryan.

“I know, I heard the good Doctah’,” I moan.

“You still want some carrots?” asks Bryan.

I nod. Bryan walks out of my bedroom and into my kitchen. He opens the fridge and it is filled with vegetables. He finds a healthy carrot and grabs it. He walks back into my room and sets the carrot on my bed. Dr. Millard closes his briefcase.

“Get well soon. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday.” Dr. Millard walks out the front door.

Bryan takes Candy out of my bedroom. I wink at her so she will not worry about me. Candy winks back and leaves my bedroom with Bryan. The door is closed and the room is kind of dark. The blinds are covering my window. I pick up the carrot and take a bite from the top. I chew the carrot and my stomach is already feeling better.

I sigh and doze off into my nap. “that’s bettah’,” I say.