Page 61 of Something Like Hail

“You’re frying things,”Noah observed as he entered the room. “I knew Culver’s would changeyour life.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Haroldsaid, still facing the oven. “Have a seat.”

Noah did as requested, having alreadydecided he would enjoy anything put on the table. He was starving!When a plate was set before him, emotion hit him unexpectedly.

“Is that all right?” Haroldasked, sitting across from him with his own plate. “Afteryesterday, I know you’re not vegan.”

“It’s fine,” Noah said,recovering quickly. The two slices of bread had circles cut out ofthem. These missing pieces were toasted and on the side of theplate. In their place, trapped in the middle of each bread slice,was a fried egg—a sight straight out of his childhood. With a fewdifferences. “Where are the yolks?”

“Egg whites only,” Haroldsaid. “The yolks have too much cholesterol.”

“Uh-huh,” Noah said, pokingat the food with his fork. “And what sort of bread is this? It’sfull of bird food.”

Harold laughed. “It’s flax-seed bread. Nowstop dissecting it and start eating.”

He watched as Harold dashed Sriracha overhis eggs. When offered the bottle, Noah looked longingly toward thefridge.

“I don’t suppose you’ve gotketchup in there.”

“Sure do,” Harold replied.“Sugar-free, low sodium, and certified organic.” A groan promptedhim to add, “It’s just normal ketchup, you brat. I’m not thatbad!”

Noah leapt up to fetch the bottle. He usedit to drown the eggs, ignoring the face Harold made. “Errrphgrrrd!” Noah said during his third bite.

“Promise me you don’t eatthat way around the clients,” Harold said whilegrinning.

Noah swallowed. “Nope! This is all foryou.”

“What do you think?” Haroldsaid, nodding toward the plate. “Ever had UFOs before?”

“UFOs?” Noah asked. “My momalways called them a toad in the hole. No idea why.”

“So you’ve had thesebefore?”

“Yeah,” Noah said, frowningat his plate. “I used to love them. Still do!” He attacked theplate with renewed gusto, but it was too late. Harold had noticedhis true reaction.

“When’s the last time youheard from them?”

Noah chewed, when he really felt likecrawling back into bed and sleeping until the topic had passed. “Myparents? They never call me. I call them, but only when I’m feelingself-destructive.”

Harold made a face. “Huh?”

“I usually end upregretting it, that’s all. My dad has never been the sort to talkon the phone, and my mom quotes a lot of scripture.”

“You mean theBible?”

That he even had to ask made Noah envious.“Yeah.”

Harold polished off one of hiseggs-in-toast, and it almost seemed the topic was over, but no. “Isit any better when you see them in person?”

“In person?”

Harold shrugged. “Visits and stuff.”

“Never happens.” He lookedup when this was met with silence and saw a shockedexpression.

“Never?” Harold pressed.“What about the holidays?”

“Same as any otherday.”