The morning sun filtered through the kitchen window, casting a warm, golden glow over the well-worn recipe book that lay open on the counter. Today was a special day; it was my father's birthday, and my brother Peter and I had decided to surprise him by making pancakes from one of his favourite recipes. The kitchen buzzed with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation as we gathered the ingredients listed: one egg, a 150-gram packet of flour, and between 100 to 150 ml of milk.
"Jack, what are you up to?" my father asked, his voice a blend of curiosity and kindness as he entered the kitchen.
"Oh, hi Dad! Just trying to whip up some pancakes for a snack," I replied, masking our true intentions.
He chuckled softly, "You're fourteen now, Jack; I trust you can handle this," he said, leaving us to our task.
As soon as he was out of sight, Peter and I sprang into action. "We've got less than an hour before he comes back," Peter whispered, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of our secret mission. I cracked the egg with careful precision while Peter measured the milk meticulously. Together, we mixed the ingredients in a large bowl.
"Peter, pass me the flour, please. Let's make sure we don't make a mess," I instructed as I heated the pan on the stove. The flour sifted into the bowl, joining the milk and egg. The mixture was smooth and ready.
"Here goes nothing," I muttered as I ladled the first scoop of batter into the hot pan. The sizzle was satisfying, and the aroma of cooking pancakes began to fill the room. We worked in sync, flipping the pancakes when they turned golden brown, our teamwork flawless.
After the last pancake was done, we quickly washed up and set the table. The timing was perfect; just as we placed the last pancake on the plate, we heard the keys in the door.
"Lights off, Peter!" I hissed. As the room darkened, the only light was from the small candle on the pancake stack. "Surprise! Happy Birthday, Dad!" we shouted as he entered.
The look of joy and surprise on his face was priceless. "Thank you, my boys. This means the world to me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. We gathered around the table, the candlelight flickering softly, and captured the moment with a photo.
That photo, now on our fridge beside our camping trip snapshot, serves as a cherished reminder of the day we decided to try something new and made it a birthday to remember.
