Darcy scooped a level cup of flour into the mixing bowl. She brushed her bangs aside, smudging powder across her skin. The ten-year-old consulted the recipe once more.
Her mom would be so proud. This was the first time she’d been trusted to stay at home alone—even if it was for only an hour. She smiled. She wanted to prove to her mom that she could take care of herself and that she could make dessert for supper that night.
After combining the rest of the ingredients, she carefully lifted the bowl and stepped over to the greased pan. The spoon had barely scraped the side, a gloop of sweetened dark batter ready to fall from the bowl when—
“Hey!”
The girl gasped and yanked the bowl upright. She stared at a tiny figure that stood in the pan.
It was a Brownie. The elf kind, not the eating kind.
“You forgot an ingredient!” he yelled, even though it only sounded like a squeak.
She frowned. “No, I didn’t.”
“You should add some eye of newt.” The Brownie winked, arms crossed over his little chest.
Darcy put the bowl down, her hands on her hips. “I’m not adding that! That will make my family cluck like chickens.”
“Dance until your feet fall off, actually.” The Brownie’s smile was smug. “Why not try some beetle wings?”
“Ew. Nothing good can come from that.” She rolled her eyes.
“Sure it can! It would turn you all into frogs!” He laughed as big a belly laugh as a little man could.
“Go away. I need to finish this before my mom gets home.”
“You want to surprise her, don’t you?” He wagged his brows.
Darcy’s nostrils flared. “I don’t mind a surprise, once in a while.” She lifted the bowl of batter. “In fact, I’ve got an idea.”
The Brownie’s eyes went wide.
Thirty minutes later, her mom walked through the door and came into the kitchen. “Smells wonderful!”
Darcy grinned from ear-to-ear as she presented the plate of freshly baked brownies.
Her mom spied a piece on a separate plate. “Is that for me?”
“Oh no, mommy. This one has a special ingredient. I made this one for Max.” She called her cat into the kitchen and placed the plate on the floor. “Here kitty. I made a Brownie brownie, just for you.”
Darcy giggled. She really could take care of herself.
©Laura L. Zimmerman 2019
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash