The Cookies and The Nerd

The plan was in motion. Kenneth and Halvor were packing their bags and I made my way back to my house. I sent a handful of texts as I went up the two stone steps and through the front door.

No one was home yet. Perfect timing, Linsday, you should pat yourself on the back.

I made a beeline for the kitchen once my shoes were off. Pass the living room, the entertainment center with the TV, the family photos, the weird duck sculpture we found at a garage sale. Past all of it, I started my hunt when my foot touched the first white kitchen tile.

Sugar, milk, eggs, chocolate chips, flour, a pinch of salt, butter, vanilla extract, and some baking soda. With everything set on the counter and all the dishes I needed to start; it was time to make cookies.

As I started making the cookies, I remembered why I don't do this very often. I had to scrape out the white, slimy pieces from the eggs because my mother can't stand the thought of those being in anything. It became a habit as I grew up, along with measuring everything twice and mixing at the end. I mixed the dry ingredients and wet ingredients then pulled out an electronic hand mixer. Blended and put on a cookie sheet pan, in the oven they went, and the timer sat on my phone. The perfect timing for the doorbell rang.

I wanted to die for this next part but it's for Mindy. Do it for Mindy.

I answered the door with fake enthusiasm, "Naaaate, you made it."

He wore the dorkiest shirt he owned. The stupid 'how-to pick-up chicks' shirt. The one where a pedestrian guy literally picks up a baby chicken. His jeans were hiked to the ceiling and his belt was one loop too tight, you could see the outline of his belt from under his shirt. His hair was slicked back, but he obviously didn't know how hair gel worked. The Axe body cologne was strangling me with how much he was wearing. Thank the lord I made cookies, at least it will mask that high school endorsed spray.

I let Nate in and told him the cookies will be done soon and to take a seat in the living room. I sat in a one-person seat so Nate couldn't do anything. I wasn't interested. I invited him for a specific reason.

"Did you bring the stuff?" I rest my chin on my hands like the drug deals in TV shows.

Nate pulled out a pocket watch and an index card. I'm so screwed if this doesn't work.

We sat on the couch and watched a boring science show Nate had put on while we ate the done and cooled down cookies.

Maybe Nate will listen next time when I said that the cookies had to cool down. The swollen corner of his lip told me he got the message.

The front door opened, and my parents came in with takeout. I took the takeout from my mom's hands as I greeted them, "Hi, Mom, hi Dad, Nate came over like I said. Thanks for letting him come over. We got done with the assignment I needed help on." We walked into the kitchen, and I sat the takeout on the table.

"I also find it really cool that he can hypnotize people." The bait was laid out, now they just had to take it.

My dad scoffed at this, "Him? Yeah right!"

"No, I'm serious, Dad. He one time put the teacher asleep for the whole day and the only way she was able to wake up was when the principal said chocolate banana."

"Why chocolate banana?", my mom found it funny but tried to hide her growing smile, propping an arm on the table to make her hand hiding her mouth look more natural.

I shrugged my shoulders, "He found it funny."

My dad was still skeptical and wanted proof that Nate could do it, "Bring him in 'ere, he manages to hypnotize me, I'll get him lunch from any place he wants." My evil grin stretched from side to side.

"Oh, Naaaate." Nate waltzed in with pocket watch and index card in hand. He reread the index card once more then shoved it into his pocket.

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Lane, thank you for letting me over and hang out with Linsday." He was nervous but sounded joyful.

I felt bad for a second, he was happy to be here and just chilling with me. Nothing sexual, nothing weird. We were just being friends and I treated him like a disease at school...

Nate asked my parents to stare him the eyes as he started to swing the watch. My mother giggled while my father was somewhat amused but really wanted to show the kid his favorite moments from illusionist he watches on the TV. He said something about them not needing watches or being up close but being interested, nonetheless.

Nate then told them to focus on the watch as he spoke, "I want you to imagine a peaceful, green, grassy field with everything you ever want or need. Imagine touching the grass and the flowers around them, the objects in the grass." I saw my mom's hand move subtly and my dad's usually flexed arms were relaxed.

"Good. Now, on the count of three you will go into a trance when I snap my fingers. Relax... The words that will wake you back up will be, 'Mom, Dad, I'm home.' On one..." The watch swung from side to side in the same rhythm. I had to pull my eyes away, I could feel my head sway for a half second there.

"Two... three." Nate snapped his fingers. Like he said, they were asleep. Hopefully in a green, grassy field with everything their hearts desired. I hope they were peacefully resting; I didn't want to burden them with my problem at hand. It's time I do something on my own for their good, they are my parents after all, and I know they would crawl through Hell with me. But this was something I couldn't let them do.

I sniffled. I opened the takeout and placed the food I didn't want on a plate. "Here, I'll pack you some cookies and make Halvor's brother drop you off at home."

Nate beamed, "Thanks, Linsday."

"For what?" I closed the lid to a plastic bowl that had his cookies in it.

"For being nice to me. No one has hung out with me like this... or at all to be real with you."

I smiled, holding back tears due to my parents just being hypnotized. I didn't even say a goodbye or got a hug before it happened. "No problem, when I get back, we can hang out again."

His eyes were anime sparkles by now, "Really?!" I nodded.

"Yeah, might be a minute though."

"Why's that?"

"Oh, me and Halvor have to go to Pennsylvania."

"For what?"

"To get to Hell." Nate laughed.

"Okay, Linsday, you have a goodnight too, I can take a hint." I rolled my eyes; he couldn't take a hint if it threw a volleyball with full force at him.

I handed him the food and walked him out, "Goodnight, Nate." I closed the front door and saw Nate get in Kenneth's car before they drove down the road. I watched the headlights disappear into the night. Tears flooded down my face while I stood there for a second. I moved with a snail's pace through the house.

I glanced at the kitchen where my parents were sleeping in diner chairs. Grabbing a blanket from the couch, I laid it over them and made my way upstairs. I had a suitcase I had to pack.