"What are you doing skulking around Mom's kitchen, Bernie? I am amazed she allowed you, though," Tomiwa said as she picked up a pancake while avoiding the playful swat of Bernard's hand.

"And how did I learn how to cook then, oh you sage, if she doesn't allow me to enter her kitchen?" Bernard asked as he opened the condiment cabinet to take out his favorite ketchup, which he poured generously over the pancakes on his plate.

"Yuck, how you can bear to take in so much ketchup all in the name of eating pancakes baffles me." Tomiwa wrinkled her nose as she snatched another pancake off the platter.

"My...