Lou woke to the smell of her favorite breakfast, maple syrup and waffles. Mom was wrapped in her big fluffy robe. “Mom, I’m home! I’m home She jumped up and danced Mom around. “I knew Grandma would get me home!”

”You funny girl! Of course you’re home! You’ve been home since you and Grandma got back from your ride yesterday Now put a tshirt and shorts on over your swimsuit and come down to breakfast. We’re leaving for the beach as soon as we eat!” Mom said.

”Mom! I had the worst dream! Me and Grandma were riding and I got zapped by lightning into Louisiana. Grandma disappeared and a mean sheriff was gonna take me to jail! It was awful!” Lou couldn’t talk fast enough.

”That would have been awful.” said Mom, “but it was just a dream. Get dressed and come on down to breakfast, so we can go!”

Lou pulled on the closest clothes off her floor, grabbing her IPad and charger. She put them in her backpack and raced down the stairs. Lou grabbed a plate of waffles off the counter and loaded them with maple syrup. “Hmmmmm!”

Lightning flashed and Lou smelled a strange clorox-type smell. She found herself on the far side of the bed from Lynn, still holding her plate of waffles, backpack slung over her shoulder. “Where did you go?” Lynn asked. “I woke up and you were gone! Not in the bathroom……..nowhere! I thought maybe the sheriff came and got you. Where did you get waffles? Mom never makes waffles. You have to have a special pan. Did she say you could eat in here? We can’t bring food in the bedroom!”

Lynn was ready to chatter on but Lou said, ”Stop! Lynn, I woke up in my own bed this morning. Mom gave me these waffles for breakfast. We were getting ready to go to the beach. Then, I popped back here!”

“That’s crazy!” Lou said. “You can’t just pop in and out.”

“Just look.” protested Lou. “I’m in my own clothes! I have a plate of waffles! I couldn’t have gotten them here. I’ve got my backpack and IPad . This had to come from my house! Mom said I hadn’t been gone.!”

“None of this makes sense!” Lynn said. “We’d better tell Mother and Daddy.”

They headed up front, Lou still holding the plate of waffles with her backpack on her shoulder. “Did y’all make your bed before you came up front?” Lynn’s mother noted the plate of waffles. “Where did you get those? I don’t have a waffle iron! Where did you get those clothes and that bag on your shoulder?”

“Aunt Kat, you aren’t gonna believe what’s happened!” Lou started to tell her.

“Wait, you need to tell Al about all this, too! Let me go get the baby. I need to feed her. Lynn, can you change Connie, put her in her walker, and give her a cracker? I’ll be right back.”

The girls busied themselves with Connie. Lou’s daddy and seven-year-old Billy came through the back door, tracking in mud and grass. Daddy settled himself in his easy chair. Billy plopped on the floor and switched the TV to cartoons. “ Boy, turn that TV to the news. Lynn, get me a cup of coffee. Where’s your mother? She needs to be cooking breakfast. I’ve got stuff to do.”

Lynn brought him a cup of coffee. “Biscuits are in the oven. The grits are ready. I’ll start making gravy.”

Aunt Kat came from the back with the baby. “I’m going to have to take time to feed her as soon as I get breakfast on the table.” She handed the baby to Lou and loaded the hot biscuits on a platter. While Lynn put the gravy in a bowl, her mother put the bowl of grits in front of her husband’s plate. “Y’all come eat” she called out.

With Connie in her highchair, Lynn gave the baby her bottle while Mother served the kids. Daddy and Billy dug in. “Al, we need to talk. Something strange is going on. Lou thought she woke up at home, but then found herself snapped back here in an instant. Look at her clothes and her bag. They’re not from here. And look at her plate…waffles! I don’t have a waffle iron. There’s definitely something strange going on.” She paused, waiting for him to answer.

“That’s nonsense. I don’t know what she’s trying to pull, but I’m not putting up with any of her foolishness. I don’t want to hear any more about it.” He glared at Lou. “You watch yourself.” She dropped her head. She knew he wanted her gone. He pushed his chair back and went outside. Billy followed.

To be continued: