The Tesla Gate by John D. Mimms Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John D. Mimms
the box down and went to the refrigerator to retrieve the milk. He splashed a generous portion of milk into the bowl, causing a few Chocolate Berries to lap out over the side, making dull taps like tiny marbles on the wooden table. He quickly found a spoon in the drawer beside the refrigerator and sat down, clutching the utensil hungrily in his fist. Demonstrating great enthusiasm, he plunged the spoon into the bowl with one rapid motion and then stuffed a shovelful of cereal and milk into his mouth.
I sat mesmerized by what I was witnessing. It was a sight that should have been as common to me as my own reflection; we had breakfast together several times over his short life. I guess I can take some credit that I at least made time for that. But the thing that made this situation so damned odd, the important question that had vexed me since I followed him downstairs finally came to the surface: How could he be hungry?
I watched him devour one spoonful after another, consuming half the bowl in just a few moments.
âSeth,â I asked, âare you hungry?â
He stopped with a heaping spoonful halfway between the bowl and his mouth, milk slowly dripping back into the bowl. He looked at me curiously and then shrugged.
âIâm not sure,â he said as if he were trying to remember something, then completed the trek of the spoon to his mouth.
âDo you feel hungry?â I interjected before he could scoop another load of chocolate goodness.
He leaned the handle of the spoon against the inside of the bowl and looked at me quizzically.
âIâm not sure Iâm hungry. I just wanted some Chockit Berries.â
I blurted the first question that came to my mind.
âHow do they taste?â
His confused expression broke into a broad grin.
âTheyâre âberryâ good!â he said, using his tiresome, but nonetheless cute, trademark slogan for the breakfast delicacy.
âSo, they taste good?â I reiterated.
He shoveled another hefty spoonful into his mouth and grinned broadly at me like a chipmunk with his cereal-stuffed cheeks, slowly shaking his head in the affirmative. It was at that moment that my fascination was quelled like a block of ice sliding into my gut; it was replaced by frigid horror. As Seth sat with a stuffed, grinning mouth, I saw a few pieces of cereal ease through his cheeks and splotch with a faint smacking noise on the table top. This was followed by thin streams of milk beading down each cheek.
I tried my best to keep a placid and sane face as I smiled stupidly at Seth. What did I expect after I saw the Star Wars figure ooze through his hand? I casually got to my feet and strolled to the cabinets on the other side of the table behind Seth. I didnât want to look down when I reached the other side, I didnât want to see. But why else had I made this short walk to an unfrequented row of cabinets? It ended up being a morbidly ironic stroll to the cleaning supply cabinet where my terrible suspicion was confirmed, yet I would be able to effectively deal with it ⦠at least physically anyway.
Seth sat in the chair, cheerfully finishing the last remnants of his Chocolate Berries and milk. He seemed completely oblivious to what was occurring beneath the view of the tabletop. The majority of the contents of his bowl were now pooled in a brown and white puddle under his chair. I had witnessed the toy pass through his hand and now the cereal through his cheeks and ⦠body? Is that what I should call it? I didnât know, but at the moment, that seems the most salient description. His âbodyâ appeared unable to contain his meal as milk and cereal gradually passed through him until it reached the chair and then slowly trickled over each side, forming the chocolaty lake on the tile beneath him.
Should I bring his attention to it or should I cleverly distract him out of the room while I clean up the mess? I didnât know what the
I sat mesmerized by what I was witnessing. It was a sight that should have been as common to me as my own reflection; we had breakfast together several times over his short life. I guess I can take some credit that I at least made time for that. But the thing that made this situation so damned odd, the important question that had vexed me since I followed him downstairs finally came to the surface: How could he be hungry?
I watched him devour one spoonful after another, consuming half the bowl in just a few moments.
âSeth,â I asked, âare you hungry?â
He stopped with a heaping spoonful halfway between the bowl and his mouth, milk slowly dripping back into the bowl. He looked at me curiously and then shrugged.
âIâm not sure,â he said as if he were trying to remember something, then completed the trek of the spoon to his mouth.
âDo you feel hungry?â I interjected before he could scoop another load of chocolate goodness.
He leaned the handle of the spoon against the inside of the bowl and looked at me quizzically.
âIâm not sure Iâm hungry. I just wanted some Chockit Berries.â
I blurted the first question that came to my mind.
âHow do they taste?â
His confused expression broke into a broad grin.
âTheyâre âberryâ good!â he said, using his tiresome, but nonetheless cute, trademark slogan for the breakfast delicacy.
âSo, they taste good?â I reiterated.
He shoveled another hefty spoonful into his mouth and grinned broadly at me like a chipmunk with his cereal-stuffed cheeks, slowly shaking his head in the affirmative. It was at that moment that my fascination was quelled like a block of ice sliding into my gut; it was replaced by frigid horror. As Seth sat with a stuffed, grinning mouth, I saw a few pieces of cereal ease through his cheeks and splotch with a faint smacking noise on the table top. This was followed by thin streams of milk beading down each cheek.
I tried my best to keep a placid and sane face as I smiled stupidly at Seth. What did I expect after I saw the Star Wars figure ooze through his hand? I casually got to my feet and strolled to the cabinets on the other side of the table behind Seth. I didnât want to look down when I reached the other side, I didnât want to see. But why else had I made this short walk to an unfrequented row of cabinets? It ended up being a morbidly ironic stroll to the cleaning supply cabinet where my terrible suspicion was confirmed, yet I would be able to effectively deal with it ⦠at least physically anyway.
Seth sat in the chair, cheerfully finishing the last remnants of his Chocolate Berries and milk. He seemed completely oblivious to what was occurring beneath the view of the tabletop. The majority of the contents of his bowl were now pooled in a brown and white puddle under his chair. I had witnessed the toy pass through his hand and now the cereal through his cheeks and ⦠body? Is that what I should call it? I didnât know, but at the moment, that seems the most salient description. His âbodyâ appeared unable to contain his meal as milk and cereal gradually passed through him until it reached the chair and then slowly trickled over each side, forming the chocolaty lake on the tile beneath him.
Should I bring his attention to it or should I cleverly distract him out of the room while I clean up the mess? I didnât know what the