THE MILKSHAKE MESS

 

Did you ever forget one tiny little thing? Well, it all started when Ryan asked me to teach him how to make his own milkshake.

 

“ OK, let’s make this quick. I have tons of homework,” I said. “Promise to watch me carefully.”

 

          “I’m watching,” he said.

 

          “First pour the milk into the blender,” I said. “See, it says one cup.”

 

          “One cup. Got it!”

 

          “Then you peel a banana and put it on top of the milk. Break the banana in half to fit it in.”

 

          “Peel the banana and put it in the blender. What’s next?” Ryan asked.

 

          “Then you put in a few ice cubes,” I told him.

 

          “And?”

 

          “And then you put the lid on tight and push BLEND. It’s the green button.”

 

          We watched the banana disappear into the milk.

 

          “Push STOP. It’s the red button.”

 

          “Push the red button. That’s easy.” Ryan jumped up and down.

 

          I took off the lid and poured the banana milkshake into a tall glass.  “Yummy!”

 

          “My turn,” Ryan said. “I’m putting the milk in the blender.”

 

          Ryan’s grin was a mile wide. “What’s next?” I asked.

 

          “The banana, right?”

 

          I nodded as he carefully put the banana into the milk like it was buried treasure.

 

          “Now the ice!” he shouted.       

                                                                    

Just then the phone rang. Mom yelled from the other room, “Ashley, would you get it please?”

 

          “Ryan, wait a minute,” I said.

 

As I picked up the phone, I was hit on the arm by a flying blob.

 

          “Push the red button!” I screamed. “Ryan, you forgot to put on the lid!”

 

          He stared at me with eyes as big as baseballs.                                      

               “Wait ‘til Mom sees this!”

 

          “Please don’t tell Mom. I’ll clean it up,” Ryan said.

 

          I gave him a sponge while I used paper towels to wipe off the cabinets.

 

          “What’s all the racket?” Mom asked. Her mouth made a big “O” as she looked around the room.

 

          “I made my own milkshake. I just forgot the lid,” he said, taking wet banana-milk out of his hair.

 

          “Everything was fine until Mrs. Wood called.” I yelled. “Ryan, I asked you to wait!”

 

Tears fell down his face like a waterfall.

 

“That’s ok, Ryan,” I said. “You only forgot the lid. You’ll do better next time.”

 

          “Let’s get this place cleaned up,” ordered Mom. Then she looked up. Banana goo was everywhere! On the ceiling, on the windows, in our hair, on the walls, and on the ceiling fan.

 

          “I better do the ceiling first,” Mom said as she climbed onto the chair. Just then Dad arrived.

 

          “I’m home,” he said. When he saw us with our new hairstyles, he started to laugh. “Freeze while I take your picture. Say milkshake”

 

MILKSHAKE!” we all giggled.

 

          “It was just a little mistake,” Ryan said. “I’ll do better next time.”

 

          “Next time?” Mom and I both said, looking at each other.

 

          “We’ll see about that,” Mom laughed.