The New Baker's Dozen

Beth opened the carton of eggs as the stove's eye warmed.

Twelve in a row stood staring at her. The uniformity made her smirk.

Two eggs today to start off the week. Then pancakes on Sunday.

Beth was pleased and the eggs were delicious. Scrambled with ketchup.

Tuesday was quick to arrive. Beth turned on the stove.

She licked her upper lip. It was nearing time for a wax.

Placing her skillet, Beth opened the refrigerator to grab the eggs.

When she opened the carton, she paused.

Twelve eggs.

Beth closed the carton.

She looked at the calendar on her phone, then at the one on the wall.

After flipping it to the correct month, she confirmed that today was Tuesday.

But there were twelve eggs in the carton!

Looking at the sink, she saw yesterday's plate with bits of egg and ketchup.

It was beneath her unwashed sauce pan.

Nerves on fire, Beth wasn't sure about what was happening.

How could there be twelve eggs? Maybe it was Monday and she'd skipped pancakes?

She smiled thinking about how she referred to Sunday as pancakes now.

Then she stopped smiling because the pancake griddle from Sunday was on the counter.

Beth didn't like washing dishes. It was a problem for potential roommates and lovers.

Looking at the time, she saw she was behind her normal routine.

She scrambled some eggs, added ketchup and ate them. Beth continued her day.

Wednesday came. Beth hesitated when she went to open her egg carton.

What if there were twelve again? Was it really Wednesday? Maybe she was stuck.

Stuck in a time loop. Like in that movie. What was it called? Roadhouse?

She shook her head, held her breath, and opened the carton.

Ten eggs.

Ten little Grade A eggs were staring back at her.

Beth smiled and hiccupped a laugh. She checked her phone's calendar.

It was definitely Wednesday. Where had those two eggs come from?

Had this carton designed for twelve yielded fourteen for no reason?

Beth noticed the time and started her eggs again.

Adding the dirty plate to the growing mound in the sink, Beth knew it was Wednesday.

Wednesday was when she washed the dishes, after dinner, after pizza.

Before leaving for work, she checked the egg carton one last time.

Ten eggs.

Beth smiled and left the house, wondering if she'd ever know what happened



Word Count: 398