The Toaster Incident

The Toaster Incident

"You have been warned."

The voice seemed to be coming from the toaster. Thinking it must be one of the kid’s toys, I walked over to get whatever it was and turn it off. I was babysitting and really needed the job if I wanted that winter coat at Barkley’s. My parents thought it was too frivolous, wouldn’t keep me warm in a normal New England Winter, let alone the one they were predicting. Mom got me a boring orange puffy thing that made me look like a pumpkin! I sometimes wonder if she was ever thirteen…

As I got to the toaster, the voice spoke again. “You have been warmed.” I laughed; it was the toaster! A talking toaster! But then I realized I hadn’t put anything into it, and Jeffrey was only two, he couldn’t reach the toaster even if he knew how to use it. Why would it be talking? Plus, what woman in her right mind would buy a talking toaster…

I slowly walked closer. Picking up a kitchen tool of some kind, I pushed the toaster sideways, away from the wall. A small yellow marble was behind it. A talking marble? I didn’t think so, plus Jeffrey was too young to even play with marbles. I reached toward it, but it moved growing bigger and, well, I screamed.

“Hold on! Stop!” a voice said, “I didn’t mean to scare you!” said the yellow ball.

Suddenly a gruff voice said, “Jane! We’re home, you can go now. Jeff is sleeping.”

I left, embarrassed at falling asleep while babysitting, and knowing they probably won’t call me again. I started getting used to the idea of the orange coat. Oh well, I thought, next year I’ll be fourteen and I’ll buy what I want!

That didn’t happen either.