Titus and the Broccoli Surprise

Titus is surprised by something new he tries. - Writer's Cramp Entry

Titus liked things to stay the same. He liked his favorite blue blanket folded just right, his books stacked in a perfect row, and his meals to be exactly what he expected. Change felt strange, and strange things made him uncomfortable.

One evening, his dad set a plate in front of him. On it was something green, lumpy, and covered in a melted yellow sauce.

“I made broccoli with cheese sauce tonight,” Dad said with a smile. “Give it a try.”

Titus stared at the broccoli. It wasn’t like his usual dinner. He didn’t know if he liked the way it smelled. It was different, and different was weird.

“I don’t think I like it,” he said quietly.

“That’s okay,” Dad said. “But sometimes, we don’t know if we like something until we try it.”

Titus frowned but picked up his fork. He poked one of the broccoli pieces, then took the tiniest bite. The cheese was warm and creamy. The broccoli was soft but had a little crunch. It wasn’t bad. It was...interesting.

He took another bite. And another.

Before he knew it his plate was empty, he looked up at his dad.

“Can I have more?”

Dad’s smile grew. “Of course, buddy.”

The next evening, when Dad set dinner on the table, Titus glanced at his plate, hoping to see the broccoli again. But tonight, there were green beans instead. He frowned. Green beans weren’t broccoli. They weren’t the same.

Dad noticed. “Not sure about green beans?” he asked.

Titus shook his head. “I liked the broccoli.”

“I can make broccoli again tomorrow,” Dad said. “But you know, green beans are different in a good way. Want to try just one?”

Titus hesitated, then picked up a single green bean. He took a small bite. It was softer than broccoli and had a different taste. It wasn’t bad; just not what he expected.

“It’s okay,” Titus said carefully.

Dad nodded. “That’s fair. Everyone has foods they like more than others.”

The next night, as promised, Dad made broccoli with cheese sauce again. This time, Titus ate it without hesitation, enjoying every bite.

As the days passed, Titus started feeling braver about food. One night, Dad roasted the broccoli in the oven instead of steaming it. The edges were crispy, and the flavor was a little different, but it was still good. Another night, he mixed it into rice, and Titus found that he liked that, too.

One afternoon, as they walked through the grocery store, Dad stopped in the vegetable section.

“Should we get more broccoli?” he asked.

Titus nodded, then looked at the shelves. He pointed to a different vegetable; cauliflower. It looked a little like broccoli, but it was white instead of green.

“Can we try that?” Titus asked.

Dad grinned. “Absolutely.”

Titus still liked things to stay the same, but he learned that sometimes, trying something new; When Dad made it; wasn’t so bad after all; Especially when it came to Broccoli.