That was exactly what she was talking about. Where most grownups would think that waffle sounded like Gross City, this kids just went with it. And Matt seemed funner than most, even. Bouncy too.

"Of course I need your help. You can be my sous-chef! That means 'assistant to the chef.' I looked for the big white hats, but couldn't find any." Not even a 'Kiss The Cook' apron. Disappointing.

"Oh, I've cooked for ages," Harley answered, sifting through shelves to find the bacon. "I had a little brother growing up, and our mom was always working. Then when I lived with my b- my ex-boyfriend, I cooked for him, and our friends too, lots of times. A-hah!" With a noise of triumph, she located the package of bacon, and placed it solemnly in Matt's hands, then moved around him to go look for a clean pan. "Now- well, now before I got here anyway- I've got a couple of roomies I cook for sometimes, when they let me."

The pan found, Harley plopped it on the stove, and turned up the heat. "So the train used to be smaller, huh? How long you been on it?" She still thought the train was the best joke she'd heard in a long time, but she hadn't known it trainnapped kids. His parents were probably losing their minds, wherever 'back home' was for him.