I had an alarm set to wake me up an hour before dawn. In my dream, I was about to pull a towering souffle out of an oven before the alarm started to chime. The music box transformation of my bluetooth speaker also changed my morning wakeup song. Instead of Bill Withers, I woke to the tiny bells announcing it was gonna be, gonna be a lovely day.

  I went a bit overboard. I bought 4 dozen eggs from the system and made a feast of scrambled eggs and pancakes. I diced the last of the sausages I bought the day before and mixed them into the scramble. A little salt and pepper then into the chafing dishes to keep warm.

  I pushed the cart to the front door of the orphanage and knocked on the front door. An older woman answered the door. She looked at me with narrowed eyes.

  “This is an orphanage, we are not buying anything, especially not so early in the morning, please sell your wares in the market.”

  She slammed the door before I could finish saying “Wait.”

  “I am not selling anything, I am here to serve a free breakfast for the orphans and staff.”

  The door cracked open.

  “What kind of breakfast”

  “Scrambled eggs, and pancakes, with sausage”

  “I don't know what these pancakes are, but you said free. Do you have enough for 13 children and 2 adults?”

  “I have more than enough”

  “You said free, correct? Not a loan or a favor owed?”

  “No one owes me or anyone else anything for this food.”

  The door swung open. She took a spoon out of her apron and lifted the lid of the chafing dish.

  She took a small scoop of the eggs and smelled them. Then her eyes flashed with a dim glow.

  “There is no poison here. Nor any harmful Qi. If you're an assassin you're a terrible one. If your a merchant you will go broke giving away food to those who can’t pay. You are not from here. Why?”

  “Why what?”

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  “Why are you doing this? This is premium food and well spiced. I can tell that sausage has no fillers, just pork and spices. The discs you call pancakes are made with an expensive flour that is well milled. All of this food would sell for seven to nine hundred Ryo per plate in any restaurant downtown. Those pastries you almost brought last night could have sold for about the same. So I repeat, Why?”

  I never really understood when anime and manga talked about feeling the pressure of violence that someone was ready and willing to commit. This older woman had no expression on her face, but I just knew the wrong answer here would end in my receiving a beating. This was a mother bear protecting cubs kind of situation. The air itself felt like knives ready to fall onto my head, and it was just waiting for this woman to give permission.

  “I like to cook. I am far away from my family, and it makes me happy to share good things with good people. I’m not going to be here long, but while I am, I might as well give these kids something to smile about.”

  “That's reasonable, and you seem harmless enough. Ok, fine, come in. Just don’t make these kids any promises. They have been let down by almost everyone, and you don't look like the adopting type. Nor would I let any of them live with a merchant too dumb to charge for food.”

  That stung a bit, Ann and I had considered adopting once upon a time. Things never worked out though. Once we had enough money to do it, our niece Ashley had a visit from the stork and Erin came into our lives. They lived with us for a few years, and eventually moved out. The house was empty again, but we felt too old to have another infant in the house.

  The woman had me set up in the common multipurpose room. That title makes the room sound fancier than it was. It was a medium sized room with a scattered variety of 3rd hand furniture. Most of the furnishings here had probably been scavenged from what was tossed out by others.

  Chairs and benches lined the walls.

  As I walked in there were already a few younger children playing with some wooden blocks. They looked at me and the cart with an unceasing stare of curiosity.

  “How much time do you need to set up? Once I let the children know breakfast is being served they run like a pack of beasts.”

  “Bek-fast?!” one of the small children yelled? “Oat mush or bread?”

  “Eggs, with sausage and pancakes” I replied, “It will be ready soon, so let everyone know and ill make sure you two are first in line.”

  They vanished. They didn't run fast. They didn't sprint. I didn't even see them sit up. Not a blur, or a gust of air. Gone.

  “You better start scooping plates, they will be here shor…”

  A line of children appeared in front of the cart. The first two were the two I sent away seconds ago. Behind them several others pushed and shoved for position. Even further behind were a few children who carried their pillows with them ready to fall back asleep if the call for breakfast was just a dream.

  The chafing dishes were scraped dry and each child had the option for thirds. I collected all the bowls. Then said my farewells, it was time to go to the market.

  “By Mr. Egg Man.” several of the children called out from the door.

  “Koo Koo Kachoo!” I yelled back. The Matron scowled. The children laughed. I turned my face and wiped away a tear or two. Time to sell some food.