Back in the college dorms, before their Earth came to an end, a young man works diligently in the shared kitchen.
JAN 2020
Iola approaches the stove. Simon stirs a lumpy substance around the pan. It coats every surface it touches, rendering the inside of the pan entirely white.
Iola: What are you doing?
Simon: I was trying to make PANCAKES but I got the ratio WRONG. (didn't put in enough mix.)
Something starts to smell burnt, but the pancakes weren't turning brown on the bottom.
Simon: So now I'm stirring it scrambled egg style.
Simon: It's gotta solidify EVENTUALLY, RIGHT?
Iola: You're gonna set off the smoke alarm.
Simon: UGH, you're right.
Simon scrapes the partly-cooked, gooey wads of batter into a glass measuring cup. It was likely the same one he used to measure out this atrocity. Simon places the cup in the microwave.
Simon: This is good. If I nuke it, then it'll be edible.
Simon sets the timer for a minute. The substance doesn't look much different when he takes it out. Simon grabs the nearest clean spoon and scoops out a lopsided chunk.
Iola: So?
Simon: (its got the texture of a mug cake. so, dense. still kinda wet, but it's holding shape.)
Iola: You gonna finish it?
Simon: (nope.)
