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"It just so happens that not only a, but Iʼh, Iʼll need soel did not follow the directions on the box When I atte was an art and he was an artist that didnʼt do paint-by-nu the tried-and-true instructions that would produce fudgey brownie goodness paint-by-nu up a half-ee of peanut butter chips

Alex squirted some chocolate syrup into the batter as he considered "What are your feelings on peanut butter, Scout?"

"Peanut butter chips are not part of the directions," I said, gesturing with the empty blue box

"Do you always have to follow the rules?"

"Always," my ever-helpful little sister answered forin at least ten different unsanctioned ingredients, the cooks/mad scientists declared their creation ready for the oven We sat around the kitchen, listening to Angel detail all the first grade dra smell filled the roo circles on mine

The brownies were better than I ever believed food could be We didnʼt even cut them into squares Alex sat the entire pan in the middle of the table with three spoons I was entrusted to pour glasses of lass toa drink

Conversation lulled as we stuffed our faces With the exception of the occasional, "Yuood," or el had been staring intently at Alex, but thought nothing of it She had never been secretive when it came to her affection for hi I should have looked at the situation from her point of view and remembered that God put little sisters on this earth expressively to torture their siblings

She asked with the saht ask if you would pass so across the table or how your day at school went, but she didnʼt want the salt or to know about a surprise pop quiz in English Instead, she asked Alex, "Are you in love with lob of brownie landed on et how to feed ht abashed

"You have googly eyes when you look at her" Angelʼs didactic tone and wise expression would have been hu "Boys only get googly eyes when theyʼre in love"

"The eyes always give it away" The two of theleʼs face, which meant that he couldnʼt see the way embarrassment coloredin the rooel continued

"Are you sure?"