Ella's Big Breakfast at the Westin

Starring Ella, Grandma

Ella and Grandma head to the fancy Element Westin hotel for a special breakfast together. Ella is determined to try everything on the buffet, but the fancy orange juice glass is taller than she expects. Through a wobbly, splashy mishap and a little patience, Ella discovers that the best part of breakfast has nothing to do with the food at all.

Ella pressed her nose against the big glass doors of the Element Westin hotel. Inside, the breakfast room smelled like warm toast and something sweet she could not name yet. "Snack! Snack!" she said, patting her tummy with both hands.

Grandma took Ella's hand and they walked inside together. The dining room was enormous, with white tablecloths and tall ceilings that made every little sound ring like a bell. A long table near the window held every breakfast food Ella had ever dreamed about.

Ella spotted the tallest, shiniest glass of orange juice she had ever seen, sitting right at the edge of the buffet. It was almost as tall as her whole arm. "Mine," she whispered, eyes locked on it like it was treasure.

Grandma set a small plate of strawberries and a tiny muffin at their table. "Let's sit first, sweet girl," she said, tucking a cloth napkin into Ella's collar with a gentle pat. But Ella was already stretching both arms toward that tall orange glass.

Grandma brought the tall glass over and helped Ella hold it. It was heavy and cold and slippery. Ella gripped it with both fists, took one enormous sip, and then, with a lurch, the whole glass tipped. Orange juice splashed across the white tablecloth in a wide, sunny puddle.

Ella's lip wobbled. The white tablecloth looked like a sunset, all orange and dripping. She looked up at Grandma and waited. Grandma did not frown. She grabbed two cloth napkins, handed one to Ella, and said, "Together, okay?"

They dabbed and patted the tablecloth together, Ella's small hands following Grandma's. A hotel server arrived with a fresh cloth and a smaller, shorter glass of orange juice, just the right size. Ella looked at it, then looked at Grandma. "Again?" she asked hopefully. Grandma laughed. "One sip at a time."

By the end of breakfast, Ella had eaten three strawberries, half a muffin, and every last drop of juice from her small glass. She pressed both sticky hands to Grandma's cheeks and held them there, and Grandma held Ella's wrists and did not let go.