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My son absolutely hates the pieces of bread at the beginning and end of a fresh loaf. I like to call these particular pieces, “guckslices.” “They look and feel so nasty,” Junior always says to me. No matter how many times I’ve tried to get him to eat a guckslice for the first time during breakfast, he’ll give me that signature, pouty face of his that always tugs at my heart strings. I know what it means. He’s going to chuck them in the trash!

Frankly, we are a very poor family and barely make enough to make ends meet as it is. Seeing him waste food like this time and time again brings me nothing but stinging pains in my chest and reflexive grimaces.

But last week, it all changed. I had a secret weapon up my sleeve! After his dad brought him back from school, I told him that I had a special surprise waiting for him. His big, curious smile lit up the entire room. Quickly, he stamped away towards the kitchen guided by the increasingly strong and sweet aroma.

A beautiful, brown pie with sweet steam flowing above it awaited. Before I could even grab a plate and fork for him, he took a smooth chunk of the pie with his hand and put it in his mouth—without even washing his hands at that. Gosh, he knows how much I don’t like that!

“Mmm, mom. I love this pie! What’s it made out of?” Junior said as he ate with his mouth full.

I turned and looked at him with a knowing smile. “Guckslices, honey,” I said with a sneaky smirk.

“Whaaaat?!” He said after an audible gulp.

“That’s right, honey. It’s called “Guckslice Pie!” You’re grandma used to make it for me and your aunt Mickey when we were growing up.”

He looked at me absolutely befuddled but didn’t say a word more. Before I knew it, he had practically inhaled half the pie by himself! “Junior! Junior! That’s enough! No more pie, okay?” I told him.

“Awww, man. I really like it mommy…can I have some more tomorrow?” He said with a hum to his voice.

“Only if you’re a good boy,” I said in a low, endearing tone.

By the looks of things, he was ready to do whatever it took to get more of that pie!

It’s been a week since he first tried my Guckslice Pie. He ate the whole thing by himself over several days; I couldn’t believe it! Ever since, Junior won’t stop bugging me to make him some more. He’s even stopped throwing the regular guckslices away. What a difference a week can make. Goes to show you what happens when you try something new for a change.

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