Midnight Pancakes After Prom

After prom this year, my daughter and eight of her friends came back to our house at midnight in their dresses and suits, starving. I'd promised pancakes.

I set up a pancake bar on the kitchen island: blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, whipped cream, three kinds of syrup. The kids kicked off their shoes and sat on the counters in sequins and bow ties, flipping pancakes and telling stories about the dance.

One boy had dropped his date's corsage in the punch bowl. A girl had lost a heel during the electric slide. Someone had danced with the vice principal. They laughed so hard my husband came downstairs in his bathrobe to see what was happening and stayed for three pancakes.

They left at two a.m. My kitchen was covered in syrup and glitter. My daughter hugged me and said, "Best prom ever, and the pancakes were the best part." I'll take it.