Fix

"I will fix it; I will fix," Austin said, grabbing both bowls of mac-n-cheese from the table and rushing to the microwave. "It's okay, buddy," Tobias called after him. "It's fine ... really." "No, too watery," Austin said and pushed the makeshift button on the box he'd wired into the machine. There was no sound, but a light sphere appeared in the room and a mild kind of suction pulled the air for 10 seconds. "All better!" Austin announced cheerily. "Will start again and make better!" Tobias stared in disbelief as his brother moved both bowls to the cutting board, returned to their original state - uncooked, dry noodles and a small pile of powdered cheese. "Wait ... you ... wait," he whispered, trying to understand. "How did you ... " "It's SCIENCE!" Austin yelled loudly, then laughed (his wide face and close-set eyes bright with excitement). "No good, re-do. Keep doing until you can make good." "You went ... back ... in the machine," Tobias mumbled, amazed as Austin applied his full concentration to reconstituting the macaroni with less milk this time. "You send things back in time through the microwave?" Austin shrugged. "Just food. No silliness. Not whole days or longer. THAT'S for the big box in the basement." "The big box ... ," Tobias echoed, stunned. "Can send back whole days!" Austin shared, grinning proudly. "Not too much longer, I can send Mom back before she gets sick!" "Let's go down to the basement, okay, Austin?" Tobias said gently, staring at the basement door. "CHEESY MAC FIRST!" Austin chided him, pointing down proudly. The second incarnation of the noodles was perfect in every way.