As they settled in, Jeremy unpacked his things in the old den, which had been set up as his room. Rose, meanwhile, made herself at home in Meg's former room.
Lois walked in with a curious look. "Jeremy, what's this... Keurig machine you sent with your PC?"
Jeremy smiled. "Yep, it’s my trusty Keurig. I make teas and apple ciders with it."
Lois nodded, but her brow furrowed. "I'm going to set it up in the kitchen, though—no offense, I just don’t want any messes in here."
Bryan chuckled, noticing a familiar, worn-out item in Jeremy's things. "Lois, that’s why he sent that old, rusty cookie sheet along with it."
Lois looked at Jeremy, puzzled. "You use that to keep water from spilling everywhere?"
Jeremy nodded with a grin. "Yeah, it was actually Grandma's idea back when I had my first one."
Lois opened one of the Keurig’s compartments and raised her eyebrows. "My word, Jeremy! How many kinds of tea do you have?"
Jeremy laughed. "A ton! You know, Lois, if you started drinking more tea instead of all that coffee, you might feel a lot healthier."
Lois seemed intrigued. "You really think so? I never tried flavored teas—I couldn't stand the plain hot tea Daddy would make us drink."
Jeremy nodded. "Plain tea is perfect for iced tea, but for a cozy, hot drink? Nothing beats a steaming cup of herbal or fruit tea. Black currant, for example—black currant tea is one of my favorites. And black currant candy is right up there too."
Lois smiled thoughtfully, looking at the assortment of teas. "Maybe I’ll give it a try. Who knows, maybe I’ll find my new favorite."
As Lois looked out the window, she sighed. "Too bad today’s so dreary. I was hoping to enjoy the fall colors, but it looks like it could rain."
Jeremy nodded, then hesitated. "Lois, I don’t mean to sound critical, but I watched your priest’s sermon last night...he seems a bit...different, doesn’t he?"
Lois sighed, clearly conflicted. "Yes, he is. He’s been making changes—calling hymns ‘thems’ now, and instead of saying 'amen,' he says 'athem.' It’s...unusual."
Jeremy raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, it sounds like he might be catering to certain trends a bit too much. I mean, God teaches us to love everyone, absolutely, but also to be clear about our values. Sometimes, it feels like things are going too far."
Lois thought about it, nodding slowly. "You know what, Jeremy? You’re probably right."
Peter, overhearing, chimed in. "So our priest is really pushing this new language to...I guess...fit in with some of those current movements?"
Jeremy nodded. "Seems that way. You know what, though? Tomorrow, instead of going to that church, let me show you a YouTube video from my church. Maybe it’ll give you a different perspective."
Lois smiled, appreciating the offer. "That sounds good, Jeremy. I’d like to see that."
"Wait until you hear Pastor Dave preach," Rose chimed in, her eyes lighting up. "He’s wonderful. So caring and kind. Plus, he’s our director at the home for the blind."
Jeremy nodded, smiling. "I’ve been to two of his churches, actually. He speaks with such meekness and kindness. He’s not one of those fire-and-brimstone types, even when he’s addressing tough topics people might not want to hear."
Rose added, "He really is one of the most Christ-like people I know. He’s firm but fair—always offering grace until it’s clear he needs to step in. Like that time with Jack, who kept stealing mail."
Jeremy chuckled, remembering. "Or Mary Lou—she threw a fit for not being served fast enough. That was one of the only times I saw him get angry. He laid down the law, saying, ‘In case you aren’t aware, we have four people here with COVID. They get fed first.’ He doesn't raise his voice often, but when he does, you know he means it."
Peter listened, nodding in respect. "Sounds like someone who knows when to show grace and when to set boundaries. I think I’d like him."
"Lois, mind if I make lunch?" Jeremy asked. "I’ve got an idea you all might like—peanut butter and honey sandwiches."
Lois raised an eyebrow. "Peanut butter and honey? Doesn’t sound very nutritious."
Jeremy grinned. "Actually, honey’s pretty amazing. It’s glucose-neutral, full of antioxidants, and has natural sugars like fructose, not glucose."
Lois looked surprised. "Wait, honey has health benefits?"
In response, Jeremy pulled up a list of pure honey’s benefits on his phone. Lois grabbed a bottle of honey shaped like a teddy bear from the cupboard. "Isn’t this the same thing?"
Jeremy shook his head. "Nope, that’s a honey-flavored product. Most of the time, that stuff is cut with high fructose corn syrup, which is actually worse than glucose. It’s one of the things contributing to the obesity epidemic."
He scanned the back of the teddy bear bottle with an app called Seeing AI. "Ingredients: honey… cut with high fructose corn syrup," he read out loud, confirming his point.
Lois looked thoughtful. "Wow, I had no idea. Maybe I’ll give pure honey a try."
Jeremy nodded
Jeremy reached into his bag, pulling out a container of raw, unfiltered creamed honey. “This is pure, raw creamed honey,” he explained, showing its light color. “It’s not processed, so it’s a lot purer. Here’s what I want you to do: try a little taste of the honey, then have a sip of your lemon water to cleanse your palate.”
Lois dipped a spoon in, tasting a bit hesitantly. “Oh, wow, that’s sweet—it’s almost making my teeth hurt!”
Jeremy chuckled and handed her another container. “Now try this one. It’s organic honey, a bit different in flavor.”
Lois tasted it and nodded. “That’s much better. I can actually taste the difference.”
Bryan chimed in. “We’ve been sold on a pack of lies with that honey-flavored stuff all these years.”
Jeremy nodded. “Yeah, it happens a lot. People see ‘honey’ on the label and think it’s all the same.”
Lois sighed. “I’ve been giving this to Chris for years, thinking it was healthy.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Jeremy said, reassuringly. “Most people don’t know, and it’s easy to assume it’s all honey. Just check labels—there’s a lot to learn.”
Lois smiled. “You’re really smart about this stuff.”
“I just do my homework,” Jeremy replied with a grin. “I get my honey from Amazon. A good bottle of wild honey can cost around $7 to $10, but it lasts if you use it sparingly.”
He continued, “I grew up on peanut butter and molasses or peanut butter and sorghum, both great options, and they’re nutritious too.”
“Wow, that’s interesting!” Lois said, looking genuinely impressed.
Jeremy smiled, setting up sandwiches for everyone as Chris and Stewie joined them from upstairs.
Chris walked up to Rose with a big grin. “You’re a pretty lady.”
Lois turned, sighing. “Chris, stop ogling Rose. She’s our guest, and I’m sure Jeremy doesn’t appreciate you staring at his girlfriend.”
Rose looked over at Lois with a smile. “Lois, just so you know, when I get mad, I do tend to swear.”
Lois laughed. “Who doesn’t?”
Chris leaned in, trying his best to be charming. “Hey, baby, why don’t you ditch the zero and get with the hero?”
Rose’s eyes narrowed, and without missing a beat, she shot back, “Listen here, you little motherf—, that’s my boyfriend. Why don’t you leave me the hell alone?”
Lois’s mouth dropped open. “Chris Griffin, to your room! Now!”
“But Mom! Why does this poser get her?” Chris protested.
Jeremy stepped up, looking unfazed. “Chris, Rose is almost four times your age, and I’m three. So how about you head upstairs before I make you cry?”
Chris scowled but turned and trudged off, muttering to himself as everyone else shared a laugh at his expense.
Chris leaned in, trying his best to be charming. “Hey, baby, why don’t you ditch the zero and get with the hero?”
Rose’s eyes narrowed, and without missing a beat, she shot back, “Listen here, you little motherf—, that’s my boyfriend. Why don’t you leave me the hell alone?”
Lois’s mouth dropped open. “Chris Griffin, to your room! Now!”
“But Mom! Why does this poser get her?” Chris protested.
Jeremy stepped up, looking unfazed. “Chris, Rose is almost four times your age, and I’m three. So how about you head upstairs before I make you cry?”
Chris scowled but turned and trudged off, muttering to himself as everyone else shared a laugh at his expense.
“Chris,” Lois said firmly, “we’re going to have a nice lunch that Jeremy made, and you’re not to harass Rose.”
Chris finally seemed to process everything, his face going pale as the realization hit. “Wait... Did he say that Rose is almost four times my age and he’s three times my age?”
Lois nodded. “Yes, Chris. Jeremy is 49, and Rose is 59.”
Chris’s jaw dropped. “Oh... oh, man. I’m sorry. I thought they were my age!”
Jeremy chuckled, giving Chris a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Nah, no hard feelings, dude. We’re good.”
Stewie, watching the whole thing, pouted. “Aw, man, Jeremy didn’t get to use the cattle prod on Chris. That sucks.”
Jeremy grinned. “Maybe next time, Stewie. Maybe next time.”
They all laughed, the tension easing as they settled in for lunch.
Jeremy smiled as he sat back, enjoying the conversation. “Hey Chris, do you play a lot of video games?”
Chris looked down, a little sheepish. “No, Mom won’t let me.”
Lois crossed her arms. “I just don’t think they’re productive.”
Jeremy raised an eyebrow. “Maybe not, but they’re actually good for hand-eye coordination.”
Lois looked surprised. “Really? Video games are good for hand-eye coordination?”
Stewie, overhearing, piped up. “Wait, Bryan—if he’s visually impaired, how can he play video games?”
Bryan, always ready with an explanation, shrugged. “Stewie, isn’t that a bit of a harsh question to ask? Like I said, Jeremy is high partial.”
Stewie blinked, realizing his mistake. “Oh yeah, that’s right. He’s not totally blind. But still, how good can he be?”
Jeremy grinned, unbothered. “Oh, I’m pretty good at the games I play. I don’t do first-person shooters because the visual flare makes me nauseous, but I’ve got my genres. And on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I do a video chat with a friend who’s been helping Rose—and now helping me—make a blind-friendly makerspace.”
Peter, confused, leaned in. “What’s a makerspace?”
Jeremy was happy to explain. “It’s a place where they offer 3D printing, CNC machining, milling, circuit help, and other things. Some have kitchens, ceramics areas, or textiles. It’s a space for making stuff.”
Lois raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re working on a grant for it? Trying to raise money?”
Jeremy nodded. “Yeah, trying to raise $250,000. The name of the makerspace is Dots and Bots, referencing braille dots and the idea that people can make robots.”
Lois smiled, impressed. “Oh, Dots and Bots. That’s clever.”
Jeremy leaned forward, excitement in his voice. “Yeah, we’re so close to getting the funding.”
Chris, holding up his sandwich, looked at Jeremy. “Hey Jeremy, this is a good sandwich. What’s in it? I mean, besides the peanut butter?”
Jeremy smiled. “Honey.”
Chris’s eyes widened. “I’ve never had honey that tastes so good!”
Jeremy nodded, proud of his choice. “Oh, so you like it? That’s organic creamed honey. The honey sits, and over time, it becomes rich and creamy. Honey never expires.”
Chris was impressed. “Wow!”
Lois, who had been listening, chimed in. “Yeah, Chris, and it turns out I’ve been buying honey syrup instead of real honey for years. As soon as I tasted the difference, I threw that other bottle away. It was unhealthy.”
Stewie, looking curious, piped up. “Why? I like that teddy bear honey.”
Jeremy turned to Stewie, shaking his head. “Stewie, dude, it’s not good for you. Regular honey is glucose-neutral, but honey syrup contains high fructose corn syrup, which is a huge contributor to the obesity epidemic in America. Other countries don’t even allow the stuff.”
Lois looked thoughtful, nodding in agreement. “I didn’t realize how much of a difference it made.”
Jeremy continued, “Yeah, it’s one of those things that people don’t always chec
k on the label. But once you taste real honey, there’s no going back.”
Bryan, noticing the black box on the bed, asked, "Jeremy, what is that?"
Jeremy, looking up from what he was doing, replied, "Oh, that's my talking book player. It's called a Victor Reader Stream, third generation. It has WiFi, Bluetooth, and on my microSD card in it, I have over 1000 books."
Bryan raised an eyebrow. "1000 books? How big of a memory card do you have in that thing?"
Jeremy smiled proudly. "256 GB."
Bryan, clearly impressed, said, "Wow, and it can hold 1000 talking books? That's incredible. Where do these books come from?"
Jeremy explained, "Library of Congress. They have a huge collection of books available for people with print disabilities."
Bryan scratched his head. "Huh. I wonder if my book is on there."
Jeremy nodded. "I can check for you using the BARD mobile app." He quickly typed in the title of Bryan’s book, "Faster Than the Speed of Love" by Bryan Griffin, but after a moment, the app displayed: "No results found."
Bryan looked disappointed. "That sucks. How can I improve my book to see better results?"
Jeremy, ever the problem-solver, replied, "Well, here. I use AI to proofread my books. It rewrites them to sound better. It’ll help you with showing instead of telling."
Bryan raised a brow. "I bet I can't just feed it the whole manuscript, can I?"
Jeremy shook his head. "No, sorry. It can only handle 4096 characters at a time. But it will give you the equivalent of what you type. It might be a little less or more than what you wrote, but it’ll get the point across."
Bryan thought for a moment, processing the information. "I see. Well, that could be helpful."
Jeremy smiled. "Yeah, it’s a neat tool to refine writing."
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