The Kitchen Helper

April 16, 2026

by Emily

My name is Cora. I live in a quiet neighborhood in a small city. When I tell people about my kitchen visitor, they smile and think I am being funny. But I am completely serious. There is a presence in my home. I do not know who it was, but I believe it is a man, and he seems to dislike it when I call him “the shadow.” He is not scary, just likes to be helpful.

One afternoon, I was making a sandwich. I got frustrated because I couldn’t find the butter knife. I was sure I had left it on the counter. I searched everywhere without any luck. I gave up and went to sit in the living room.

My sister came in a little while later and asked if I had seen her favorite mug. I told her I had not. We both went back into the kitchen to look. The mug was not on the shelf or in the sink. Then we saw it. The mug was sitting on the small table by the back door, and right beside it was the butter knife. I had not put them there.

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