in the mix

Every year the same thing: first the bottle of rum would appear, then the molasses. The most mysterious though was the container of clumped red and green bits that she said was candied. It must have come from the underworld where candy was damp and sticky like forgotten gum in the rain.
She measured and hummed as the ingredients filled the biggest bowl.
Then came the impossible command, Stir this.
One year the wooden spoon cracked with the forced weight.
Now, he stirred and stirred the bulky batter, leaning into it, concentrating
so much that drool dropped down. Don't tell.