to be skinned alive.
Laughing, Rena moved around the lower part of the
counter where the stove was to the bar above it and set down the bowls of soup
on the marble top. A memory flashed in her mind of her sitting at the bar when
she was younger, leaning over to watch her grandmother cook. Her grandmother
had just been starting to teach her the skills the last summer Rena was there.
Pushing the memory away, she claimed a seat. “This smells wonderful, Grandma.”
“I have some rolls from the diner in town.” Grabbing a
pot holder, Genma stepped to the side of the stove, opened the oven door and
pulled out the pan of rolls then turned the dial from warm to off. Moving
quickly over to the refrigerator she took out a small plastic container and
brought them both to the bar. “You are going to love these. The sweet butter
just makes all the difference as well.”
“I believe you. At this moment I feel so ravenous, I
could eat a bush of blackberries.” Rena wasn’t joking. Now that the threat of
the bear was gone and she’d smelled the soup, her stomach had begun to growl
and she was hungry, like she hadn’t been since she became ill.
“That is a good sign. Well, bless your food and dig in.
There’s plenty more if you want it.” Slipping onto a high chair, Genma popped
open the container and grabbed a roll. Splitting the bread, she slathered a
heavy amount of the buttery substance onto it. She set it on a napkin beside
Rena’s bowl and did the same for herself.
Tasting the first spoonful of soup, Rena moaned. The
vegetables in it were chunky but tender, and the broth was savory, creamy and
thick. It was the perfect chowder. It was the broth, different from any other
she had ever tried before, that seemed to make her want to drink directly from
the bowl. Rena was trying to figure out what it consisted of, but the heavy
amount of rosemary and fresh parsley was masking it. “Grandma, your cooking is
like none other.”
“Thank you. But, it’s nothing special. This dish is
from a friend of mine in town. We all exchange various recipes that we have
created during the winter months. That’s when most of us have a lot of time on
our hands to experiment.”
“I can’t wait to pick your brain before I leave.”
“You could always stay the winter, Red, and I could
teach you first hand.” Her grandmother continued to eat her own soup, not
looking at her.
“Maybe,” was her only comment as she continued to eat
her soup.
They sat in silence and ate.
After she finished her soup, Rena picked up her roll
and bit into it. Just like everything else, the homemade roll and butter were
good. “How far is the diner?”
“Town is about ten miles. I’m sure Greta wouldn’t mind
taking you. You two should get along well.” Genma took her bowl to the sink
then began pouring the pot of soup into a container.
“I’m sure. However, I really don’t want to be a bother
to anyone. If you’re not taking your car, I could find it myself.” Following
suit, Rena went to the sink and ran dish water and began collecting utensils
and dishes around the kitchen to wash.
“Then I will leave you directions.” Genma took the
plastic container to the sink.
“Thank you.”
In a few minutes, they had the kitchen cleaned and
everything put away.
“Well, I’m going to turn in. Octavia and I have an
early start in the morning. Can I get you anything before I go?” Her
grandmother tossed the paper towel she had been using to wipe her hands into
the trash.
“Just tell me where you keep your tea. I want to make
another cup of it and maybe do some reading.” Rena felt like stripping off her
clothes and running in the moonlight more than a cup of tea, but that was
insane. So, instead she opted for a good book.
“Excellent. It is in the small canister beside the kettle
on the stove.” Genma pointed at the blue and white tin. “I believe there is
enough for another cup or two. When you need more, it is in the pantry in a
Laughing, Rena moved around the lower part of the
counter where the stove was to the bar above it and set down the bowls of soup
on the marble top. A memory flashed in her mind of her sitting at the bar when
she was younger, leaning over to watch her grandmother cook. Her grandmother
had just been starting to teach her the skills the last summer Rena was there.
Pushing the memory away, she claimed a seat. “This smells wonderful, Grandma.”
“I have some rolls from the diner in town.” Grabbing a
pot holder, Genma stepped to the side of the stove, opened the oven door and
pulled out the pan of rolls then turned the dial from warm to off. Moving
quickly over to the refrigerator she took out a small plastic container and
brought them both to the bar. “You are going to love these. The sweet butter
just makes all the difference as well.”
“I believe you. At this moment I feel so ravenous, I
could eat a bush of blackberries.” Rena wasn’t joking. Now that the threat of
the bear was gone and she’d smelled the soup, her stomach had begun to growl
and she was hungry, like she hadn’t been since she became ill.
“That is a good sign. Well, bless your food and dig in.
There’s plenty more if you want it.” Slipping onto a high chair, Genma popped
open the container and grabbed a roll. Splitting the bread, she slathered a
heavy amount of the buttery substance onto it. She set it on a napkin beside
Rena’s bowl and did the same for herself.
Tasting the first spoonful of soup, Rena moaned. The
vegetables in it were chunky but tender, and the broth was savory, creamy and
thick. It was the perfect chowder. It was the broth, different from any other
she had ever tried before, that seemed to make her want to drink directly from
the bowl. Rena was trying to figure out what it consisted of, but the heavy
amount of rosemary and fresh parsley was masking it. “Grandma, your cooking is
like none other.”
“Thank you. But, it’s nothing special. This dish is
from a friend of mine in town. We all exchange various recipes that we have
created during the winter months. That’s when most of us have a lot of time on
our hands to experiment.”
“I can’t wait to pick your brain before I leave.”
“You could always stay the winter, Red, and I could
teach you first hand.” Her grandmother continued to eat her own soup, not
looking at her.
“Maybe,” was her only comment as she continued to eat
her soup.
They sat in silence and ate.
After she finished her soup, Rena picked up her roll
and bit into it. Just like everything else, the homemade roll and butter were
good. “How far is the diner?”
“Town is about ten miles. I’m sure Greta wouldn’t mind
taking you. You two should get along well.” Genma took her bowl to the sink
then began pouring the pot of soup into a container.
“I’m sure. However, I really don’t want to be a bother
to anyone. If you’re not taking your car, I could find it myself.” Following
suit, Rena went to the sink and ran dish water and began collecting utensils
and dishes around the kitchen to wash.
“Then I will leave you directions.” Genma took the
plastic container to the sink.
“Thank you.”
In a few minutes, they had the kitchen cleaned and
everything put away.
“Well, I’m going to turn in. Octavia and I have an
early start in the morning. Can I get you anything before I go?” Her
grandmother tossed the paper towel she had been using to wipe her hands into
the trash.
“Just tell me where you keep your tea. I want to make
another cup of it and maybe do some reading.” Rena felt like stripping off her
clothes and running in the moonlight more than a cup of tea, but that was
insane. So, instead she opted for a good book.
“Excellent. It is in the small canister beside the kettle
on the stove.” Genma pointed at the blue and white tin. “I believe there is
enough for another cup or two. When you need more, it is in the pantry in a
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