[Setting: a small automobile in a mid-sized city in northern Florida, USA. It is early morning. She is driving today; He occupies the passenger seat. The car pulls up to a curb. He opens his door and prepares to exit; in the midst of the usual love-yous, good-byes, and have-a-good-days, He suddenly remembers a specific item about which He meant to wish Her well.]
He: You’re going to lunch with The Stepdaughter today, aren’t you?
She: Yes.
He: Oh, well, have a good lunch then!
She: You have a good lunch, too. Did you bring tuna today?
He: No. Chicken salad.
She: You didn’t bring some of that beautiful tuna salad you made?
He: What tuna salad? I didn’t make any tuna salad.
She: That whole bowl of it in the refrigerator—
He: That’s not tuna salad. It’s homemade dog food for The Pooch — dog food you made!
She: (laughing) Oh.
The car drives away. There is no traffic, but He remains standing there for another moment or so — standing, and collecting his wits.
marta says
Well, I’m sure it is very good dog food. Good enough to share, in fact.
DarcKnyt says
He: What … what did I use to make the sandwich I have? I did use the chicken salad, right? Right? Yeah, I’m … I’m sure of. I-I’m sure … sure I did….
Great stuff, JES. Great. :)
moonrat says
heeheehee
John says
All: there’s actually another little twist to the story. Shortly after she put the dog food together the other night from rice, ground beef, salt substitute, a crushed multi-vitamin, etc., we were talking about why The Pooch was resisting eating it. The Missus allowed that she’d tasted it herself, and it wasn’t bad — the clear implication being that if it was good enough for her…
cynth says
Sometimes after leftovers have been in the fridge for probably longer than they should have been, I find that hubby has made a sandwich for lunch the next day and used…well, something I certainly wouldn’t have used! I always wonder afterwards–what was it that he actually ate? And did he know what it was when he was fixing his sandwich? I’m always too cowardly to ask later.
John says
cynth: That’s a frightening peek into your everyday lives.
On one level, everything in the fridge (unless you’ve got small kids with an interest in science projects, or work at a blood bank) should probably be considered edible. Yet we know better, those of us who grew up with mothers perhaps more optimistic than level-headed about the lifespan of leftovers.