This is what happens when they are home. On grocery day, the green grapes are rinsed and dried in a colander. Once dry, they are placed in a large white bowl and set on the kitchen table. For the following days, whatever grapes remain are placed in a smaller and smaller bowl, so that each morning, there is always a full bowl of grapes. On the last day, the empty bowl is removed from the kitchen table.
The kitchen table. Sturdy and worn. Sturdy and worn from two childhoods worth of things placed on it. Two childhoods worth of groceries, stacked bag over bag, rising up fourfold and shadowing the old rowhouse. Cinnamon toast, scrambled eggs, and bananas cut in two with the peel partially started on each half. French toast. Sunday morning breakfasts of eggs to order, scrapple, chocolate chip pancakes, fresh cut fruit. Two childhoods worth of homework assignments, class projects, and book reports. Macaroni & cheese, ham steaks, and broccoli. Two childhoods worth of beef stew with egg noodles, black beans and rice, chicken thighs and butternut squash. Sarge’s Chicken. Broths upon broths. Chicken noodle soup, chicken and rice soup, chicken and vegetables soup, beef noodle soup, ramen noodle soup. Corn on the cobb. Grilled steak, grilled vegetable, grilled bread. Two childhoods of worth of cookie making, cupcakes, and cakes. Strawberry crumble. And bowls and bowls and bowls and bowls of ice cream!
