Sunday, April 29, 2007

Love stories and left-overs....

I whipped the twice-baked potatoes out of the oven and slung them as hard as I could at the cold tile wall above the kitchen sink. I watched them stick, cheese glued, to the riveted grout, and then slide, like lazy slugs , down the wall, and plop into the stainless steel sink.

I hit the button.

The disposal devoured them like a pit bull on a pile of baby rattle snakes.

THE BREAK-UP.

He freaked. Had never seen me so volatile. So Alive, really. Had never seen me so…“So what?”

It was raining, summer sleet….the sliding glass doors were covered in a hard-water stained film, the rain pounding on the other side….steam rising off the concrete patio. From the kitchen, where I stood, Michelob in hand, he was just a shadow on the other side of a dirty shower curtain…..

I watched, cat-eyed, as he mounted the bike and rode off into torrents, the rain pelting his face….

“God, I hope he’s okay…he makes it home safe”

I glanced at the sink. Little dribbles of bacon, aged Wisconsin cheddar, and remnants of potatoes tattooed the stainless steel.

“I’ll worry about it tomorrow”

I plunked my skinny little fanny onto the corduroy couch and finished my beer. “There!” I waited for the tears to come, the wailing, the flailing, the “Oh my God, I just called off a wedding" blues to come……

I drank another beer. And looked at the clock. Got up and looked at the sink again.

It’s twenty years later, and I’m still hungry for those twice-baked potatoes……

32 comments:

Bardouble29 said...

Take it from someone, who didn't walk away...it's better to be honest and call it off; than to stay and spend the next twenty years wishing you had ended it in the first place.

And those potatoes looked awesome, ummmm now I am hungry.

SHE said...

i want to give you the master-of-the-short-story award for this one!

great read!

singleton said...

Bardouble.....eeeks! I accidently deleted the potatoes! Some things are just not meant to be.....
And I know what you mean, that's what I was afraid of.....

She...Whew! Thank you! I was afraid this one would get me the "What on earth are you babbling about now?" award!

`NEFTY said...

Love the drawing:]

Anonymous said...

Nice lil blog....

The PR you went in was Krispy Kremes wasnt it? LOL LOL LOL LOL

singleton said...

nefty...Thank you girl....

yazmar....Oh My Gawd, you saw me there? LMAO!

Jacob said...

1) Do you write for a living?! Croly HAP, that was awesome.

2) Repost the potatoes. Quick.

JustRun said...

Wow, I want to go back to 5th grade right now and have YOU be the teacher that taught me what illustrative writing is.

singleton said...

gawpo....I think I lost the damn potatoes for good :)

Justrun...Trust me...Nobody's parent wants me for their kids's 5th grade teacher! Live and Learn....And pass the potatoes, please.....

kj said...

oh geez. i agree with justrun and she. writing runs in the family. i have this vision of the twice baked potatoes and i think i always will. that alone, singleton, is proof of a fine piece of writing. and you've mastered brevity too.

ok, i'm giving you compliments in case you might need them one dark day. for example my $$#@&& book agent just told me i should hire a 'professional writer' to help me with my book proposal. i am healthy enough to be offended. i am changing agents.

that's all!

:)

Unknown said...

You are an amazing writer, with a true gift for words. I've never called off a wedding, but I've said goodbye a time or two, and was surprised when I only felt relief!!

Me said...

:drama:

Spadoman said...

When I threw food out of a fit of anger and rage, I never looked back. I just got something else to eat.

He pulled up on his Harley after the rainstorm, kicked down the passenger pegs and walked up to the house. No knocking nonsense here, he wanted to ride and she was primed and ready. He finally had his chance. He had waited for her to dump his sorry ass and now she was free to love him. He slid open the door and she smiled when she saw his face.

Oh, that would be one of the fellas waiting in line at the end of the driveway. I bet they're still lined up out there.

singleton said...

kj....TY! Skinny has the gift of words all wrapped up like a sixth sense. Me, I was just really, really whining for those potatoes! And LOL with healthy you and me, canning the Agent and The Lover at proposal time!

Just me....I totally understand, maybe it's because Goodbyes, like hellos, are sometimes welcomed, too!

Orhan....Queen :) !

singleton said...

Sweetspado....
Man we write a good story!
Listening for the sound of the tires crunching on the gravel now...

skinnylittleblonde said...

Sister Love! I love this post & throw my vot in on SHE's nomination!

Spadoman's add-on was great! Lol, I love it!

Twice-stuffed potatos...yum! yum! and in the budget! I think we'll have to have some tonight! Just give me peace & some potatos please! :)

skinnylittleblonde said...

((my vote))

Gill said...

I too, am a Potato Whore. I would have done the same thing. One mustn't break up with Potatoes. Then some tears would have really fell hard....
Thanks for your comments! I love your writing.

mindy said...

i called off a wedding and i never looked back.

vicci said...

Yep...thats just the way it is...some things they never change...I think Bruce Hornsby sang that song...glad you called it off....we women have wasted more good food that way! :-)
Love ya Sweetie...

Justgivemepeace said...

Blue....Absolutely never again will I break up on an empty stomach!

Mindy....And that's the way it should be! Butterflies are free!

Vicci....Funny how everything happens for a reason, even if we don't know it at the time, huh?

Katherine said...

Wow! Just ran into your site. Great little story!!

JR's Thumbprints said...

So which baked potato was overcooked? Or do some people like'em that way?

Spadoman said...

Learnin' a lot about you women and yer appetites here. I'll keep this all in mind.

She went to the door as he stood there. His leather pants and black ribbed sleeveless T showed himself to her. She wiped the last of the moisture from her eye and had that smile plastered to her face. He grabbed her hand and went out to the scooter. The gravel spun out from the tire and the pipes purred a sweet love ballad.

No words were spoken as they rode away, hair in the wind, cooling hot spots on their bodies, destination unknown, hungry, complete.

singleton said...

luxurious choices....TY! :)

JR..They were perfect! Perfect! Or at least I imagined them to be!

SweetSpado....And a million years had passed. Thousands of miles. Between them. Behind them. They laughed and leaned into the wind....

M@ said...

"From the kitchen, where I stood, Michelob in hand, he was just a shadow on the other side of a dirty shower curtain….."

Nice!

singleton said...

matt....ok, you might be catching on to my housekeeping talents!

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

There was no way I was going to scroll down and read this, but your first post bullied me into it.

I'm a bit too jealous to like you just now. YOU, not your writing.

(Bugger. I need to up my game.)

You're world class, girl!

singleton said...

Shrink wrapped....LOL! Brownies never bully!

phaseoutgirl said...

Hey Singleton...

Wow... you rock, girl!

I always "admire" those women who can throw things and smash things during breakups... I am much much too controlled for that, and it IS freaky sometimes!!!

But I did love the potatoes too, and hmmm who would have thought that it would be the one thing that would stick with your readers??

You have an absolutely amazing way of writing, and I appreciate coming across your blog!!

cheers,
Cecilia

singleton said...

phaseoutgirl....I love your name! LOL! Usually I'm a stomper and a slammer! Rarely do I pitch anything other than a hissy fit, but those damn potatoes, I just can't get over' em! Peace and cheers in return!

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