He left the house saying he was walking but was really going for french fries. Canto's Pizza, three blocks away. His wife would say, don't get them, remember your heart, our healthy lifestyle. Ten years since the procedure, he'd say, and we moved to the city to walk places, get exercise. His doctor's words—moderation, and forget the salt.
Tuesdays she worked afternoons at the bookstore, and he'd secretly go, buy a large order, sit in a corner with a newspaper. Fries covered in vinegar, veins of ketchup. Like sunny beach days of his youth, free-flowing arteries, greasy boardwalk food. Sunlight toasting his back, he'd swim to that dangerous spot where the ocean could swallow him. At night, he'd lie in bed, feel the ocean's rush all over again.
So this Tuesday, immersed in his paper and food, he heard a familiar voice: his wife's. She ordered pizza and onion rings, food he'd not seen her have in ten years, sat in a different corner and read. Oblivious to him. The paper as shield, he peeked at her occasionally enjoying the food. He wanted to stand, say, what about eating healthy, but she looked young, happy. Every Tuesday could be a date, he thought, he lurking as her secret admirer, the two of them living unhealthy.
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Life sucks without salt, sugar and things that are white.
All the things that make you happy you can't have.
How lovely. And so true for so many of us who have learned to cheat on our mates in this new way. Well done, and I particularly like how you chose to end the story. Nice.
Cool. A food story with spying and cheating and all the intriguing stuff to avoid.
Very straight forward with the language here: "So this Tuesday, immersed in his paper and food, he heard a familiar voice: his wife's. She ordered pizza and onion rings, food he'd not seen her have in ten years, sat in a different corner and read." I like that. Works well. Makes for a good read. Good form, Christian.
I love this!
A beauty! So much fun.
(smile)
feeding the soul's sometimes mor important than feeding the body
A nice read Christian. I was told to give up things like bacon. Pfffft. No way.
Thanks, all, for reading and commenting!
"Free-flowing arteries" as a symbol of youth. Makes me smile.
This is so lovely. However, I am against putting ketchup and vinegar together.
Thanks, Jane and Kirsty!
Home run. Favorite.
Thanks, Meg!
One of my favorite things to do is eat junk food (burgers and fries in particular...my new fave is "Five Guys") while reading the paper and not talking to anybody.
Great piece here, especially the narrator thinking about the ocean and how that ties in so nicely here.
If you send this out for pub, I'm not crazy about the last line. Instead, I'm thinking something like "He hoped they could do this every Tuesday."
Thanks, David. Yeah, love Five Guys too!
I'll give that last line suggestion some consideration. Thanks for that!
Sneakin Snacks! So real!
Sweet that he avoids the double "ah ha!" and just enjoys the sight of her, knowing that she is as happy there as he is. This was charming.
Veins of Ketchup. Man, that's good!The two of them living unhealthy. Great.
Oh, yes, favorite. My wife scolded me just last night when she couldn't find the organic blue corn chips she'd hidden from me. I found them earlier behind a carton of lime-flavored Perrier and ate them all, sprinkled with cayenne and extra sea salt. I try my best to eat the healthiest possible junk food.
Thanks, Jason, Laurita, Darryl, and Barry (hilarious story about the corn chips)!
Love that bit about his boardwalk days then leading to the lines about the ocean-gorgeous.
Speaking of five guys, I used to to the original one- the only one then! In Arlington VA. In an industrial garage! It was hilarious. Amazingly good.
Delightful, charming, making me hungry.
Thanks, Shelagh and Sara!
Christian, you just nailed this one! So, so good, true, enjoyable...!
Thanks, Foster!
Great story. Two people who live three interconnecting lives.
Brilliant! "the two of them living unhealthy". Lovely, and so meaningless and insipid. Wish I could do that.
I love this piece. It's just such a great idea. Nice!
YOu make me miss the French fries of my youth -- bought at roadside stands in Quebec's Laurentian mountains. They were served in a brown paper bag, the grease smear like a rorshach that grew upward along the sides from the bottom. Vinegar and ketchup and fresh air, our legs strong from swimming and our arms strong from canoeing. Lovely.
Thank you, AJ, S.H., Kevin, and Gita!
Great story, Christian. You capture the pleasures of small secrets wonderfully.
Thank you, Marcelle!
Nice one. REALLY nice one! Thanks.
Thank you, Philip. I'm glad you liked.
Christian - never had good fries in a pizza joint, or good pizza in a burger house, but you serve up a delicious mix at Bell's Emporium.
Your imagery is great. it makes me hungry for more.
This is just great. Someone told me the other day that I'm too much in my head, not mindful enough of the tension I carry in my shoulders -- I say, let's just east some well salted fries and read more Bell. :)
Thanks, Michelle (just recently), Alex (a few weeks back), and Walter (forever ago)!
Mmmm french fries covered in vinegar. Damn! Is it that they are lying to each other unnecessarily, or that the misdemeanour is thrilling enough to hold them together. Either way it's tasty.
Just found this one Christian. Delightful. You da best! *
Wow, Jack, thanks for that!
So touching. I love the "veins of ketchup" detail.