Returned With Notes
romanceEveryoneTwo days later the book is back. Every note answered. Under my 'Your move' they wrote: 'Okay. New rules. You pick the next book. Anything. I'll read whatever you love.' Then, smaller, like they almost didn't write it: 'This is the best conversation I've had all year.' Me too, stranger. Me too. But now I have to pick a book. And a book says a lot.
I panic and go weird: I leave a cookbook. 'Soups of the World.' On page 30, under a lentil soup, I write: 'This one got me through last winter.' It's a test. Anyone can be deep about a novel. Let's see them reply to soup. Five days later the cookbook is back. Page 30, blue pen: 'Made it. Burned the onions. Started over. Worth it.' And tucked at chapter 4: a folded index card. A handwritten recipe. Titled 'Mine.'
What happens next?
1 ways forwardThe card's title says 'Mine.' The bottom, in smaller writing, says: 'Okay, fine — Gran's. Don't skip the lemon.' I make it. I don't skip the lemon. Best soup I've ever had, and I write that on the card and return it tucked inside a new book. Blue pen, three days later: 'Gran says you can't have the cookie recipe until she meets you. Sunday. Bring the black pen.' I brought the pen. Gran approved. Eventually, so did everyone.