Blue by ML Nystrom

Author:ML Nystrom
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-925655-93-3
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing

Fourteen

The kitchen was warm and filled with the smell of some sort of stew and baking biscuits. My mom was a miracle worker in the kitchen and had run her church’s Wednesday night suppers for years. Give her a half hour and she could put out a feast for thirty or more people. I still didn’t know how she managed that feat, but I was grateful for it.

“I like to use more buttermilk in my biscuits, but she don’t have none right now,” my mom was saying. “This here will work till we get some.”

Michelle was kneading more biscuit dough in a big ceramic mixing bowl, and Cody was carefully cutting out round biscuits with a floured drinking glass.

“Now careful not to work it too much. It won’t rise up good. That’s it! Good job, little bit,” my mom coached while she kept her own hands busy. The simple praise had the little girl beaming as she flattened the dough so her brother could punch out more biscuits. My mom shifted over to take a cookie sheet out of the oven and the fragrance of fresh buttery bread filled the room. I inhaled the aroma in appreciation.

“What’s fer supper, old woman?” my father bellowed as he entered the kitchen.

“A knuckle sammich iffen you call me old woman again!” she bellowed back.

Michelle giggled. I was filled with joy hearing it and laughed out loud myself.

“I put on cheeseburger stew. It’s fast and fillin’. Psalm, stir in some flour to thicken it a bit. Cody, finish up them biscuits and go wash your hands. You too, sweetpea. Got more flour on you than in the bread pan. Papa, you get bowls and plates out th’ pantry.”

My mom was in military mode and I saluted her smartly, earning more giggles from the kids. They rushed to the kitchen sink and my dad stopped his task to lift them both in turn to reach the running water. I stirred the concoction in the big stew pot simmering on the stove, dipping out a bowlful of broth and mixing in a handful of flour before pouring it back into the stew. I turned up the gas to let the mixture boil and thicken. Small pieces of potatoes, carrots, celery, ground beef, and lots of cheddar cheese made up the stew.

In no time at all we were seated around the round table I had in the corner of my kitchen, my mom ladling out big bowls of the delicious stew and my dad handing out golden biscuits. He said grace and the kids dug in like they were starving. Michelle peppered the table with questions while we ignored Cody feeding little bits of bread to the dogs.

“Why did you cut the potatoes and carrot so little?”

“Makes ’em cook faster.”

“Why’s buttermilk better for biscuits?”

“Gives ’em more flavor.”

“What makes them rise?”

“Bakin’ powder ‘n’ eggs.”

The questions continued as well as the patient answers. I wasn’t sure who enjoyed it more, my mom or Michelle.

After everyone ate their fill, the kids cleared the table and my father started washing up.

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