The Cook by Wayne Macauley

Author:Wayne Macauley
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781921834837
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Published: 2011-10-03T04:00:00+00:00

It was strange waking up in my new room the alarm went off just after dawn. All those months in the bunkhouse now here I was the lap of luxury la-de-da. I put on my uniform checked myself in the mirror and went downstairs by the long way to the kitchen. It was funny being in there but good too it was not like I hadn’t worked for it. The Master came in already dressed a new suit and tie that’s right he said you’re here like yesterday was a dream. He took an apple from the bowl on the bench and went out again. I could hear a car outside its motor running then the sound of it driving away.

It was still early about seven but already I could hear Melody up the dog yapping along the edge of the pool. I unloaded the dishwasher from the night before put the dishes away and set the dining room table. There was still no-one around. The breakfast options were pretty limited I would need to go shopping soon but in the meantime there was cereal toast eggs and bacon I made a quick hollandaise. Soon the rest of the house was stirring. The Mistress was up I could hear her talking her voice raised then the sound of the front door closing. Shortly after that she poked her head into the kitchen. She was in a mauve silk dressing-gown her hair pinned up her make-up already on. Good morning! she said and she went out again. I made myself a piece of toast and coffee and sat on a stool at the bench.

When Melody came into the kitchen it was like I wasn’t there. She was dressed very sharp a knee-length black skirt black boots a bit of red lipstick her hair still wet smelling of herbs and spices. I stood up. Good morning Melody I said what would you like? Listen she said listen to me I don’t agree with this I think it’s fucked but all right listen she said changing tack I don’t want to spoil it for you so poached eggs on toast and a strong cafe latte. She went back into the dining room. I got to work. A saucepan of water on the stove a tablespoon of vinegar in it sourdough bread in the toaster the coffee machine on the coffee ground. The two eggs when they came out were close to perfect I drained them trimmed them laid them on the toast like babies on a bed. I swirled a clover pattern in the top of the coffee and brought everything out to the dining room. Melody was reading the paper her mobile flat on the table she rearranged the paper when I put the things down the salt and pepper grinder just in reach. She waited till I finished she wasn’t giving anything away. Will there be anything else? I asked. She shook her head she seemed sad. Is everything all right? I asked.

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