Comfort Food

By Anna Carey

Illustration: Shutterstock

UPLIFTING SHORT STORY WRITTEN BY CILLA MOSS

I needed to find the perfect treat to try and improve this challenging day!

It’s been a chocolate-spread-straight-from-the-jar kind of day. I’ve had all-the-biscuits-in-the- packet days, and I’ve had Yorkies-dipped-in-peanut-butter days . . . but Nutella days are special.

They’re for the days when not one thing goes right.

When Danny came in with the shopping, he found me in the kitchen with the empty jar, licking the spoon.

“Oh, dear,” he said. “So, Frank won’t let you have next weekend off after all.”

“Nope.”

“And when you called the spa?”

“They charged me a cancellation fee.”

“And your sister . . .”

“Was absolutely delighted to postpone the spa weekend she’s been looking forward to for months.”

He hoisted his bags on to the counter and began unpacking groceries.

“I suppose it’s a good sign that they want you there for the conference.”

Danny always looked on the bright side.

I grunted. “Also, the washing machine blew up, the rubbish bag split, and my succulent died.”

“No wonder that jar’s empty.”

“Actually, there was barely anything in it. I’m about to start a new one.”

“Put the veg away as you go?” He handed me carrots and a cabbage.

“How’s your day been?” I asked.

“Not bad. Remember the lady we built the bird perch for?”

He set out the chopping board.

“She called in to the office.”

“With or without her cockatoo?” I asked, picking up some green beans.

“With, of course.” He grinned. “I wasn’t there, but Andy said he threw all the papers and stationery everywhere.”

I laughed imagining it, as I topped and tailed the beans. Danny set a pan on the stove and unwrapped fresh mackerel.

“Anyway, she came all the way into town to bring us a basket of apples. She wanted to thank us for the work we did on Percy’s perch.”

“You did,” I corrected.

He’d made sure it was exactly what she wanted, using his carpentry skills to mend Percy’s cage at the same time.

He shrugged modestly.

“That’s nice, though, huh? I brought my share of apples home.”

The apples were vivid red, glossy and crisp. They even smelled good.

“Try one,” he said as he tipped potatoes into a saucepan and checked the fish.

I bit into one of the apples. The deliciousness of the crunch was matched by the gorgeousness of the juice.

“This is the most apple-tasting apple I’ve ever had,” I said. “Can we let Sal have a couple?”

“Sure. There’s plenty.”

I texted my sister, starting with To make up for letting you down this weekend, before offering her the apples.

I hated disappointing Sal. She’d had a hard time recently, too. Someone rolled a cupboard over her toe at work.

“Did you pick up those brownies I wanted?” I asked Danny.

“In the cupboard.”

I paused a moment thoughtfully, and then went on with my apple.

“I didn’t tell you the best bit,” Danny said. “The cockatoo liked our office so much she wants me to build him a desk and computer!”

I went into hysterics.

While Danny was finishing the salad, there was a knock at the back door.

“Come in!” I yelled. It was only Sal who came in that way.

She came in, hobbling on one crutch.

“Got your text. Thought I’d drop in on my way home.”

“Great timing,” Danny said. “Fancy some dinner?”

“I was hoping you’d ask. I brought dessert.” She pulled frozen yogurt out of her bag.

“How’s your foot?” I asked.

“Not bad.” She flexed and pointed it. “How’s the diet?”

I blushed, thinking of the chocolate spread, before I remembered I hadn’t actually eaten much of it. And otherwise, I’d done pretty well all day.

“Not bad,” I said, almost with surprise.

We finished laying the table. Danny served up.

“By the way,” she said, “it’s great they want you there next weekend for the conference.

“I’m glad the new job’s going well. I’m proud of you.”

I blushed again.

“Ask Danny about his day,” I said, helping myself to the salad. “He’s building an office for a cockatoo.”

Sal found the story hilarious and her laughter was infectious. Eventually, I got up to clear the table. “Frozen yogurt?”

“What about the brownies?” Danny asked.

I shrugged. “They’ll keep.”

Sal raised her glass to me. There would be brownie days. There would be chocolate spread days. But steamed veg and fresh apples could be comfort food too, in the right circumstances.