Scenes

Him: Have you ever had a dog?
Her: Yeah. When I was two, I had a dog called chair.
Him: (quizzical expression) - Chair …?
Her: My parents said I could call him whatever I wanted so I called him chair
Him: hmm … so what happened to the dog called Chair?
Her: A table fell on it.

(I can’t actually take credit for this – it’s a scene from “The Secret Life of Us”)

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I was sitting in my room one night, minding my business.
A knock on the door,
My mum and aunt peer in
“I think you really need to see this”
With a little pique, I put down my book and get up.

In the kitchen is a big bowl of fried rice
A gift from my aunt
They called me out because I love fried rice
“Oh wow, thank you! It looks really good”
I grab a plate and start to help myself
“No oh!! This rice is for me. She brought it for me!”
My mother exclaims
“Yeah whatever, like you can finish it all by yourself anyway”
I continue spooning rice
(it was a small table spoon)

“Ok that’s enough”
My mother grabs the bowl and moves it away
I am holding a small side plate half filled with rice
“I’m hungry I haven’t eaten all day”
I state as I try to nudge her aside
“No!!! That’s enough. That’s enough for you”
She responds, most vehemently.
“Are you the person eating it? How would you know how much is enough for me?”
I ask still trying to push her aside.
“No! No more rice for you. And I don’t want to see your hand in it.”

I look at her quietly
I’m trying to judge whether or not she’s being serious.
“Ok. Don’t worry, I don’t want it anymore”
I place the plate by her side and walk out
“What do you mean you don’t want it anymore?”
She asks turning to me
“It’s ok. I don’t want it. I’m not that hungry. You called me out”
I respond as I head back into my room.

Half an hour later
My phone is ringing.
My mother.
I don’t pick up
Nor do I listen to the message.

An hour later
I get up and go to the kitchen to make pasta
“That rice would have gone cold”
My mother says as I pass by
“I told you that I don’t want it anymore. I am not going to eat it”
I make my pasta and go back to my room.

Much later, my aunt is leaving
I come out to say goodbye.
“Don’t mind your mother; I brought it for both of you”
“Aunty, don’t worry. I’m sure mummy will really enjoy it”
My mother sees her out.
I am watching TV in the living room when she returns
“So why were you being all sensitive about the rice?
Can’t someone joke with you anymore?”
I look at her wordlessly and with disdain
In faltering tones she continues
“I was just … I was playing with you so she would know how much I appreciated it”
I turn back to the TV.
“I didn’t think you were joking. And I didn’t want it anymore”
She stands there a bit longer. Then says
“Well … I’m sorry … if I embarrassed you.
I didn’t mean it”.
I carry on watching TV
Eventually she walks away.

A few days later my aunt comes to visit again.
I overhear her asking
“So did Noni eat the rice in the end?”
I don’t hear the response.