“Lin, go pick a tomato from the backyard.”
Lindy leaped off her stool, “Okay!”
She fought the screen door, it was always off-track,
and ran into the yard. The back of the house lined with vibrant green tomato
plants and prickly cucumbers. Lindy sifted her way through the plants; they
were about as tall as she was. Her mission, to find the brightest, plumpest red
treasure this plant had to offer.
“Got it,” she whispered aloud as she gave a gentle
tug.
Find one?” her mom looked up from spreading miracle
whip on the toasted bread.
“Ya, it’s a good one mom.” Lindy hopped back up on
the stool, elbows on the counter, she cupped her chin with her hands. Her hands
permeated with the smell of the plant.
Lindy watched as her mom washed the lettuce, tore it
piece by piece and placed it on the toasted bread.
She sliced the tomato, “You grabbed a perfect tomato
Lin.”
She sat a little taller, “Thanks, whatcha makin mom?”
“It’s a BLT, you’ve had one before,” She said as she
poured herself a Tab.
Lindy’s face scrunched up, “What’s a BLT?”
She took a giant swig of Tab, “Its bacon, lettuce
and tomato.”
Her mom slid the sandwich filled plate across the
table. “Let’s eat.”
Lindy put her mouth around the sandwich; the crunch
of the toast was familiar. Then she tasted the miracle whip, and before she
could say she didn’t like it the tomato came bursting through. The finale ended
with a salty crunch from the bacon and a fresh chomp of lettuce.
“Good, huh?” her mom nodded.
Lindy nodded furiously, licked a pinch of miracle
whip from the corner of her mouth, “Good.”
Lindy spent, approximately, the next four years ordering
a BLT at any and every restaurant she went.
Thanks to Write on Edge for another inspiring prompt.
Awesome! I so love BLT's. I just fried bacon this morning to make this fantastic bacony shrimp dish tonight. I was tempted to steal a couple pieces to make a BLT. Alas, I have no tomato.
ReplyDeleteYou did a good job with this, Lindy. There are some capital letter and punctuation issues here but overall, I enjoyed this piece:)
Thanks so much for the feedback. You may need to share that bacony shrimp recipe with us.
DeleteI'm not kidding- I have the same love affair with a grilled cheese. I feel like such a child ordering them at restaurants, but they immediately make me think of my grandma. I thought your food descriptions were fantastic. Cold bread, warm bacon, crunch, fresh. Good stuff, Lindy!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how food can bring back such vivid memories. I'm glad the food descriptions worked for you. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteI was never big on BLT 's , not a fan of tomato. But yours sounds delicious :)
ReplyDeleteGreat visuals crafted with your words
Thanks for stopping by Carrie. I always appreciate your feedback.
DeleteOnly two things that money can't buy and that's true love and homegrown tomatoes. I love that you shared the "instant dislike" that most kids get before they actually try something. This is a charming scene withal.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Store bought tomatoes just won't do.
DeleteI was never a tomato fan but used to steal green beans out of my mom's garden. But I do remember my mom making BLT's for herself at lunch time while we watched Days of Our Lives together.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you told it Lindy, it was engaging that way. Plus your descriptions were fresh and vivid for me, her going through the dscreen door, her nodding as she chewed...her face in her hands watching her mom make the sandwich. This is one of my favorites today!
ReplyDeleteKir,
DeleteThanks for your sweet feedback. I'm so glad you stopped by.
I haven't had one for years, but there's something about all these posts... Food writing brings out the sensualist in us all, even when we're musing on childhood culinary discoveries.
ReplyDeleteI love the hunt for the perfect tomato, and moment of distaste for the Miracle Whip. I still can't stomach the stuff. I'm a mayo girl through and through :)
I have them all the time with turkey bacon. Not quite the same... but at least the guilt isn't there. Thanks for reading Cameron.
DeleteYou really brought the nostalgia back with this--I can remember my mom making me a BLT! This was a great use of the prompt.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it worked. As I was writing it, I so wanted to go back to my childhood when my mom use to make me sandwiches. Thanks for the comment.
Delete