Evie slides her small slender frame up onto the counter of her cramped kitchen where she sits with her legs crossed. From this spot she can view the pink delicate blooms of the flowers in her compact backyard, willing the tranquility of the outside scene to wash over her. Her curly auburn hair lay at the side of her head as she took a deep breath in through her gently sloped nose and slowly exhales out her pursed lips. The phone is already ringing through to her sister's house. As Evie finishes the slow exhale, Jack picks up the other end.
“Hay Jack, is Abby there?” Evie asked her brother-in-law.
Jack responds cheerfully, “ you guys still coming this weekend?”
“That’s the plan.”
“That’s great! Let me get your sister for you.” Jack rushed.
Evie took another deep inhale and started chewing her nails as she tried to come up with an excuse to beg off this weekend but she could not think of one, besides she had just told Jack they were coming. Her sister interrupts her nervous biting and her brain lets go of its current path. Evie let out the breath she did not know she was holding.
“Hi, Evie! Jack said you and the family are coming, I’m so excited!” Said Abby, her voice running a bit high. “We haven’t been able to get together for a while, I’m so happy you guys can actually make it this time.” Abby hastily said in a bit of an accusatory tone
“Yep!... We’ll be there with bells on!” Evie says trying to muster some excitement about seeing her sister. “Just to let you know,” Evie rushed, as if an afterthought, “when you’re planning the meals don’t bother including Lilly except for Monday’s dinner. She’s being exceptionally picky right now, so I will bring her food. Chris, the boys and I are happy to eat whatever you’re planning.” Evie waited for the barrage of her sister’s latest opinions about her parenting. After the passing of their mother, Abby being three years older had gotten increasingly more critical about Evie’s parenting choices.
“You know, you spoil her too much!” Abby starts in on her sister.
“Maybe.”
“She’s going to get used to having whatever she wants, whenever she wants, you know? What happens when she grows up? Aren’t you afraid she will expect the same from the rest of the world?” Questioned Abby with the full weight of her disapproval of Evie’s parenting.
Evie felt herself shrinking back, and her inner voice trying to give rise. Evie knew this was not a question, it was a statement, and most likely one of many. Evie was, once again, wondering why she agreed to subject herself to a weekend of this! Why, of all weekends, did they choose one that was extended by a holiday?
“Thank you for your sage, exaggeration.” Evie quipped back with an equal measure of exaggeration. “She’ll be fine, letting her choose her food isn’t going to turn her into a serial killer.”
As a gesture of peace, Abby asked, “Is there anything in particular, you and your family would like me to make?”
Evie was about to quickly reply ‘no’, her sister had always been an excellent chef, as a result, all her meals were wonderful. However, in a stroke of brilliance, she asked her sister if she would not mind making her favorite. Her sister’s special waffle breakfast, one Lilly loved too, is the one breakfast her sister mades that she could never duplicate with the same success. Then, even though she hated to ask, knowing it would mean a lot of work for her sister, she decided to request her fried chicken. It was a unanimously favorite dinner of her and her families that Abby made, with the accompanying chocolate cake for dessert of course. “Oh,... and Abby could you make the fried chicken on Monday before we have to head home?” Evie added a bit cautiously.
“Wouldn’t that be better for Sunday? On Monday we will need to eat earlier so you guys can get home at a decent time.”
“I know, but trust me, Monday is better.”
Evie had wanted to tell her sister about Lilly and her plan but never had the chance to before they got off the phone. Evie also had to admit to herself she may have delayed having the conversation because she was not looking forward to it. Evie, already tired of her sister, ended the conversation, “We will see you all tomorrow, bye,” maybe a bit sharper than she intended.
Evie hung up and started making dinner. She had a long night ahead if she wanted to get her family ready to leave early tomorrow morning. Abby lived four hours away from the city, in good traffic. Evie started making a mental checklist of what she needed to pack. On this list she mused to herself, she needed to include some armor. Evie knew how her sister could be, although she loved her, there was part of her that regretted agreeing to the visit. Her sister may have made her doubt her ability to parent for a second, but she had a plan. It was a good plan. A plan she knew would work. And this peanut butter and jelly phase should be coming to an end this weekend.
Evie and her family arrived at her sister’s house Friday shortly before one o’clock. The cousins went right to work playing. They knew the rules, they had been drilled in the car. Abby had a yard big enough for the kids to get lost in, not including the barn and the many flat acres of ranch land. The kids knew they were free to roam, yet, still be able to hear the adults when they called for them. Evie’s kids are not used to having such a generous play area, they were always excited about the change.
“You made it!” Abby exclaimed, looking every bit Evie’s twin if it were not for the fact that she is two inches taller and a little fairer than her little sisters’ medium olive tone. She headed to the car to greet her sister and family. In Abby’s mind, her sister coming to visit was not a done deal until they actually pulled up in the driveway. Abby could not understand why they did not come to visit more often. She invited them at least once a month, yet they only made the trip once every three months at best. Abby rationalized to herself that even though Evie invited them to their house too, it was easier for Evie’s family to come to them. They had more space, and besides, Evie worked and she wouldn’t need to rush to prepare for company. Abby had thought it was far better for Evie and her family to come to them, neither family needed the stress of the city. Abby could never understand why they lived there.
“It was a long drive, but we are here at last!” Evie replied as she went in for the proffered hug from her brother-in-law. Evie then turned to her sister for a greeting from her as well.
“What can I help you guys carry into the house?” Jack asked, wanting to get the work of unpacking their guests out of the way. Abby remembered how Jack had conveyed his plan the night before of his intention to steal Chris away so they could go hide in the barn with a few beers. He had also told her how he looked forward to having his wife's family come to visit too, how it also meant the kids had playmates for the weekend and she would be busy entertaining, so it would give him a weekend free of chores. Jack didn’t tell his wife that he knew the weekend could be a bit hectic at times, as well as stressful if Evie decided to stand up to her sister. He knew Abby could be hard on her, but Evie was usually good at letting what her sister said just roll off her.
“If you can grab those bags,” pointing to the bags the children had brought, “and Evie and I can get the rest. Where are you bunking us this time?” Chris asked.
Both men stood about the same height, Chris had hair that was almost black and Jack was a dark sandy blond. They were both medium built and muscular, Chris had a gym body and Jack had earned his lean muscles through the many hours of physical labor on the ranch. These hours outside also made Jack perpetually tan where Chris only sported a light tan in the summer after a vacation. Otherwise, Evie liked to tease Chris that he had a year-round fluorescent tan.
Jack grabbed the bags and instructed everyone to follow him into the house. “We’re putting you and Evie in the guest room, and we decided all the kids are old enough to sleep in the rec room in the basement from now on when you visit.”
Chris and Evie replied with great relief in unison, “That sounds like a perfect arrangement.” Both Evie and Chris were wondering why they have not put the kids in that space for years. Their boys had been asking to sleep down there for the last three years at least. Instead, they have been cramming them all into the guest room that was barely big enough for two, definitely not five.
After all the bags were tucked away Abby spoke up, “We ate already, but I can make lunch for your family.”
“Thank you, but we stopped and had a picnic around eleven,” said Evie. “We knew it was going to be past your family’s lunchtime whether or not we stopped so I figured it was best to eat along the way. The kids would have been cranky if we would have made them wait this long to eat anyway.” It was already nearing three o’clock.
“My kids usually have a snack around this time, would your kids like one too?” Abby offered, not sure how much to say after their tense conversation on the phone the previous night.
“I am sure mine would be happy for food, whether or not they will want to stop playing is another question,” Evie replied as she took the last bag they brought with them and followed her sister to the kitchen. The bag, full of bread, peanut butter, and jelly was not heavy. Although Evie knew the conversation it would evoke would be.
Abby and Evie reached the kitchen and Evie started to unpack the peanut butter, jelly, and bread on the counter. She turned to her sister and asked her where she would like her to keep it for the weekend. Abby, pointing to a vacant corner of the spacious counter, informed her sister, “Your stuff can go there, where it will be out of the way.”
Then Abby without thought added, “I can't believe you brought that. Is that really all you are going to feed her this weekend? I could have supplied that for you, you didn’t need to bring your own.”
Evie was just about to tell Abby the story of how this all came to be and what her plan was to break Lilly of her picky eating when they were interrupted. Abby's kids had come in ready for their afternoon snack with Evie's kids in tow. It had been about four hours since any of the kids had eaten. Evie was sure her kids were hungry too, but she noticed Lilly wasn't with them. Evie asked her boys where Lilly was?
Then Ryan, Evie's oldest responded, "she's out playing outback. She said she wasn't hungry."
Evie smiled to herself, hoping this was a sign that Lilly was finally winding down this peanut butter and jelly phase. This was the first time she has not wanted a snack for a long time.
Saturday night, after dinner the kids had asked to be excused so they could finish a game they had started, Abby and Evie got up to clear the oversized table that sat just off the kitchen. Both Jack and Chris protested, saying they would do the dishes.
“Oh I know you will,” quipped Evie. “And we will let you, we’re just bringing them to the sink for you.”
“You’re both just too gracious,” teased Jack.
Evie, teasing in return, turns her head and makes a small mock bow replying, “too...true!”
The sisters sat back down at the table bringing with them some dessert and coffee, where they settled down for some conversation. Jack, who had never had a problem broaching any topic unceremoniously asked, “So Evie, what’s up with Lilly and those sandwiches? It looked like they were all PBJ.” Thinking the visit was going great up to this point, Chris looked to his brother-in-law with a face that expressed “why?” and “are you stupid?” at the same time. He was about to answer but his wife cut in before he could start.
“Well...” Evie replied, taking in a deep breath and letting it out before continuing, “I’ll tell you. A few months ago every time I asked Lilly what she wanted for lunch she would say peanut butter and jelly. Then that became her answer for what she wanted for breakfast and eventually dinner. I didn’t mind her having it for lunch, she was eating that with her fruit or veggies. And, when it became a breakfast request I figured that it was not any worse than the boxed cereal the boys were eating. Originally I was not letting her have them for dinner and making her eat whatever I made for the rest of the family, but she was becoming increasingly difficult about eating what was on her plate. Then…”
“You really let her control the family like that?!” Abby interrupted as her husband put a hand on her leg giving her a questioning look. Abby knew he was trying to warn her she may be pushing too far. They had argued over this Thursday night after she got off the phone with Evie.
Evie put her hand up with her palm facing her sister to stop. Abby, a bit stunned by the gesture, stopped talking and let her sister go on. Evie continued, “Then one day about four weeks ago we were at the grocery store doing our weekly shopping and Lilly had put ten loaves of bread, four jars of peanut butter, and five jars of jelly in the cart! I told her ‘This is too much, even for you. You’ll be sick of it before it’s all gone.’ She was sure this was all she wanted to eat for the rest of her life. So after some back and forth I made a deal with her...”
Abby broke in again “You should know better than to make deals with your kids. You’re the parent, you tell them!” Abby would have continued if it were not for all three sets of sharp eyes boring into her.
The four of them sat there for a few tense minutes. Evie was stewing in hurt, anger, and doubt. Then Chris gently asked his wife if she wanted him to tell the rest of the story or did she want to continue. Waiting a few seconds longer taking in some deep breaths she continued with a hard tone, daring anyone to interrupt her again. Abby, never having seen her sister this way was not sure what to make of it, she was surprised and a little scared.
“Anyway. I made a deal with Lilly,” Evie said. “I told her ‘If, and this is a big if, I buy all this, you will have to eat ALL of it, and nothing else until it is gone. That means even if we go out to eat, you go to a party, no matter what, you only eat this until it is all finished!’ then I asked her ‘do you understand?’ and she shook her head yes.” Evie could see that her sister was desperate to interject her two cents but Evie continued without giving pause to her sister’s rising desperation. “So I told Lilly a head shake would not cut it, her eyes grew big and round realizing mommy was serious. I made Lilly repeat after me ‘if mommy buys me all this bread, peanut butter, and jelly, then I will eat nothing else until it is gone.’ You have to put one hand over your heart and swear! So she did just that. I did inform her that we were not going to buy that much bread at once though. The bread would go bad before she could eat it all and I didn’t have that kind of freezer space. So we put about half of it back to make about four weeks’ worth. This weekend should wrap up this little experiment.”
Abby raised her hand as if in school to see if it was alright for her to talk. Evie nodded at her sister signaling to go ahead. Abby wanted to know how her sister could be so sure that this was going to end this picky child’s battle of wills.
Evie told the group, “I know my daughter, and after the first week I could see her faltering, but she is a stubborn one,” Evie said pensively. She went on and explained, “Sunday, when you make your waffles, Lilly will surely be ready to surrender, but she will not quite be done yet. So I will make her PBJ while we eat waffles.”
“That’s cruel, she loves my Waffles,” interjected Abby.
Evie responded after giving her sister a look that screamed “make up your mind,” making Abby wince a little. Then to the group, she replied, “This is what Lilly wanted, so I am holding her to it. This is, however, why I wanted you to make your fried chicken on Monday. That is her favorite and Monday breakfast will be the last of her supplies. The test will be if she eats the lima beans and corn you always make without complaint, she hates lima beans.”
“So that’s why you wanted the chicken on Monday!” Abby blurted out. “I just couldn’t figure out why you insisted on Monday when we have to eat a linner. I was almost going to make it tomorrow night anyway.”
Both of the guys gave each other a quizzical look and then shrugged an answer of I don’t know in response. Chris decided to ask the question, “What is linner?”
The sisters looked at each other than at Chris and simply stated in unison “Lunch and dinner,” then they started laughing. They realize that they were talking in sister code. Something that had not happened in a long time.
They sat around and talked about what was happening in their lives for another hour before they reluctantly roused themselves up from the table. The guys, to do the dishes, and the sisters, to round up the kids to get clean up before bed and then get ready for the traditional game of charades before calling it a night.
Saturday had come and gone. When Lilly saw the makings for the waffles in the morning she could not help but look excited. The slightly sweet fragrance of the batter hung in the air as Abby cranked out waffles for the large crowd. Mingling with the scent of waffle was that of warm maple syrup and the freshly squeezed orange juice. Evie however, held up the bag of bread and peanut butter for Lilly to see. Evie wanted her to know that she had not forgotten their deal even if Lilly had at that moment. She looked a little downtrodden at the sight but did not want to betray how she felt, so Lilly decided to act eager about eating her sandwich. It was too late though, her mom had seen the look on her face when seeing the breakfast laid out.
“Yay! Peanut butter and jelly!”, Lilly exclaimed with an over-vigorous yell, that revealed more anger than excitement.
“I can ask Auntie if she would waffle your sandwich, would you like that? Evie asked her daughter.
Lilly just nodded her head yes. She was still disappointed but it did make her feel a little better. The scent the sandwich made tickled the boys' noses and they asked if for seconds they could have waffled PBJs too. This also helped smooth the stormy mood Lilly had started to develop.
By Monday breakfast, Lilly was ready to tell her mom she was done, she just couldn’t eat one more of those sandwiches. But when she padded into the kitchen she saw her dad and uncle making breakfast.
“Where is mommy?” Lilly asked.
“Mommy and Auntie went to town early this morning to do some shopping. They will be back in a little while.” Chris told her. “Is there something I can help you with pumpkin?”
No, I just wanted mommy is all,” Lilly replied, feeling a bit put off.
Lilly did not dare ask her dad for a reprieve for her sandwiches, he knew the deal she had made and held her to it also even when mom was not home. So Lilly sat at the table as the torturous smell of french toast and bacon wafted in the air filling the kitchen. Lilly was almost ready to cry over her self-made predicament. Just then her dad informed her that she only had the makings of half a sandwich left after her breakfast.
“This will make a perfect snack,” Chris explained. “Auntie is making her fried chicken dinner with chocolate cake for dessert later. And Lilly girl, you can have that with the family or... I’m sure Uncle Jack here could rustle up the makings for another PBJ for you instead.” Chris knew there was no way she was taking him up on that offer. He had seen the look on her face when she realized that she was not getting out of eating yet another of her sandwiches for breakfast.
Lilly found herself smiling. She knew she was revealing her feelings. She could feel her own happy oozing out of her body at the prospects of sharing fried chicken with the family that evening. Lilly being eight years old had at times been wise beyond her years. This was one of those times. She reflected back in the past four weeks and realized that although she ate her meals with everyone else, there was a loneliness that had started to develop from not sharing the same food. Knowing this was coming to an end today caused joy to radiate out of her.
The sisters returned to the house just after noon and had started making dinner. Abby did most of the work but Evie helped where she could. The sky had been clear and there was just a hint of a breeze to soothe the skin as the day heated up. Abby had decided it was a good day to use the outdoor kitchen for frying. It had looked to Evie like Abby was going to fry enough chicken to feed a platoon, but her sister always knew what she was doing in the kitchen.
Around the house, Abby and Jack had landscaped part of their vast property. In the back, they had put in a sizable outdoor kitchen with an extra-large textured cement pad that could fit extra tables if the need arose. In viewing distance, they had play equipment installed for the kids as well as a playhouse. By four o’clock the family had assembled there for dinner.
Lilly was the first one to the table. Even though her aunt had cooked the chicken outdoors she could still smell the familiar aroma in the air. Lilly found herself closer and closer to the food preparation area and even caught herself having to wipe the drool from her mouth in anticipation of something besides a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The assembled group tucked into their meal. All you could hear was the soft chewing of many mouths and the song of a nearby robin for the first 5 minutes. When Lilly ladled in a mouth full of corn and lima beans without having to be told, Abby, Chris, and Evie put their forks down in surprise. Abby was the first to break the silence.
“I can’t believe it, she just started eating them,” whispered Abby not wanting Lilly to hear. ”It has been a fight every time you guys come.”
“Of course, my wife is a genius!” whispered Chris in response as he gently pulled his wife toward him to lay a soft kiss on her cheek.
Evie smiled at them both but said nothing. Evie didn’t want to draw the attention of her daughter. The little doubt that Evie had held onto about her plan working dissolved at that moment, a thousand-pound knot instantly unkinked itself. Although she was sure her plan would work she could not help but fear a little that it could blow up in her face. Evie feared that if Lilly looked at her at that moment she would be able to read her face and the work she had been doing could be lost.
It was Lilly who then pierced the silence. “This is so delicious I could eat this forever!” she said without any thought to her words as she took an oversized bite of her chicken leg.
Chris responded with, “You're joking...right!?”
Evie, however, did not say a word, she only needed to turn to her daughter with raised brows and focused eyes to convey her thoughts. Lilly knew her mother was saying “are you sure,” “do you know what you just said,” and “I can arrange that,” within that one instant.
“Just kidding!” Lilly stated when she realized her poor choice of words. “I wouldn’t want to ruin another one of my favorite foods,” Lilly recovered.
The adults laughed while the other children who had just been enjoying their dinner looked up and wondered what they had missed. Which roused more laughter from the adults.
The End