ICE MAKER

“We’re out of ice cubes!” my son Alex called from the kitchen.

I was grumbling under my breath as I went into the kitchen. “The ice maker not working is driving me nuts!” I sighed as I took the two ice cube trays from the freezer, twisted them to loosen the ice, and dumped them in the ice holder that was in the door of the freezer.

“Thanks!” Alex said as he pressed his glass against the lever and ice began tumbling out.

“When did this turn into my job?” I asked as I went over to the sink and began filling the now empty trays with water.

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I keep forgetting about it. I just pushed the lever to get ice and nothing came out. I forgot we’re using trays now.”

I slowly walked the two trays back to the freezer and Alex opened the door for me. “Well, I guess it was worse when I was a kid.” I admitted.

“Why? What happened when you were a kid?” Alex asked as he went over to the sink and began filling his glass with water.

I’d spilled some water so I got a paper towel and began wiping it up. “Ice cube makers weren’t in the refrigerator yet.” I tossed the wet paper towel in the garbage. “We had metal ice cube trays stacked in the freezer but there really wasn’t anywhere to store the ice so, once you opened the tray everyone would take a few cubes out and toss the rest of the tray back in the freezer. Ice cubes would spill all over the place.” I shook my head and laughed. “It was just normal to go in the freezer, push a couple of loose cubes out of the way when you were on your way to getting the carton of ice cream.”

“That sounds gross.”

Now it was my turn to shrug my shoulders. “I’m pretty sure that’s why I’d rather not use ice in my drinks.”

Alex looked over at me with a confused look on his face. “I see you use ice in your drinks all the time!”

“That was before.” I corrected him. “When we had an ice maker. No muss no fuss.” I looked over at him and shrugged my shoulders. “Now that I’m the ice maker I think we’re all going to be cutting back on our ice use until everyone starts filling the trays.”

That’s when my husband Steven came into the kitchen. “Hey what’s everyone up to?” he asked as he opened the cabinet and took out a glass.

“I hope you’re not going to be filling your glass with ice.” Alex said.

Steven went over to the refrigerator and placed the glass against the lever to get ice. “Why are we out of ice again?” Ice cubes started tumbling out of the freezer door and landed in his glass. “There’s plenty.” He held up his glass to prove it.

“That’s because I’m the one filling the ice cube trays.” I complained.

Steven walked by and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re such a cute little ice maker.” He called over his shoulder as he headed to the sink to fill his glass.

I shook my head and laughed.

Alex looked over at me, a questioning look on his face. “So, are you over the ice tray problem?”

“I suppose.” I sighed then laughed. “Because I know neither one of you are going to remember to fill them.”

Alex smiled as he held his glass up. “See? You know us so well!”