I was in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher while my son Alex was standing next to me spreading peanut butter on some crackers.
“We literally just finished dinner.” I said as I opened the cabinet to put the clean glasses away. “I can’t believe you’re still hungry!”
“I’m not hungry for more pot roast. I’m hungry for some peanut butter crackers now.” He laughed as he licked the knife before tossing it in the sink. He stopped for a moment. “This peanut butter tastes burnt.” He said as he looked down at the crackers sitting on a paper towel.
“Didn’t you just open the jar?” I looked over at the jar of natural peanut butter that was sitting on the counter-top.
Alex nodded as he balled up the paper towel, with the crackers in the middle, and headed for the garbage. “It happens sometimes with the natural peanut butter.” He sighed as he tossed the paper towel in the trash. “Well, that was a waste.”
“Don’t throw it away!” I grabbed the lid and screwed it back on the jar before putting it aside. “I’ll feed it to the birds.”
Alex looked confused. “How are you going to do that?”
“Easy.” I said as I grabbed a handful of silverware and headed for the drawer. “I’ll spread it on a pine cone and hang it up in a tree.”
“They’ll eat burnt peanut butter?” He asked as he went over to the cabinet to find another snack.
“They’ll love it!” I said with complete confidence.
When I was finished with the dishes I found a pine cone and began spreading it with the peanut butter. Tying a string around the top I took it outside and hung it from a tree branch. Standing back, hands on my hips I watched it swaying in the breeze. “Well, you look terrible but they’re going to love it.”
A week later I was looking out the window at our back yard when Alex came up beside me.
“What are you looking at?” He asked.
“The birds haven’t touched the peanut butter bird feeder.” I looked over at him. “I was absolutely positive they would love it.”
Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe they would have if it had regular peanut butter and not that burnt stuff.”
“It wasn’t that burnt.” I argued.
“Really?” Alex pointed out in the yard. “You weren’t the one who tasted it.”
“Well, I’m not tasting it now!” I laughed. “It’s been swinging from a tree for a week!”
Alex shrugged his shoulders again. “Maybe you’ll trust me the next time I say somethings bad.”
“You always think something tastes bad.” I reminded him.
He pointed out to the back yard again. “Looks like I was right about the peanut butter.”
I went to the drawer and took out a pair of scissors. “I guess it’s time to cut it down.” I sighed as I headed to the back door.
“Why don’t you leave it on the ground to see if the chipmunks won’t eat it either?” Alex suggested.
“Nope.” I held up the scissors. “It’s going in the garbage now.”
“Exactly where it should have gone a week ago!” Alex laughed.
Slice of Life 