Amuse bouche... No spice

‘When do you think we can go back to normal?” said Dominic. “Funnily enough, I’m not actually involved in those decisions,” said Lorraine. “Though I’ve a sneaking feeling that never is the answer.”

“Jesus, don’t say that,” said Dominic. “Anyway, I meant the eating. When are we going back to normal dinner time?”

“What was wrong with the dinner?” said Lorraine.

“Well, the kids were there,” said Dominic. He laughed, but it came out a bit like a cough. He wasn’t sure if the look Lorraine shot him was because she perceived criticism of the dinner or the kids, or if she was worried he was sick.

“The kids are always here,” said Lorraine. “Did you miss that memo in March?”

“I meant at dinner, every single night,” said Dominic. “Do you think we could go back to normal soon and they could eat, well, whatever, and then you and I would have our dinner later?”

“That was grand when you got in from work later than me,” said Lorraine. “But do we really want to get into cooking two dinners when we’re all here all the time?”

“I miss vegetables,” said Dominic. “And spicy stuff. And things that have a lot of sauce. And things that have no sauce. And things that look funny but taste good if you’d only give them a chance without 10 minutes of coaxing and then a row.”

“Jesus, that’s bad,” said Lorraine. “I thought you liked eating as a family.”

“Ah, don’t do that now,” said Dominic. “It’s nothing against them, but we’re just eating what they like and what about us?”

“I read that the crisis really brought families around the table together again,” said Lorraine. “Eating family dinners and having quality time and the kids mucking in.”

“That mucking in ended months ago, though,” said Dominic. “They haven’t lifted a finger in ages and it’s not like they have much news to share of a dinner time anyway. Would you not throw a bit of pasta at them early evening a few nights and we could have a veg curry ourselves, or remember that Moroccan thing you used to make? Blow your head off.”

“I thought I’d done a good job expanding their eating horizons,” said Lorraine. “They loved my coq au vin and the massaman curry went down a treat.”

“That’s great, you’re a great mother,” said Dominic, “but is there even a single chilli in a massaman?”

“No,” said Lorraine.

“We need to spice things up again, love,” said Dominic.

“You’re telling me,” said Lorraine.