He really wanted to make something beautiful, wanted to speak the language of trees and green and blue skies. Instead, he made French Toast for breakfast. He used Eggbeaters because his wife had replaced the real McCoy in hopes of less fat and better nutrition. The egg substitute worked well with milk because it was already liquified and he was able to whisk his way quickly to the soggy toast. He cooked it in a margarine that claimed “to taste like butter.” He sprinkled cinnamon over the toast, briefly wondering about the West Indies, the discovery of spices by the Dutch and Portuguese. In the end he added real maple syrup from Canada, so even though much of the meal was a fraud, it ended in sweet authenticity. He served it to his wife on a plate with organic blueberries. She was pleased by the tastes and the colors. After they had both finished, their two little dogs licked the plates and left them shining like the beautiful things he had been looking for earlier in the poem.
Beeper Peddle is a writer and healer living on the East Coast. She lives with her partner and their beloved soul puppy. Beeper writes about sorrows, lies, and deep loves. When you read her work, you will dip down into her heart and end up in all manner of body parts. Should you find yourself reflected in these words, it is merely coincidence; however, it does not surprise her you share the same heart. Find her at bethpeddle.com and @beeperpeddle on Twitter and Instagram
Jesse Millner’s latest poetry book, Memory’s Blue Sedan, was released by Hysterical Books of Tallahassee, Florida, in Spring 2020. His story, “Last night I dreamed,” appears in Best Small Fictions 2020. He lives in Estero, Florida, with his dog, Lucy, who is his heart. Twitter: @JesseMillner. Website: jessemillner.com. Instagram: jesse.millner.
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