Picture 2
Kimberly Gould’s Picture Choice: Both
Title: The Best of Both Worlds
Jennifer slowly peeled the mask off her daughter’s finger painting. The two year-old had covered the entire poster board in bright colours, mixing, blending and streaking until Jen wasn’t sure where the mask was. Working from the corner, she pried the sticky paper off the stiffer board.
It worked like a charm, a map of the world now filled the board, coloured brightly and messily. When it was dry, she would mark the points of interest for little Kelly to identify when she got older. Here was home. That was where Grandma lived. That was where Baba lived. As she had before, Jen wonder what force must have been at play to bring together two people from so far away and join them, creating this new home. Nicholas’ parents were still back in Ukraine and she worried for them when she knew she shouldn’t. He didn’t seem worried at all. Her family still lived in South Africa, Johannesburg. And yet, coming to Boston for school, they met and stayed. Kelly was a full American citizen.
The door opened with a clatter. “I’m home,” Nicholas said with a slight accent. It had been slipping away more and more over the years. Hers had vanished before they finished at MIT. “You’ll never guess what I found?”
Jennifer checked on Kelly, reading one of her board books in the living room. “What’s that?”
“Something for both of us. I know compromise isn’t easy, so I bring you…”
He set the cupcake on the table in front of her before complimenting the map.
“That isn’t-”
“Da. Bacon cupcakes.”
Jen just stared in disbelief. She wasn’t sure if this was the best idea ever, or the worst possible combination of tasty foods.
“Try one,” Nicholas urged.
She’d made a lot of changes for this man, accepted a lot of new and difficult customs, language, religion… Closing her eyes, she bit into the confection.
Her eyes popped open. The natural sweetness of the bacon was accentuated with maple, the perfect compliment and maple blended the bacon with the super-sweetness of the cupcake. It really was the best of both worlds.
“Wow,” she murmured around her mouthful. Nicholas had already left her, picking up Kelly and bouncing her in his arms as he wandered the house.
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Kimberly Gould is the author of Cargon: Honour and Privilege, and it's sequel Duty and Sacrifice. She can be found most places as Kimmydonn, including Kimmydonn.com
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Cute story :) and in love with that world map! and hungry...
ReplyDeleteYou have started a fascinating story. Your insight into contemporary world events woven into the story of the Bacon Cupcakes creates a very romantic vison, capturing the detail of both photos. I'd like to read more about Jennifer, Nicholas and the two year old child.
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute little story of normal family activities but with tenderness and romance. Gorgeous.
ReplyDelete