The Liver Trick by Janet Sobczyk, 2014ⓒ
Bev was a busy homemaker,
a loving wife and mother, and a good cook.
She enjoyed making nutritious meals for her family. Her menus were balanced and the four children
learned to eat what was put in front of them… Mexican, Italian, Oriental, or
American cuisine. It didn’t seem to
matter much to the kids.
Her husband, Bill, was
a picky eater with a severe sweet tooth.
His favorite meals involved meat, potatoes, fruit, and dessert. He barely tolerated casseroles, didn’t like
many vegetables, and absolutely detested liver.
She did make liver a few times when the children were small because
“it’s loaded with iron and good for you.” But it always turned out as tough as
shoe leather. Bill couldn’t choke it
down.
As the kids grew up and
moved away, Bev still kept liver in the freezer, but not for consumption. She had discovered a much better use for it.
Bill usually came home
for lunch. He often worked late, so
lunch together at home was not only cheaper, it was a way to “feed” their
marriage. At the end of the simple meal,
while putting his dirty dishes by the sink he would always ask, “What’s for dinner
tonight?”
Bev usually had an idea
or a menu to quote. But once in a while
she just wanted to eat out. And for some
unknown reason, she didn’t want to be the one to suggest it. On those days, she had her answer to his
question at the ready. She would point
to the frozen package sitting in the sink to thaw. “Liver,” she replied.
Bill would sigh and say,
“Ok, see you later, dear.” Then he’d
kiss her cheek and head out the door.
As soon as his truck
pulled away, Bev would put the rock-solid package back in the freezer and wait
it out. Before long the phone would ring
and Bev would answer it with a smile, feigning surprise. It was Bill, of course. “Hey, let’s eat out tonight. Where would you like to go?”
Bill was never told
(and never seemed to guess) that Bev used the same package of liver for many years. It never had a chance to defrost, doomed to a
chronic case of freezer burn. Yes, Bev
was taking a calculated risk. Bill could
have decided not to call. Who
knows? Maybe he was just playing
along. But from her viewpoint it was a
fool-proof plan that worked. Every time.
