Green Beans & Empty Cupboards
Momma I'm hungry. June bug came into the kitchen as I washed last night's dish. I set the pan back down in the dish rack, opened the cabinet door hoping that magically it has changed over night. But I already knew there was nothing left to fix. Inside a can of green beans and a dried bag of pinto beans. The cabinet remained empty beyond that.
I could remember when it had been filled with soups, crackers, and cereals. It hadn't been stocked like that for months. As hard as I'd tried to restock it, my efforts had been in vain. Every attempt only ended in empty cupboards and a pile of bills. The stress of our situation weighed heavy on my broken heart.
"You know what sounds so good," I forced out with an upbeat tone and smile. "Green beans."
"We had those last night." she replied.
"I know, but I love them so much, I just want to eat as many as I can." But in reality I was just as sick of canned vegetables as she was. We all where.
June bug sighed, "Fine." She pulled out the rickety old wood chair next to the dark wooden kitchen table, neither matching the other. "At Mindy's house they're mom makes more than green beans."
"Really?" I again forced a smile. "That doesn't sound nearly as exciting."
Mom, just cause you like green beans doesn't mean I like them."
"Oh, I thought everyone liked them." I said sarcastically as I set the beans down on the counter and began searching for the can opener in the silverware drawer.
"No, other people have other stuff like apples and grilled cheese sandwiches."
"Wow, no green beans? I don't think I'd like a world without green beans." I joked while locking the handles together on the can and began turning the nob with my right hand. The can rotated as the can opener worked around the aluminum container, removing the top lid little by little, until a pop sound indicated it'd been completely removed. I drained the beans and poured them into a cereal bowl, thirty-five seconds later the microwave had heated them. I sat down next to June and handed her a fork.
She piled up two of three pieces and shoved them into her little mouth. I had three bites and stopped, leaving the remainder of the bowl for her. I smiled touching her golden locks, overwhelmed I couldn't hold back the tears. Not wanting June to see me cry I rushed to the bathroom. The tears streamed down staining my cheeks. I slid down the locked door, no longer able to keep myself upright.
After a few minutes June was at the door. "Mom, I'm all done. What are you doing?"
I breathed in deep, shuttering a little as I struggled to catch my breathe and grabbed a handful of the 1-ply toilet paper, wiping away the tears and runny nose. "I'll be out in a moment." I announced.
I could hear June on the other side of the door. While she waited for me to finish.
"Momma, can you see my fingers?" she said, sliding her tiny fingers under the crack between the carpet and titled floor.
Her little sweet question made a laugh escape. "Why, yes I do."
"How about now?" she inquired again, this time wiggling her fingers up and down.
"Yep." Standing up from the bathroom floor I threw away the tear soaked toilet paper in the trash. She stood up as I opened the door between us. Her sun kissed freckled nose and hazel eyes twinkled with joy just at seeing me. I picked her up and hugged her. "I love you June bug."
"I love you too momma bug."
Momma I'm hungry. June bug came into the kitchen as I washed last night's dish. I set the pan back down in the dish rack, opened the cabinet door hoping that magically it has changed over night. But I already knew there was nothing left to fix. Inside a can of green beans and a dried bag of pinto beans. The cabinet remained empty beyond that.
I could remember when it had been filled with soups, crackers, and cereals. It hadn't been stocked like that for months. As hard as I'd tried to restock it, my efforts had been in vain. Every attempt only ended in empty cupboards and a pile of bills. The stress of our situation weighed heavy on my broken heart.
"You know what sounds so good," I forced out with an upbeat tone and smile. "Green beans."
"We had those last night." she replied.
"I know, but I love them so much, I just want to eat as many as I can." But in reality I was just as sick of canned vegetables as she was. We all where.
June bug sighed, "Fine." She pulled out the rickety old wood chair next to the dark wooden kitchen table, neither matching the other. "At Mindy's house they're mom makes more than green beans."
"Really?" I again forced a smile. "That doesn't sound nearly as exciting."
Mom, just cause you like green beans doesn't mean I like them."
"Oh, I thought everyone liked them." I said sarcastically as I set the beans down on the counter and began searching for the can opener in the silverware drawer.
"No, other people have other stuff like apples and grilled cheese sandwiches."
"Wow, no green beans? I don't think I'd like a world without green beans." I joked while locking the handles together on the can and began turning the nob with my right hand. The can rotated as the can opener worked around the aluminum container, removing the top lid little by little, until a pop sound indicated it'd been completely removed. I drained the beans and poured them into a cereal bowl, thirty-five seconds later the microwave had heated them. I sat down next to June and handed her a fork.
She piled up two of three pieces and shoved them into her little mouth. I had three bites and stopped, leaving the remainder of the bowl for her. I smiled touching her golden locks, overwhelmed I couldn't hold back the tears. Not wanting June to see me cry I rushed to the bathroom. The tears streamed down staining my cheeks. I slid down the locked door, no longer able to keep myself upright.
After a few minutes June was at the door. "Mom, I'm all done. What are you doing?"
I breathed in deep, shuttering a little as I struggled to catch my breathe and grabbed a handful of the 1-ply toilet paper, wiping away the tears and runny nose. "I'll be out in a moment." I announced.
I could hear June on the other side of the door. While she waited for me to finish.
"Momma, can you see my fingers?" she said, sliding her tiny fingers under the crack between the carpet and titled floor.
Her little sweet question made a laugh escape. "Why, yes I do."
"How about now?" she inquired again, this time wiggling her fingers up and down.
"Yep." Standing up from the bathroom floor I threw away the tear soaked toilet paper in the trash. She stood up as I opened the door between us. Her sun kissed freckled nose and hazel eyes twinkled with joy just at seeing me. I picked her up and hugged her. "I love you June bug."
"I love you too momma bug."
