Rouxpalm
Noun: a highly destructive mixture of fat and flour that burns with the fire of a thousand suns when contacting skin, Verb: I accidentally rouxpalmed myself while making Gumbo.
Stir.
Stir…
Keep stirring…
How long’s it been? Forty minutes? An hour?
I look at my watch, the timer reads in large digital numbers, 12:48.
12:47
12:46
It continues counting down, each second seeming as if it could be my last. How can it only have been eight minutes? It feels like so much longer.
It’s still white-ish in colour, heading towards a dirty blonde. Not dark enough yet.
Keep stirring…
Once again, here I stand. Whisk in hand, stirring continuously this dangerous mix of oil and flour. Tempting the fates while waiting for it to change into the dark chocolate brown required, before adding the mix of finely diced base veggies for a gumbo. Onion, celery, and green bell peppers, Capsicums to most Australians. That’s the 'trinity', then of course ‘the pope’ which is the garlic.
Someone once asked me why I wear gardening gloves when I make gumbo. I don’t say anything. All I do is show them my thumb and finger, now permanently stained and blush compared to the rest of my hand.
That fateful first attempt ended with a blob of thick dark chocolate coloured roux flicking up from a broken whisk, and branding my hand with burns I’ve never felt before, and making me unleash a stream of ‘f-word’ variants that lasted a solid forty-five seconds, strangely without repeating a variant.
Now, when I make this delicious Cajun meal. It’s low and... slow, during the roux making stage.
Thick gardening gloves are of course, optional.
About the Creator
S.K. Wilson
She/Her | Australian 🏳️⚧️ Author
My short form writing mostly falls into the absurd, strange and nonsensical. I enjoy writing micro-fiction collections, been dabbling in poetry.
Debut Arthurian fantasy novel out now! The Knights of Avalon
🩷
Keep reading
More stories from S.K. Wilson and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Peanuts and Crackerjack
Bottom of the ninth inning. The game is tied with two outs, two strikes and a man on second. I tap the bat on home plate. The rigid vibrations it creates reminds my aching digits that this isn't over. The practice swing only adds to the heft of mental burnout... Man on second, willing to chance it. Pitcher eyes him but doesn't give in to the dangerous bluff. I kick up dust, readying the peculiar stance I've had since the days of little league. The bat lays stiff upon my cramping shoulder. Pain has no reason to be acknowledged; it's a fleeting afterthought. The sun sits passed high noon, but the stadium lights are on anyway. They trick my brain into believing they are the cause of this sweltering heat. Sporadic clouds are motionless, they too, don't want to miss this exhilarating predicament. Anticipating the next pitch, intensifying roars from the crowd rumble the stadium... Behind me, the crafty catcher adjusts his stance and spits to the dry dirt. Behind him, the staunch umpire doesn't flinch or even blink; he knows how important his call will be. The pitcher winds up, his grip tells me its gonna curve. The release is fierce! Beads of sweat from his hair and face disperse in every direction as the force of his might is unfailing. My left leg lifts—an instinctual move that will increase the power of my swing. It's all down to my two, bloodshot eyes. They lock onto the speeding, white dot as it instantly becomes the target I intend to destroy. The swing is late, but I manage a solid tip. The ball is taking a fast bounce toward the pitcher who is recovering from the almighty throw! Man on second leaves in a desperate rush! I fling the bat to the side with a sense of urgency and make a mad sprint to the only destination I have—first base. Three defenders race inward to be the first to retrieve the skidding ball. Man is almost on third! I watch the open glove of my adversary, wondering if I’ve done enough to win this race. I switch my attention to his eyes, looking for a clue, some kind of reaction that tells me the ball is in the air and heading his way. All I see is frustration. The deafening roar of the crowd spikes! Something happens that I can’t see! My opponent abandons his post right as my left stride touches the bag. I waste no time turning my head to see the pitcher laying on his stomach, pounding the mound with an open glove. He misses the opportunity to out me and the ball has quickly bounced past him. Excitement grows! This isn’t over yet... It's become an imperative fight to tag out the runner heading homeward. The catcher falls to his knees in obvious despair as he watches my teammate make the run of his life. He knows it’s going to be close when he sees the shortstop fumble the ball a second too long. I jump up and down with no plans on leaving first base. All my chips are on the speed and agility of the active runner. His cleats dig into the dirt, trailing a dust-filled cyclone from the rapid and strenuous strides. With a thrusting dive and an outstretched arm, he lands on his chest to begin the crucial slide to home plate. The shortstop fires the ball to the catcher! It immediately begins closing the gap! Nail-biting doesn't begin to describe the anxious vibe permeating the stadium. The bench begins to celebrate even before he reaches the plate. Forty thousand cheering fans reach maximum crescendo, filling the air with a glorious sound. Everyone knows how this story will end… My teammate is met by the entire bench as his fingers inch across home plate, instantly followed by the unmistakable motion of the catcher's glove attempting to tag him out—its milliseconds too late. The ump swings his arms outward, officially calling him safe.
By Lamar Wiggins6 days ago in Fiction
Comments (1)
This was such a fun and yummy read!!