A Pea in the Mashed Potatoes

  Portfolio Management  

Usually, this worked out just fine, except for dinners with peas and mashed potatoes. We always had wanderlust peas, for these green balls would roll all over my plate. Back then, peas were in the "don't like" category and were shoved so far over on my plate that they threatened to roll off my plate and onto the floor.

Every so often, though, one brave pea would make a break for it and roll to the "like" side. That pea would roll, get speed, and plant itself firmly in my beloved mashed potatoes. "Eww," I exclaimed, "there's a pea in my mashed potatoes." They were ruined! Things I like never touch the things I don't like on my plate!

"They're just vegetables. Coat the pea in potatoes and eat it," my mother would coax. I did not believe her. She said the same thing about spinach. I looked to my dad for an appeal; I got the "no-dessert" look.

I tried to get it out of the mashed potatoes, but it usually dug deeper into the mess. Finally, out of both hunger and desperation, I ate the pea with a huge heaping spoonful of potatoes. Then I glared at the other peas, daring …

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.