The Rice

Ages 15-18

Zehava cooks for guests for the first time, and the rice burns on the bottom.

She smells it before she sees it. The pot is on the back burner, with the lid on, and the smell is dark and sharp. She turns off the gas. She lifts the lid, and the steam comes up in her face.

The top is white and fluffy. She puts the spoon in, and goes down. The bottom layer is brown, and stuck to the pot, and the spoon scrapes against it.

It is ten minutes to six. The guests are coming at six. The rest is ready on the counter, in dishes under foil.

She does not stir it. She takes a clean spoon, and lifts the rice from the top, in small scoops, and tips it into the big bowl. She goes down as far as the white goes, and stops there. The brown stays where it is.

She puts the bowl on the table, with the lid over it. She sets the serving spoon on the lid.

The bell rings. She goes to the door with a dish towel in her hand.

When the guests have sat down, and the plates are being passed, she goes back into the kitchen. She puts the pot in the sink and turns on the tap. The water runs into it, and goes brown at the edge.