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Bento Boxing Day

12/26/2024

Whitney peeked into the hospital room. Joe was alone. He looked like he was sleeping.

‘Rats, I don’t want to bother him.’ She lingered in the doorway, Christmas tree box in hand.

“You can go in.” A nurse whispered. “He’s having some light sensitivity, so he’s been resting his eyes. Pretty sure he’s awake.”

“Thanks.” She took a deep breath to settle her nerves. ‘Here goes nothing.’

“Hello?”

She took her phone out and pressed play on her music app. The delicate violins were soon accompanied by the heavenly sopranos in the Duet of the Flowers.

He smiled. “I was hoping you’d show up.” He said, eyes still closed.

“How are you?”

“On the mend.” He pressed the button to sit himself up. “Yourself?”

“Oh, ha ha, I’m petrified.”

“Why? Afraid I’ll critique your box?”

“Among other things.” She looked around the room. “How did you know I brought a box?”

“I peeked. The light is bugging me, but I sure didn’t want to miss the sight of you coming in.”

She gasped. “Yes, I brought you another one.”

“Shame I missed the first one. I was looking forward to it.”

“Really?”

“Nobody has ever made a bento box for me. It was a point of curiosity.”

“Oh, I hope it’s worth the wait.” She put the box on the overbed table and rolled it to cross his lap. “It’s here.”

He felt the table and fumbled around for it. She took his hands and put them on the box. He smiled.

‘He’s sly. He tricked me into touching his hands. My God, they’re so…’ She picked it up. “Should I bring it back when you’re feeling better?”

“Please, no. I’ve been dying of anticipation so as it is. Maybe you could just turn off the lights in the room?”

“Sure.” She turned to look for the light switch. ‘If he wanted the lights off, he could have asked the nurses. Peeking. He probably just wants to get a look at my backside. Oh, you’re a sly one.’ She got up and backed up to the doorway. “Pretty dark in here now. Are you going to be able to see what’s in the box?”

“It should be alright. Come join me and I’ll take a look.”

‘Boy, I’m a yo-yo on a string. Go turn off the lights. Come open the box. Jeez.’ She sat down beside him. “So, I heard you’re an engineer? That must be interesting work.”

“Yes, it’s very engaging. My firm is involved in refurbishing the old candleworks building at the far end of Vistula Avenue.” He opened his eyes to find her admiring him. ‘Engaging? Five and a half. That’s her ring size, not her attractiveness rating. Hmm, if she offered that information in relation to her inquiry into me, that could definitely mean she’s amenable to the prospect of a proposal. If things work out, of course. Further evaluation is required. She’s pretty, without a doubt. Time to find out what’s inside.’

“That sounds like a big job. That place has been abandoned for ages.”

“Definitely. We’re evaluating whether the structure is salvageable. Then we’ll see if it can be brought up to code. Might be just as easy to tear the whole thing down and build from scratch.”

“That would be a shame. It has character.” She fiddled with the box. ‘You definitely got your mother’s eyes.’

“Oh, how does that open? Does it have a clasp?”

She pulled the lid off. “Just pops off.”

“Interesting joinery.” He held the lid up to study the edge.

‘Never saw myself falling for a nerd, but he’s in a class by himself.’ She smiled and took the lid from him. “Yes, it’s kind of tricky. It seals tightly, but you don’t have to wrestle it open.”

He looked into her warm mocha eyes. “Quality speaks for itself.”

‘OH, MY GOD!’ She smiled and suppressed the full-body shudder that was threatening to ruin her composed façade. ‘Sly? He’s a player, this guy.’ She bit her lip and tipped the box up for him to see. “What catches your eye first?”

‘Testing me? Nice. Hmm, meatball snowman? The stack of snowflakes, clipped from slices of cheese? The tiny wreath carved from a broccoli floret?’ He studied the contents and returned to her lovely face. Blushing turned her face from an earthy Mediterranean gold to a sublime russet hue. “I’m curious about these cheese snowflakes.” He picked up the stack and sorted through them. “No two are the same. Work this delicate must have been done with a scalpel.” He popped the provalone snowflake into his mouth.

“I have a set of craft knives that I use exclusively for bento.”

“You have a deft hand and a creative mind. The meatball snowman is quite clever.”

“I wish I could claim credit, but there are instructions online.”

‘Humble, creative, attractive…’ He was drawn to the tiny edible treats in their various compartments. “Even so, you did the work and arranged them in an aesthetically pleasing configuration. You’ve clearly got an eye for this.”

‘Hmm, he’s laying it on thick. If I bat my eyes, he’ll probably pretend to swoon.’ She looked at the box. “I thought of you all laid up here. Figured you’d want something to concentrate on instead of sitting around bored. For me, it’s word searches and crossword puzzles.”

‘She feels that she’s got something to prove.’ He smiled. “You mentioned your craft knives that are exclusively for this art form. Do you have another set for…”

“Paper crafts. I love to make temporary decorations out of tissue paper, construction paper, wrapping paper.”

“That sounds lovely. How do you feel about train sets?”

“Ooh, Sarah described the layout at your place. It sounds magical.”

“I’d love to show it to you whenever I’m released.”

“How long must you stay?”

“They’re not sure. Depending on my progress, it could be as short as three weeks.”

‘Hmm, we could cover a lot of ground with him stuck here like this.’ She caressed his hand. “I’m sorry. Won’t you get terribly bored sitting around here for weeks on end?”

‘Not if you come in to keep me company.’ He closed his eyes to feel her gentle touch. “I have Isidore on my tablet. I can keep up with work by listening to the emails and technical documentation.”

“Jumping back in with both feet? Isn’t that premature?”

“I won’t try until after the New Year. I’m overdue for a rest.”

“That’s a good idea, but I can’t see an active mind like yours enduring without stimulation.”

‘You are very stimulating.’ He smiled and enjoyed the sensation of her fingers exploring his hand. “If I get terribly bored, I can have an enlightening conversation with Isidore.”

“I saw a poster for that at church. What is it?”

“It’s kind of like Zira on the phone or those Roxana units from Samarkand, but instead of being focused on getting you more integrated to the platforms or buying more stuff, Isidore brings a Catholic worldview to his responses.”

“His?”

“The voice is a simulation of what they think St. Isidore of Seville would sound like speaking modern English. Instead of the digital boop-boop sound acknowledging that it heard you, it jingles the sanctus bells like in church.”

“I haven’t heard of him before. What did he do?”

“St. Isidore is the Patron Saint of the Internet. He was working on a sort of encyclopedia back in the early six hundreds. With AI being what it is these days, they got approval from the Vatican to create a Catholicism-centered alternative to the virtual salesmodels.”

“Oh, that’s neat. They ought to advertise that better than a poster on the corkboard.”

“There are commercials for it on EWTN. That’s what sold Mom on the idea. Well, that, and he sounds kind of like Antonio Banderas.”

‘Put that on my to-do list.’ She drew little swirls on his arm with her finger. “I’ll have to look into that.”

“I can help you set it up, if you want.”

“I’d love you.” Her eyes popped. “That! I’d love that. That would be great.”

‘Too late, girlfriend. It’s out there. No take-backs.’ He smiled and enjoyed her tracing figures on his arm. “Glad to. Really. I’d be very happy to.”

‘Is he teasing me? I know he heard me say that.’ She drew a heart and a U before letting go of his arm. “What else do you like in here?”

“What are those candy canes made of?”

“Red pepper and parsnip. I’ve got a form to put them in that makes them take on a crook shape.”

“Amazing.” He sighed. ‘Heart me? Yeah. Heart U, too.’ He caught her eye. “How is it we never met before?”

“Oh, I was two grades behind you at Saint Stan’s.”

“The grade system really puts the blinders on you. I can’t believe I missed you.”

‘I noticed you, buster. You might have noticed me if you ever got your nose out of a book.’ She pulled the top tray out of the box to show him more treats below. “Anyway, this one isn’t edible. I don’t know if the nurses will let you hang this or if you can just pull it out to look at when you’re bored.” She handed him a decoration.

Joe studied it closely. It had cardboard on both ends and a collapsible paper chain of snowflakes in between. He stretched and compacted it like an accordion. “That’s lovely, just like you.”

‘Smart guy is playing hardball now.’ She smiled. “Thanks. I thought it might brighten things up in here. Sorry about your eyes. Did they get rid of your headaches?”

“Thank goodness, yes. The medicine I’m on has me quite comfortable.”

There was a knock at the door. “Coming in.”

Whitney sat back to give the nurse room to conduct her rounds. “Is he behaving for you?”

“Behaving? Better than most, but he’s still a guy. You know?”

“He’s a guy alright.” She rolled her eyes. “Didn’t tell anyone how bad his headaches were until he was flat out in the snow.”

“That happens.” The nurse checked fluid lines and monitoring equipment. “Speaking of which, since I’m in here…”

“Might as well try. Whitney, can you give us a moment?”

She grimaced and backed out of the room as the nurse pulled a container that looked like a plastic gourd up. ‘How come she gets to see his thing and I have to wait? What? Whoa, I’m not ready to see things. That is not a now thing. That is a… Rats. Add that to the Confession list.’

“Hello, Whitney darling. Keeping Joe company? Aren’t you considerate?”

‘Oh, crap. Snagged! Double-snagged!’ She gulped as Joe’s mother and sister-in-law approached. “Hi, Mrs. Murray.”

“Please call me Mary. It seems we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other.”

“I’m Joan.” She waved.

“Seeing?”

“Why yes, dear. Didn’t anyone tell you?”

“Well, they told me he mentioned me and the bento box I had brought to the show.”

“You were practically the only thing he talked about.”

“Me?”

“He asked about his diagnosis. Then he asked if we won. From then on it was bento, bento, bento. You made quite an impression on him, I can tell you.”

‘Likewise’ She peeked into the room to see if the nurse was done with him. “Looks like he’s finished.”

“Finished what?”

“Getting help from the nurse.” Whitney backed up and slid into the room. “Hey, Joe, you have more company.”

“Joseph, darling, why is it so dark in here? Are your eyes still bothering you?”

“Yes, Mom. I find that having the room darker is helpful.”

“Hi, Joe. I brought your tablet for you.” Joan held it up.

“Great, thank you. I was telling Whitney how helpful Isidore is.”

Mary put her hand over her heart. “It’s a modern marvel. So polite, too. Oh, what do you have there, Joseph?”

“It’s a bento box that Whitney made for me. She handcrafted all of these little treats. Can you imagine?”

Mary leaned in to study the layers of treats. “Truly a labor of love.”

Lakmé – English and French Lyrics (The Flower Duet)