T H E G R O V E S
Stephen Scarborough & Illustrated Taylor Mobley
Market To Table , modern day
Cherry laughed at Frost as he mansplained . Or was it mansquestioned ? “… I don ’ t understand how it can be a ‘ bento box ’ if it ’ s on a tray . A bento box is a box – sections , no top . Ordered , sectioned , a work of art unto itself .” Frost leaned forward and gestured with his free left hand . His right arm was crooked , intertwined with Cherry ’ s left . Cartman walked along side of Cherry , a bit of a bounce in his little doggy steps . It felt like an old gesture , intertwining their arms in such a fashion , Antoinette decided . She then decided that she would have made a stellar private detective . “ Gave him the slip , and now here I peer . Russell would have loved it . Who loved the salacious more that you , dear ?” A breeze stirred nearby , seemingly moving from a goose-bump inducing brush across Antoinette ’ s arm to an almost playful cyclonic whirl around Frost and Cherry . Cartman seemed to note the wind , his head going up almost seeming to treat the air itself as a thing alive .
Cherry ’ s voice was measured patience with just enough urgency to knowingly advance her position . “ It ’ s ‘ like ’ a bento box . Food , separate , check . Orderly display , check . You ’ ll see it in a moment , Frost . And you will own me a big ole apology .”
“ It ’ s a tray , Cherry . That ’ s not a box . That ’ s quite the opposite of a box . No side walls . That ’ s about as much a box as a cordoned-off piece of land is a house .”
“’ Cordoned .’ Nice word . I ’ ll forgive your convenient ignoring of the simple fact that there is a clear allusion to ‘ bento box ’ – which is not the same as saying ‘ is virtually identical to …”
“ Okay , point conceded . If you are picking Market to Table , it is no doubt amazing . You are , after all , trying to impress me . And why wouldn ’ t you ?” he
32 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2017