A Simple Egg Sandwich
Note: I attempted to have this published a few months ago in the Medium publication Weekly Knob. While I missed the publication’s deadline(and am still new to the Medium thing in a lot of ways), I really wanted to get it shared here eventually. Finally, I remembered a few months later so here is a very quick story I wrote to the prompt of an egg back in May. Hope some readers enjoy it!
Helga Smelser crossed her arms in frustration. In 25 years as a home economics teacher, she could not remember a time she’d been so upset. Here, she’d hustled and bustled to get her prized culinary arts student to the state championships, and now the senior Mabel Bendo had chosen to ruin everything. Helga couldn’t even bring herself to turn around and wave and Mabel’s parents, who sat happily about three rows back.
“And now, we will announce the final round winners of the 2019 Nebraska High School Culinary Arts Competition.” The announcer was Buzz Alvin, a retired home-ec teacher from Omaha, and a man Helga had butted heads with quite a few times over the years. “We have five finalists from high schools all over this great state of Nebraska.”
And out came the five students — two young men three young women with tiny Mabel right in the middle. Helga just bit her lip. This was supposed to be her prized moment, not having a student get this far since 1997. She’d jazzed up the whole school board to approve the use of one of the district’s SUVs, and even secured the Rotary donations so Mabel’s parents only had to cover their daughter’s single hotel room. The two-hour drive from central Nebraska had been filled with brief conversations about the event and Mabel’s final college plans. Now, on this third day round, Helga had only received a brief text from Mabel that she was changing the plan and not preparing the prize dish they had practiced. The chance for the first-place glory had just been chucked to the mud! Helga clenched her fists and forced a smile as Buzz introduced the finalists and Mabel smiled and looked on.
“And now, let us go over the competition rules once again. Each finalist has prepared a special dish based upon a themed ingredient. This year’s final contest was based on the egg. The finalists each prepared their egg dish behind closed doors this morning — away from their teachers, sponsors, or families — to allow for our judges to freely taste and evaluate each dish. Now, we will announce the three top winners and show a picture of their final dish with a brief description offered by the young chef.”
“This year’s third-place winner is junior Binkley Boxer from Johnson High School in Lincoln.” Helga shook her head and gritted her teeth. Third place was her final hope, now she was certain Mabel had placed fourth or fifth. “Mr. Boxer prepared a beautiful and delicious Tropical Tango Omelette. This fabulous and healthy recipe features ingredients to make the taste buds tango — including mango, pineapple, and hickory smoked ham. Inspired by cooking experiments in his school’s Culinary Club, Mr. Boxer has introduced this dish to club breakfasts at locations around Lincoln.” The audience clapped as Mr. Boxer was presented with a trophy and certificate.
“And our second place goes to senior Pearl Jamison, from Lakeview High in Lakeview City. Her delectable dish was the Roma and Ricotta Cheese Quiche.” As Buzz droned on with the description, Helga’s eyes raised. A vegetable-based quiche was supposed to be their selected recipe for the egg category! How had another school stolen it? Then Helga remembered the new Home Economics teacher at Lakeview — her old college friend Dina Brenson, or whatever her married name was now. How ironic, decades later and Dina was still managing to outwit her. The picture even showed a carbon copy presentation of what Helga had emphasized with Mabel, down to the leaves of parsley on the side of the plate. Helga was so upset she forgot to clap with everyone else.
“Now, we shall announce this year’s first place. Springing all the way from Central Point, Nebraska, senior Mabel Bendo wins this year’s first place.” Helga’s eyes raised and her jaw dropped. She started clapping like crazy above the crowd’s rhythm. “Mabel’s simple yet amazing dish was the Egg and Avocado Sandwich. This scintillating new take on a classic essential dish is modeled after its chef’s deceased grandmother. Mrs. Leta Schwarz, even up to age 91, would serve her children and grandchildren this sandwich on wheat bread with a double-down on mayo and just a small pinch of paprika.” Helga stood and clapped as she could see Mabel’s eyes start to tear up. She then turned around and gave two huge thumbs-ups to Mabel’s parents, who both were also crying.
As the clapping ceased and Buzz presented Mabel the first place trophy then final remarks, Helga shook her head in dismay at her own poor conduct. She had let her ego get in the way of her key purpose — to help her students make their own decisions and reach their own insights. Now, as the crowd of teachers, families, and friends stood Helga sat for just a little longer and smiled. This was one of the greatest moments she would ever savor as a lifelong teacher. Here, she realized a prized victory was her student’s before it was her own and where her student succeeded in spite of, not because of, her stubbornness.
