Who: Wally and John Reid. When: End of September Where: Supermarket What: Shopping Rating/Warning: Low/None Status: Complete
Wally was shopping for ingredients. He wanted to make a dinner that would impress Tiffany. He’d been spending a lot of time trying to think of things that would impress her. And he didn’t want to obsess over waiting on the PIs to come back with addresses for his long lost siblings. So he was in the supermarket, staring at the broccoli, trying to figure out if that was a better pick than asparagus. Or which one was in season.
Grocery shopping was never really one of John’s favourite things to do. It was a sort of overwhelming process, he figured, so he always took the time to make sure he had a list planned out before he went. Otherwise he’d be in there for hours, or go home without something important. The produce aisle was always the worst, though. All that picking up fruit to squeeze and smell it, the rotating vegetables to find the perfect one. Maybe he figured he should start eating out more.
“Sorry, just going to sneak in here,” John said, reaching over to pick up some broccoli for himself.
They all should start eating out more. It’d make all these decisions a bit easier. Wally gave a gentle “no problem,” and stepped back and out of the way. He watched the other man pick up some broccoli, then cocked his head to the side, curiously. “Better than the asparagus?” He asked, quietly.
John just shrugged a bit, looking thoughtful as he put the twist tie on his bag. “I guess I prefer them about the same. To be honest? I can’t ever cook asparagus right, it seems, so broccoli’s just my fall-back choice.”
Wally gave a little nod. That was a good point. He was going to have to cook the stuff. And make it not only edible, but delicious. “How do you cook it?” He asked, meaning the broccoli. But he’d take the answer about either vegetable.
“A pot of water with some salt in it hasn’t really ever failed me yet.” John gave the guy a smile. “I guess if you have a steamer, it’d probably the better route. But, hey, you can steam it in the microwave, too, I’ve seen.”
Wally nodded again. Boil. Blanche, maybe. Steaming would work, too. He was going to use the barbeque, maybe he could grill? Did broccoli grill? Asparagus would. Hmm. Now he had things to consider. “...in the microwave.” He repeated, as if considering that idea. It seemed easy enough.
“People seem to manage it.” John looked amused as he put his broccoli into his basket. “Honestly? I’m too worried to try it. I’m sure I’d end up with something awful.”
“I bet it’s on Youtube.” How to cook broccoli (or asparagus) in the microwave. Easy peasy in three minutes or less, cut together with an awesome soundtrack. Wally found how-to videos on Youtube all the time. It’s how he learned to dance and impressed Tiffany. At least, he’d hoped she was impressed.
“That’s true enough. Everything’s on Youtube these days, isn’t it?” John laughed and shrugged. “Well, good luck with it, whatever you decide to go with. I’m sure it’ll turn out just fine either way.”
Wally nodded. It sure was. Everything and its brother were on Youtube. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but so far it’d come in handy. He turned to give the other man a nod and a smile. “Yes. Thank you. And enjoy your broccoli.”