I had many words that were inching — no, rushing — their way out of my mouth

The salad was for a family get-together, and it looked wonderful. The crispy diced red peppers, purple cabbage, sliced scallions, and tiny grape tomatoes looked so delicious, so colorful — like one happy family.

Now it was ruined, and I was so upset.  All I’d asked my son to do was to season the salad. But he’d ruined it. I wondered if he’d done it on purpose.

I watched as he took the lemon juice and the pepper and poured it gently onto the salad. I watched as he took the box of salt, the special salt with the diamond-shaped little crystals. I watched as he opened the spout and tried to pour.  It wouldn’t budge. I watched as he shook the box and attempted to pour. The salt was all caked up inside. And then I watched, in horror, as he shook the box with all his might, and a mountain of salt formed on top of my beautiful salad.