Read Online Dear Opl by Shelley Sackier - Free Book Online Page B

some salt. “You will if you know what’s good for you.”
    â€œWell, it’s a good thing I know better than to eat something that looks like a bunch of dead bugs.”
    He gave me one of his scrunched up faces. “This is rice, Opal. You should know that by now. Haven’t you ever had rice?”
    â€œIt’s in the boxes Ollie and I always throw away after Mom’s ordered from the Kung Pao Palace.”
    G-pa tsked. “What a waste. Rice is good for you. I’ve been blathering on to your mom about this for the last year. She’s been too soft on you guys and too busy, buying all those freezer box foods and takeout muck. You kids need a change of food.”
    Ollie skipped into the kitchen wearing my Hermione witch costume from last Halloween. “We’re having a change of food? You mean it’s not pizza night?”
    I looked at him a little glumly, even though the gunk in the pan smelled good. “We’re having rice. It’s come all the way from China.” Although it looks like it died trying to get here .
    Ollie twirled to make the cape float around him. “I love Chinese people. They get to eat with sticks.”
    G-pa nodded. “Chopsticks. But I don’t have any tonight, so you’ll have to make do with a fork.”
    â€œHow ’bout I go get some from outside?” Ollie asked, but G-pa shook his head with a smile.
    â€œWhen did you learn how to cook?” I asked G-pa. He searched a shelf by the stove and pulled out little jars, tipping bits of dried leaves into my vegetable pan as I stirred.
    â€œI was stationed in Yokosuka during my service in the military. Army food stinks, so I started searching elsewhere for grub. The Japanese knew how to handle food. I paid attention.”
    The red peppers sizzled in the oil as I poked at them. “The Japanese taught you?”
    â€œWell, I watched how the men and women cooked.”
    Ollie tilted his head and his witch’s cap slid to point at the floor. “I thought only girls cooked. That’s my costume for tomorrow—a big flowery apron.”
    G-pa wagged a finger. “Some of the greatest chefs in the world are men. Even your dad cooked, remember?” He sighed at Ollie’s shaking head. “All men should know how to cook.”
    I thought about Alfie Adam and his scruffy hairdo. “All men should know how to comb their hair too.”
    G-pa gave me a crooked look. “You two set the table while I finish up the rice.”
    Ollie danced with the dishes and hummed a song about how wonderful everything smelled. I put out the forks and glasses and then set the big jug of chocolate milk on the table.
    â€œNone of that junk tonight. We’re drinking water. Chocolate milk will ruin the flavor of the food,” G-pa barked.
    â€œWater?” I said. “Water is for washing dishes.”
    â€œSoy sauce will make you thirsty. And since you’re way too young for sake, water is the next best thing.”
    I grumbled under my breath but filled the glasses at the sink and then sat down just as G-pa came over with two plates. The rice looked white and fluffy and made a bowl for the vegetables to sit in. The onions, eggplant, and peppers were mixed in with bright green broccoli and covered in a glossy, brown sauce.
    â€œWhat’s this?” Ollie asked, holding up one of the miniature trees.
    â€œBroccoli,” G-pa said as he put his plate down across from mine. “I’m guessing that also got tossed along with the rice?” He clucked his tongue again and pulled a bottle of dark brown liquid from his shirt pocket and slid it in front of my plate. “Try this. You’ll like it. Just sprinkle it over the stir-fry.”
    â€œThe what?” Ollie said with a mouthful of food.
    â€œStir-fry. It’s what we made. We stirred a batch of frying vegetables and spooned them over white rice. It’s a classic.”
    I put a drop