Rights of Sausage or The Fridge

This began as a parody of The Bridge (Rites of Passage) but the story would not allow itself to be a joke.

The Fridge

 

I am just a fridge, an old Maytag fridge.  Nevertheless, for many, I am an altar, of box design to be sure, yet a place of decisions, and a site of some significance in the memories of two families.

 

Those who seek out forbidden calories always, always come to me in the night.  They open my old door, and stand motionless, studying my contents as if amazed at the culinary collection.  They lean down as if to see if the view from a different angle will change my offerings.  I don’t think it does, but, I am just an old Maytag fridge, and thus immune to the imaginings of those seeking sustenance.

 

Awareness came to me when I was plugged in for the first time, and when my door was opened, my interior light came on.    With no contents, the temperature dropped quickly.  I knew this condition as unnatural and wondered when I would be filled with foodstuffs.  I was then unplugged and wrapped in cardboard. 

 

I remained in storage for such a time, that I became no more than a lump of inert metal.  But one day, men with loud voices and louder trucks came and moved me.  I was delivered to a small, modest home and with much grunting and whispered curses, I was installed at the end of a short counter and across from an old gas stove.  I had a home!

 

In this home, there were only two, and my contents were meager and small.  Eggs in bowls, milk in glass bottles, and small chops and cuts of meat wrapped in white butcher’s paper.  Then one day, there was more milk, but a different kind.  As the years pass, that has been the only constant--milk, in all its various forms.

 

I’ve studied their faces as they peer into my depths.  I’ve seen worry in the small hours of morning as the woman reached for the youngest one’s milk, and I’ve sensed contentment from the man as he reached for milk and cold meat.  The small ones, with big grins on dirty faces, stretched their skinny arms to retrieve Kool-aid, and the adolescents grabbed anything they could consume while standing. 

 

The contents increased in size, amount and variety over the years.  I have seen their fresh-scrubbed faces in the mornings with background noises and shouts of “Where’s my...” and “Don’t forget’s...”.   I have seen their faces in the nights with the ticking clock as their only companion.  I’ve seen indecision as they contemplate the contents to feed not only their hunger, but their sorrow, their worry, and their love.  Oh, how happy I was to keep this growing family’s food fresh and cold.

 

Many years passed and there were only two again.  The contents were meager and small; eggs in cardboard containers, milk in cartons and small chops and cuts of meat wrapped in styrofoam trays and clear plastic. 

 

My doors creaked and gaskets had all but dried out.  My vegetable bin was cracked and scarred and I was not defrosted in many, many months.  Then, there was only one and his face was a study in grief.  Where had the woman gone?  I had come to love her sweetness and grace as she rearranged the contents to accommodate leftovers, fruit salads, turkey carcasses, and cheese over these many years.

 

Soon, there was no activity at all.  For many days, I saw no faces, heard no voices, felt no vibrations on the floor from footsteps.  Time passed and I slumbered again, but this time with contents slowly drying, vegetables rotting, and the milk becoming solid and sour.

 

One day, I was opened by a face I had watched grow old, but now looked young and sad.   She shook her head and began to pull out all the old and no longer edible contents, and put them in large green plastic bags, even those long forgotten foodstuffs in my small freezer compartment.  She carefully wiped down my inner walls and removed the grilled shelving.  When she shut the door, I was aware of its finality.  Was this the end for me?  Would I be put to rest with others of my kind?  And what of the old gas stove who stood sentinel with me all these long years and who also served this family for many years preparing the foodstuffs I stored? 

 

But, the next day, I was opened and the young-old face was there again, but with two new faces.  A brief conversation, a handshake and I was soon loaded into an old pickup truck, along with my old friend, the gas stove.  We remained silent for the many miles we traveled as we had no need for discourse, my old friend and I. 

 

 In this home, there are only two, and my contents are meager and small; eggs in cardboard containers, milk in cartons and small chops and cuts of meat wrapped in styrofoam trays and clear plastic.  Then one day, there is more milk, but a different kind.  As the years pass, that is the only constant--milk, in all its various forms. 

 

 

Author's Note

Used Rites of Passage as a writing prompt and intended this to be a parody of The Bridge. The Fridge insisted that I respect the story and so....

Reviews

[emmajoy]

' In this home, there are only two, and my contents are meager and small; eggs in cardboard containers, milk in cartons and small chops and cuts of meat wrapped in styrofoam trays and clear plastic. Then one day, there is more milk, but a different kind. As the years pass, that is the only constant--milk, in all its various forms. '

Repetition is a wonderful hug.. and it made me tear up. There are scenes and dreams, touches and removals, wondering and sadness and more, so much more throughout your wonderful story.

Crazy though it is, you climbed into that essential creature and became an ever vigilant sentry, guardian, muse. comforter and counsellor, plus historian for whatever size family and occasion, night, day, every season glorious or otherwise!

This has to be one of my all time favourite stories in ten years in the cafe! Superb writing, its flow as free and smoth can be. Plus, make the gods understand - it has anamazing heart for something seemingly unemotional.

[Karen Redburn]

Wow, definitely enjoyed reading this piece. The part about the new old face cleaning out the contents, that took my breath away. It reminded me of cleaning out my mother's fridge after she passed.

Telling a lifetime of stories from a fridges pov is incredibly creative.

Thank you, it was a pleasure to read.

[Debbie Barry]

This is a delightfully creative way to tell the story of a growing family. The fridge's point of view, and experience of a family, is very specific, and you were true to that limited vision. I love the way you illustrate the passage of time, and the way things change. I truly enjoyed this story.

[Vicky]

I saw a short little movie play as I read, and Carol was nowhere to be found. To me this story truly was told by an old Maytag fridge.

[Vicky]

It's long, but worth it. I really really liked it.
I've written some things about inanimate objects, but those were sorrowful, this is hopeful and heartwarming.

[Tony Jordan]

Brilliant Carol.
Drew me right in and actually made me feel for the thing.
'...stood sentinel with me..' - ace
So very clever and class writing.

[Jimmy Yetts]

An ingenious and most intriguing creation; conclusive proof that you are a richly gifted writer.
Somehow, you made me care about a freakin' refrigerator--and I hate machines!
Much respect, Carol.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A very creative device to describe the passage of time. The move from paper coverings to 'styrofoam' was really good for making the point of progress in society. The recycling to another young couple gave an air of realism and optimism that life goes in cycles. Entertaining and original.

[Jon Roggie]

This is brilliant. Sad, but full of truth.

[pia]

you gave life to such an important yet inanimate aspect of our lives. I loved how you beautifully pulled the reader into this story with interesting ideas, expressions and language. The stories vibe was amazing. One of the few best I've read. I loved how you gave the fridge a personality and a life we can all some what relate to.
My personal analysis of this story would be: how people use and make the best of those who give them something like advantages or some sort of personal use similar to what the fridge felt
And when people feel that a certain person has no more use in their life they throw them away as in out of their lives. This was beautiful. All your writes are so much fun to read and enlightening as well !!!!

[pia]

Forgot to add : and that's unless someone else comes into our lives and finds use in us again.