Eggplant Puzzle

A Story of Teamwork

Eggplant Puzzle

John and I start on a one-thousand piece puzzle. We’re used to five hundred pieces. Over the last couple years, we’d built a Coca-Cola puzzle, a glacier, and our latest�"a lovely round scene of birds, butterflies, and flowers, given to me by my daughter. We stare at the thousand pieces. How could we do this?

“If I can get the border done, we’ll have a start,” John says.

“I’ll start sorting,” I suggested. I’m good at sorting and John is good at fitting the pieces together.

Soon I have a pile of white border edges and John starts working while I sort more�"a yellow pile, a green pile, white with light brown lines (those would build on the border on all four sides), a pink pile, an orange pile.

And there were pieces with tiny print identifying varieties of eggplants. I thought all eggplants were purple, the kind I slice and dip into flour, then egg, then Italian bread crumbs before frying in olive oil. But no there’s an orange bell-shaped one. There’s a long green one. There’s a cluster of yellow banana-shaped ones.

John’s table could seat ten; it’s a long wooden table that he built years ago. But now we barely have room to eat; it is covered with our project. Little by little, we fit the border together, John on one side and me on the other. I earn steps on my smart watch from getting up to work on different sections. On my side, I see a hint of green inside the border. I look through the green pile and find some shapes that work. “Look John, I found some pieces of the long green eggplant,” I say.

“Good for you,” he says, smiling. I glow inside. His praise warms my heart, even when it’s just for fitting puzzle pieces together.

He describes a shape he needs and my eyes light upon a possibility. “Is this the one?” I ask, handing it to him. He fits it neatly into its space.

 “Sure is,” he smiles.

“We make a good team,” I say. And we are a team. He thoughtfully and lovingly anticipates my needs, even setting out my spare pair of slippers when I come to visit. I like to cook meals that work with his dietary needs and eating preferences. He plans nice nature drives for Zach and me in his red ford truck.

And we make each other laugh. On our most recent drive, we stop at a viewpoint in Salkum, Washington to take pictures in front of a dam. I put my arms around his neck, indicating that I want a kiss. “But there’s a truck and a car parked here and people can see us,” he says as his lips touch mine.

“They’re happy for us,” I murmur into the kiss. We burst out laughing as we pull apart.

We are a team.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A couple or friends who can do a 1000 piece puzzle together. They will joy and happiness. I did enjoy the story Shelley. Thank you for sharing the outstanding story.
Coyote

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you Coyote, it still sits spread out on his table waiting for my next visit. Sometimes he comes to my place and sometimes I go to his. He has a long table to work at.

[FGFRANKLIN]

I love the happiness and warmth that this exudes. I'm so pleased to see others happy and involved in relationships that are beneficial to their mental and emotional health. It sounds like you certainly have a "keeper" there.

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you. Yes, it is a very special relationship. And yes, he's a keeper.

[emmajoygreen]

This is a relationship with heart and laughter. Has such a wonderful feel, like an invitation to sit watching, each comfortable and sincere in whatever doing - the puzzle, the drive, the hug,.. the just being together. To share a jigsaw puzzle for a start really is like a rallying cry before a gentle scuffle! Each person being, as you are able to, either sorting or placing. How perfect is that! Would imagine this is true rather than make-believe.. If the latter, please don't tell me!!! A magically different theme plus a ppicture of two happy peope. Keep safe, take care :)

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you Emmajoy. Yes, it is true and is part of a book that I plan to self publish. John was my first boyfriend when we were teenagers. We went our own ways and ended up marrying different people. Three years after my husband passed away, (2015) I woke up thinking about John and his sister, who had been my best friend. I found his sister on facebook and we reconnected. I learned that John's wife had passed away too. His sister brought us back together and he is the love of my life.

[emmajoygreen]

My goodness, what a wonderful, wonderful start to an ending that might have been so different. Twice blessed and walking talk... grrrreat! Many thanks for sharing your happiness, Shelley. Take care, keep safe - and smiling. Hugs.

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you Emmajoy, it's been nice talking to you. Take care.

[S.zaynab.kamoonpury]

Nice when a couple can do such fun but challenging things together, so sweet of your daughter to give you a puzzle, great way to prevent mind stagnation as old age comes on. Kudos for a fab heartwarming poem of a couple doing teamwork team play.

Plz also read and comment my newest poem too, my highlighted topmost one.

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you for your nice review. I'll go to your page now and read your poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Team work with encouragement. I admire your patience Shelley with a 1000 piece puzzle. I attempted one on my own and didn’t get further than the border. Being considerate. Doing things fior each other and appreciating each other. This is all about togetherness. I love your posted pic of the pair of you happy and smiling.

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you Chris. Yeah the pieces remain on John's table. He's put together a few but it will be awhile before I'm at his house since our next time together will be at my place and we live two hours away. Thank you for reading.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

You both exhibit a greater patience than I. Can't imagine spending even a minute trying to piece together a puzzle with so many pieces in it. But as I think such an act speaks to love itself. It takes time and partnership to accomplish such goals that many would think was mundane. Not seeing that beyond the exercise there is a profound and undeniable unity at work here. Love the message of this story. Wonderful work Shelley.

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you Carlos. I like your words: "...there is a prodound and undeniable unity at work here."