Staring At Me Once Again…

Tonight Chanta and I visited our favorite sushi restaurant on the corner. The owner’s wife speaks a little English, she always welcomes us with a big smile. We order the usual, a platter of sushi which is accompanied by many, many side dishes – miso soup, grilled tuna, egg and corn, soybeans, etc. Tonight, as we sat there talking away and picking at this and that, the sushi chef approached us. We smiled, he handed us two fish, tails encased in aluminum foil. I reluctantly accepted. It was staring at me. I smiled at the sushi chef. He motioned for us to bite the head. oh. I looked at Chanta. She looked at me. “what do we do?” she whispered. Well, I guess we eat it. Then take a shot of bek sae ju. She bit into hers first. I closed my eyes and said a small apology. I’m really, sorry, fish. I wish you didn’t have to see me do this. Then I bit the head off. Just as I was chewing, Chanta said, “We’re eating pregnant sardines. Look. Look. It’s full of fish eggs.” It was more than I could take. Chanta, please. Stop. I know you’re telling the truth, but as Jack Nicholson said, “You can’t handle the truth.”