This time, my place
We take turns having the guys over for football. It's become a routine: decide whose place, show up, find a seat and start arguing about the game before it even begins.
This time it was my turn. I cleared the table in front of the couch, took out some glasses and stood in the kitchen thinking about the snacks. Chips again? I like plenty of things about living in America, but that night I didn't feel like opening another bag of the same chips. I wanted something different to put in the middle and pass around.
The box in the cupboard
Then I remembered my wife's birthday gift. Her birthday had been two days earlier, and she'd received a package full of snacks from Israel. She'd opened it, enjoyed seeing what was inside and put it in the cupboard. Every time I opened that door, the box seemed to be winking at me.
I looked at it again. It was her birthday present, obviously. But the guys were coming for football, and all those snacks were right there. I figured she'd forgive me.
I opened the box and started taking things out. As soon as I opened the first bag, the evening felt a little different. I filled a few bowls and left them within reach. These were the snacks for football night I'd wanted all along, with a taste I had been missing.
The guys arrived
They came in one after another, put their things down and found a seat. I was still setting down a bowl when someone reached into it. Before I even sat down, I knew the snacks were going to work.
The game started and the bowls moved between us. Every so often I'd reach for something and find that someone else had beaten me to it. I brought another bowl over and sat back down. Between plays we talked, laughed and explained what we'd do differently if we were coaching.
I like these evenings. During the week, everyone has their own things going on. Here, we're in the same room, watching football and passing something good around. This time, there was a little taste of home in it too.
One bag set aside
At the end, I looked at what was left. My wife's birthday gift had helped me host a very good evening. I was glad I'd put something aside before the guys arrived.
She forgave me. Still, I'd saved the bag of Klik she loves. Her box had given us a whole football night. That bag was hers.