If Bowls Could Speak

As the door closed lightly, there was an almost audible sigh throughout the apartment, and then, nearly imperceptible movements as all the objects woke from their daily slumber, ready at any moment to return to immobility if she should come back.

"Thank God she has to run errands or we'd never have a moment's peace!" said one of the white bowls. They were everyday worker bowls, proud of their spotless whiteness, their uniformity and their unassailable modernity. Of course, they were the ones she used the most, so they felt quite important.

Adele, the blue green pottery bowl who sat in the middle of the dining table, thought that she was the star of all the bowls. She nodded in agreement, "Yes, I needed some time off, some beauty rest. Being as elegant as I am all the time is exhausting and especially when I'm always the center of attention."

Leona, the silver filigree bowl on the desk, who was older than any of the others, had more money and a pedigree so distinguished that the white bowls and Adele had never even heard of it, laughed.

"You are very pretty, but somehow I doubt you would be worth a farthing at an estate sale, whereas I would be considered a treasure and very valuable.  I have been carefully placed in a predominate position on this 19th century mahoghany desk for a reason. I represent wealth and stability, not popularity."

The little silver bowls for sugar and cream on the armoire in the hallway began to giggle."Yes, Leona, you are the richest and most important. We will always be behind you, supporting you and making you shine. Thank heavens she remembers to polish us now and then. What's a farthing?"

The large green Mexican bowl with fluted edges like a pie, also quite old and bigger than the rest, spoke in a solemn and ponderous tone, "Por Dios! You must stop boasting! I was made by a peasant in Mexico and sold for a few pesos to her mother. I am the most humble of all, but, she puts me on the coffee table where everyone can see me. True beauty is in the eye of the beholder and never for sale!

The wooden salad bowl, alone in the high cupboard, was quite shy, so she only said, "I agree with Jorge. We should all get along."

The apples, bananas, sugar and cream applauded and said, "We love you all for holding us so tightly and so lovingly! Please don't fight anymore."

And they didn't, not for a week at least!