Member-only story
I Hope You Like Ramen
Because That’s All I Knew How To Cook
When my husband and I first got together, I was twenty years old. I’d been on my own for two years, but always had agreements with my roommates that they cook, I clean.
There was one night after we’d only been dating for a few weeks and when he got home from work asked what I wanted for dinner. I don’t remember what I had said, but it involved hamburger meat. He was hot and sweaty from work and said, “I’m going to jump in the shower. Can you brown the hamburger meat while I do that?”
Brown the hamburger meat? What do you mean brown the hamburger meat?
I was so lost and had no idea of what he was even talking about. It must have shown on my face because he laughed and asked if I seriously had no idea how to brown hamburger meat.
I grew up in a house where the kids stay out of the kitchen while dinner is being cooked. Unless we were making cookies, the food just magically appeared on the table right before we were called to supper. I wasn’t taught how to cook, not even the basics.
A few weeks after the hamburger meat issue, he called before he left work. He was starving and it was getting pretty late. I told him it wasn’t a problem, and dinner would be ready when he got home.
I can’t even imagine what might have been going through his mind that day, but he didn’t say anything.
He walked through the door, tired and hungry.
I told him dinner was ready and to go sit down. He raised an eyebrow at me but did as I asked.
I delivered him a full steaming bowl.
“Hope you like ramen! That’s all I know how to make.”