Boiling
by Carlos E. Russo
He reached up for the strainer and instantly regretted his decision. The pot of boiling water began spilling over his other hand and onto the floor. Such a careless and stupid mistake.
Having cooked for years, he was surprised by this momentary lapse in judgment. Especially given that pasta was kind of his thing. He could boil, drain, sauce, and repeat; Over and over, like a machine.
It also didn’t help that he had failed to realize his oven mitt had a hole in it. The hole funneled boiling water straight into his so-called 'protected' hand, intensifying both the pain and his frustration at himself.
Trying to course-correct, he quickly tossed the almost empty pot into the sink and jumped back away from the sudden pond in his kitchen. Without missing a beat, his wife brings him the mop, and he begins damage control.