Being a southern farm girl, one of my favorite types of bread is cornbread baked in an iron skillet. As soon as it’s pulled out of the oven, I cut out a big piece, slice it open, lay a small pat of butter in it, and lay the top back on it. It’s best if you let it sit like that for a couple of minutes to let the butter melt. I also loved my Mamaw Jo’s rolls. When I was a little girl, I would place a spoonful of her mashed potatoes onto the roll itself and eat it that way. It was as messy as it was delicious.
Back in the eighties, one of my favorite restaurants was inside West Town Mall. Actually, it was a cafeteria. I can’t remember the name of it, but to me, their rolls were the best ones on the planet. They had the perfect crusty top with savory bread inside. In case you’re wondering, I never placed my mashed potatoes on them there, but I did consider it.
Soon after we started dating, Tim and I ate at the cafeteria with my mom and a couple of my friends. Naturally, I got extra rolls. After we finished eating, I asked for a doggie bag to take them with me. To say I was excited was an understatement. As we rode back home, I envisioned myself eating my scrumptious rolls for breakfast as I sipped my coffee. To me, that was going to be Heaven on Earth.
As soon as my mom stopped the car in the driveway, Tim jumped out with my doggie bag full of rolls in his hand. My Papaw’s dog Perkins came running up to us. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because I have previously written about him. He’s the dog that ate my Papaw Janeway’s birthday cake that Mamaw Jo had baked. This dog was an eating machine to say the least. Anyway, Tim politely opened the bag and emptied out my precious rolls onto the ground. Of course, Perkins immediately gobbled them up. I couldn’t believe it. In one foul swoop, Tim had dashed my breakfast dreams.
“Why did you feed my rolls to the dog? That was supposed to be my breakfast in the morning!” That was the first time he ever heard me raise my voice.
“B.b.but you put them in a doggie bag,” he sounded confused.
“Doggie bags are for humans and not dogs!”
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 (KJV)
The best bread of all time is the bread of life. How could it not be? That is how Jesus described himself. Let tell you from personal experience, that bread will fill your soul as nothing else can. If you have never tried it, you have no idea what you are missing.
Bless Tim’s heart, that was the first time he ever saw me upset. But in all fairness, he didn’t know about the “Doggie Bag” concept because he always cleaned his plate. So, he never needed one. As for me, I never used that term again. Now I ask for a to-go box.
Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.