Saltines and
Pepper-Jack Cheese
“Sir, can you describe the
perpetrator?” Sally, the police officer, kindly asked Peter about the hit and
run accident.
“Gray mini-van, female driver about 60
with short salt and pepper hair, wearing sunglasses. Washington license plate started with a Z.”
Satisfied with Peter’s response Sally
thanked him and turned to the victim of the crime, Peter’s 16-year old nephew
Matthew. “Is there anything else I can
help you with today Matthew?”
Leaning against his recently
purchased red clunker Matthew crossed his arms and winked. “Just make sure you catch her. Thanks.”
Taken aback by the wink from a
teenager Sally couldn’t get away fast enough.
She sprinted to her waiting patrol car and sped off.
“Did you have to be such a tease
Matthew? After all she was only trying to help,” Uncle Peter scolded his oldest
nephew.
Humbled now, with his head held low,
Matthew muttered, “Sorry Uncle Peter”.
Seated
in the tow truck’s cab on their way to the mechanic Matthew asked his uncle, “What
is salt and pepper hair?”
“My hair is salt and pepper,” came
the quick reply.
“You mean there is an actual name
for your hair color?” the teenager asked with a bit of a squeak. “I thought people just called it black and
white. Why do they call it salt and pepper anyways?”
“Well, I don’t know where the name
originated from but in our family we start going white early. When my first white hairs arrived I found a
way to make a joke of it. I call it saltines
and pepper-jack cheese.”
Matthew’s
quizzical look encouraged him to continue.
“At
first glance those two foods seem to be from different worlds. And really they are. But, and this is the good part, you put them
together and they make a delicious snack.
Have you ever tried it?”
“Are we talking about food or your
hair?” asked Matthew.
“Both.”
“Are you sure it is not your personality
showing through?”
This time it was Uncle Peter’s turn
to share a quizzical look with his nephew.
Matthew continued, “I have noticed
that as you get older you mellow out more and it seems to correspond with the
amount of white hairs you grow. Mom told
me stories of you in your younger days and how you caused a lot of trouble for
Grandma and Grandpa. I like to think of
it as a spicy personality.” Matthew
laughed nervously at his own joke about spices.
“This morning is a good example of the change. There was nothing spicy about you scolding
me.”
“In other words, saltines are a lot
more boring than pepper-jack cheese and I am a lot more boring than I used to
be. Is that it?” Peter asked teasingly
giving Matthew a playful punch on the arm.
“No, it means that you have both of
those characteristics and they blend well together. Just like your salt and pepper hair. Salt and pepper together speak of maturity. Matthew
paused for effect before continuing, “In my opinion at least.”
“Matthew, those are some profound thoughts for
someone who just a moment ago hadn’t heard of salt and pepper hair.”
Trying to shrug off his uncle’s
praise Matthew said, “Yeah, well, . . . So, when do I get to try your favorite
snack?“
“How about as soon as we reach your
grandparent’s place?”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Matthew said
with a wink.
