Short Story
The Secret Ingredient By Jackie Brewster
Maureen and Colin watched helplessly as the Thermos flask slid from the table. It hit the kitchen floor with a dull crack. “Christmas is ruined,” Colin said glumly. “Christmas isn’t ruined.” Maureen reached for her glass to calm her nerves. “Not when there’s sherry.” “Perhaps it’s saveable.” Colin gingerly picked up the Thermos flask and shook it. It sounded like wet gravel. “Natalie brought it,” he said. Their guests, Colin’s dad, Maureen’s brother Derrick and his fiancée Natalie were patiently waiting in the dining room for their Christmas dinner. It was a family tradition for everyone to bring something for the meal. Colin’s dad had made the Christmas pudding, Derrick had brought crackers. “What did she bring?” Maureen asked quietly. “I’ve no idea,” Colin said, “she just handed me this when she came in.” It was the first time Natalie had joined them for Christmas day, and the pressure to impress was on because she’d once been a guest on a cookery show on the local radio and never missed an opportunity to mention it. “What did she say when she gave it to you?” Maureen asked impatiently. Colin thought for a moment. “She said it was shoes,” he said finally. “It’s clearly not shoes though is it?” Exasperated, Maureen took another swig of her sherry. “What are we going to do now?” she said. “What did you ask her to bring?” Colin said. “I can’t remember, can I?” Maureen said. “Let’s look at what we’ve got and see what’s missing.” They looked at the steaming dishes of food on
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the counter – turkey, stuffing, sprouts and roast potatoes. “Can I help with anything?” Natalie poked her head around the kitchen door. “I thought I heard a crash.” Colin and Maureen looked at each other in panic. “So sorry Natalie, we’ve had a little accident,” Maureen confessed. “Colin’s dropped your Thermos flask.” “It was only cheap,” Natalie laughed nervously. “Just so long as the contents are alright.” Colin shook the Thermos. Natalie looked crestfallen. “I could lend you a pair of slippers,” he offered. Maureen nudged him in the ribs. “But my advice would be not to put your shoes in a Thermos in the first place.” Natalie looked puzzled. “Not shoes, it’s jus,” she frowned, “to pour on the meal.” “Do you mean gravy?” Maureen asked, astonished. “I knew there was something missing!” “I suppose some people call it that.” Natalie sounded offended. “We professional chefs call it jus.” “Why didn’t you say?” Maureen laughed, refilling her glass. “Colin, get the jar of granules out of the pantry and I’ll whisk up some more.” “But it was a special jus,” Natalie protested. “What’s the key ingredients?” Colin asked as the kettle boiled. Natalie blushed. “I used gravy granules,” she said quietly, “with a slug of sherry in it.” “Didn’t I tell you Colin?” Maureen picked up the bottle. “Sherry to the rescue again!”
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