Martin wanted avocados for a family lunch. The hard ones were too early. The soft ones were too late.
On his third visit, he brought his diary to the greengrocer.
The assistant found two that should be ready by Thursday.
Martin checked the page. His wife asked what they would do if their guests couldn’t come that day….
Martin had offered to make the starter for a family lunch.
His wife, Sue, suggested something simple.
He chose avocado with prawns because the photograph showed no cooking equipment.
On Monday, he bought four avocados. They were firm enough to keep the shopping bag upright on the way home.
Sue said they wouldn’t be ready for Tuesday.
The label said ripen at home.
Then make them comfortable, she said.
Martin put them in the fruit bowl. He checked them after lunch. He checked again after the news.
He asked whether the room should be warmer.
Sue said the guests wouldn’t be arriving in the fruit bowl.
On Tuesday, the avocados were unchanged. Martin served melon instead. Everyone enjoyed it except him. He had already bought a special little spoon.
The avocados became soft on Friday afternoon, when he and Sue were leaving for a weekend away.
He ate two standing at the sink.
The following week, he tried again. He bought ones marked ready to eat.
They were certainly ready. One appeared to have been ready for some time.
The family lunch was on Sunday. By Sunday, the avocados had made other plans.
Sue offered to buy melon.
Martin said he wasn’t giving up on a fruit.
On his third visit to the greengrocer, he carried his diary.
The assistant, Asha, asked whether he needed a receipt.
No. An appointment.
He explained the two lunches, the weekend away and the spoon.
Asha chose two avocados and checked them carefully.
These should be good around Thursday. I can’t promise an exact hour.
Martin turned to Thursday.
Lunch or dinner?
I’d start checking in the morning.
He wrote a note in pencil.
Sue, who had come along for potatoes, looked over his shoulder.
It’s your sister’s working day, she said.
She might get time off.
And Ben’s at college.
He finishes at three.
Asha put the avocados in a paper bag.
Sue asked whether they were really rearranging lunch around two pieces of fruit.
Martin said flexibility was important when entertaining.
What if nobody can come on Thursday?
He closed his diary.
We’ll have to invite the melon people.
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