With all the deep conversation happening in the big Trent-Stepforth-Ludlow-Lee barbecue, one had to remember that there was another end to those conversations.
“I need someone to take me to Big Discounts real quick so I can tell them those are not your onions! Because, see, we need those to do this again tomorrow, because, see, yeah!”
Five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow was dead serious, having been welcome in four kitchens that day and seen onions being used in much of the great food he had eaten. Lil' Robert enjoyed eating, but he also enjoyed cooking because he felt he should contribute.
“He's actually really good with what he can do,” his cousin-in-law Mrs. Maggie Lee said. “Lil' Robert measures well, and knows that some things need to have the air knocked out and leveled off and some things need to be packed, and of course he is the greatest quality tester ever!”
Col. H.F. Lee laughed as he pulled up another bag of apples that he would dice.
“Yep, that brown sugar would pass an Army inspection for packing – his hands are small, but he knows what he is doing. That white sugar and flour are leveled off well too!”
“Cleaning him up was a whole different conversation,” Mrs. Lee said, “but he is so cute in his little 'Kiss the Cook' apron!”
“We've heard of platinum blond,” Col. Lee said, with another laugh, “but that boy has invented a new color: cinnamon blond!”
“He just tries so hard at everything and does not care about setbacks – if a honey badger was a sweetheart, that would be Lil' Robert Ludlow!” Mrs. Lee said as she started laughing.
Big Robert, also known as Capt. R.E. Ludlow, picked up Lil' Robert to get all that cinnamon out of his hair, and released him to his own kitchen to help out his grandmother Mrs. Thalia Ludlow, so the youngest chef in all four families was swiftly back at work. The onion comment came after dinner.
“Rob,” Capt. Ludlow said, “we don't have to pick all those onions up tomorrow. This is why God allowed man to invent leftovers – we're good for days.”
“OK, Papa, but, next week, though,” Lil' Robert said as he came off the porch and went to pull tablecloths off tables.