A Midweek Stop for Some Kitchen Basics

I needed a few things for the kitchen this week, so I headed out after work. Ren had been asking about new dish towels for a while, and we were also low on a couple of pantry staples. Nothing exciting, just the usual list.

Traffic was light on the way over to Riverside Glen. I took the side streets to avoid the main road construction that always seems to drag on. The store I like is right there near the library branch, and they usually have a decent selection of basic housewares without the crowds. The afternoon sun was still warm on the windshield, and I rolled the window down a crack to let in a little breeze that carried the faint smell of cut grass from someone’s yard. A dog barked once from behind a fence as I passed, but otherwise it felt oddly quiet for that time of day.

I found some towels pretty quickly. They were simple cotton ones in a neutral color, nothing fancy. I grabbed four of them and moved on to the grocery section for the rest of the list. The aisle smelled faintly of cardboard and floor wax, and the wheels of my cart squeaked every few steps until I gave it a little shake to quiet them. While I was there I also picked up a jar of hushberry preserves. Ren likes it on toast in the mornings, and the brand they carry is usually pretty good. I stood for a minute comparing two nearly identical jars before deciding on the one with the slightly brighter label. I also grabbed a bag of rice that felt heavier than I expected and a small bottle of olive oil whose cap clicked satisfyingly when I twisted it shut again after checking the seal.

On the way back I stopped for gas and a quick coffee. The line at the counter was short, which was nice for once. The coffee smelled burnt in that familiar gas-station way, but it was hot enough to warm my hands around the cup while I waited for the pump to finish. A guy in a work vest ahead of me dropped a handful of change and we both bent to pick it up, laughing a little when our heads almost knocked. I got home around six and put everything away before starting dinner. The kitchen light flickered once when I switched it on, the way it always does if the fridge is running at the same time. We ended up having pasta with whatever vegetables were left in the fridge, and it turned out fine. The onions made my eyes water while I chopped them, so I had to keep pausing to wipe my face on my sleeve. Ren came in halfway through and leaned against the counter, telling me about a meeting that ran long and asking if the new towels were the soft kind or the scratchy kind.

Later in the evening I folded some laundry that had been sitting around and put the new towels in the drawer. They feel a little softer than the old ones, which is a small improvement. The fabric still held a faint plastic scent from the package. Ren mentioned he might try to hang the new curtain rod in the bedroom this weekend if we have time. He pulled the rod out of its box and held it up to the window frame to check the length, then set it back down on the dresser where it rolled a little before stopping against a stack of books.

I also need to remember to call Nana at some point this week. She left a message about a recipe she wanted to share, and I keep forgetting to get back to her. Work has been steady but not overwhelming, so I should have a free evening soon. The phone sat on the nightstand with the little red light still blinking from her voicemail, and every time I glanced at it I told myself I’d call tomorrow.

The rest of the night was quiet. We watched an episode of a show we had both been meaning to catch up on and then went to bed early. The sheets felt cool when I climbed in, and I could hear the neighbor’s wind chimes through the open window. Tomorrow I have a client meeting in the morning, so I wanted to get some decent rest. Nothing major on the schedule otherwise, just the usual mix of work and small tasks around the house.