The Buffet

Joyce Carol Oates Dared Me to Write a Raymond Carver Story with This Photo and I Did

The cabinet drawer got stuck shut a long time ago. It’s been stuck since Lois threw Thanksgiving— pre-Gulf II or whatever— and Dale Junior walked out in the middle of the meal. Stubbed one out in his mash and left.

He left before the pie, which was rude, sure, but everyone was relieved.  Aunts uncles, cousins combined. No one stuck up for ole’ Dale Junior. Exactamente, he woulda said.

The drawer was the one protest vote.

We tried to get the thing open that night. Uncle Bill Giddie tried to unhinge it with his screwdriver, but the edge slipped and cut his hand open.