Page 221 of The Bonus

7 p.m.

“Chop the onions into thin slices.” I watch the woman intently and follow her directions. I carefully chop the onions.

“Now what?” I ask.

“You know you’re speaking to an iPad, right?” Mark says from his stool at the kitchen counter.

“Shut up.”

“Pour the olive oil into the pan and sauté the onions until they become fragrant.”

“How the hell does an onion turn into fragrance?” I frown. “What the fuck is the fragrance, onion juice?”

Mark rolls his eyes and sips his beer. My door buzzes.

“Go let Alessio in, will you?”

Mark disappears to answer the door.

“While the onions are cooking, get the breadcrumbs ready.” I watch what she does intently, how does she do so many things at the same time? Alessio arrives in the kitchen and frowns when he sees me in my apron. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Cooking.”

“Why, where is your chef?”

“Night off. I’m learning to cook from YouTube,” I reply.

“This is going too far now.” Alessio rolls his eyes. “Who are you and what have you done with my brother?”

“I want to cook for my children.”

“So ask Mom to teach you.”

“I’m not talking to Mom.”

Alessio drags his hand down his face. “I’ll stay…but only if you call Mom tomorrow.”

“Get out, then.”

“Marinate the meat in a closed container,” she instructs.

Alessio opens a beer and the boys start chatting while I go to grab a container. I look in one drawer, then another, then another. I can find the bottom…hmm.

The onions sizzle. “They’re burning,” Alessio calls.

“Shit.” I grab the pan with my bare hand. “Ahhh, its hot!” I flick it away and it nearly all tips out.

“You are so bad at this.”

“Shut up.”

I keep searching. “I know why it’s called Tupperware,” I snap. “It’s Tupper, where is the lid.”

“So am I going home, or are you calling Mom tomorrow?”

“I’m not apologizing to her, she was in the wrong.” The onions are smoking. “Stop distracting me, shit’s burning over here.”

“You just have to call her.”

---