Page 12 of A Recipe Called Home

Emily gave Jules a shy smile, adding, “It’s always like this,” before taking Winnie’s hand, gazing at her in admiration. Jule’s chest tightened with love for them, happy her best friend had found such a good partner.

Once seated, they had a full view of the field. It looked both smaller and larger than she remembered, and the electric buzz of excitement pulsed through her veins. It was hard not to get caught up in the moment. Feeling a burst of school pride, she started chanting along with the rest of the crowd and cheerleaders. She didn’t care if it was the two martinis she had earlier. She was going to enjoy the night, win or lose.

Just as Jules got comfortable in her metal seat, a set of doors on the opposite side of the field opened and the band burst through in a ribbon of blue, blasting the school’s fight song. Everyone stood and cheered as they marched onto the field in a large V shape, each member outfitted in a navy wool uniform that looked uncomfortable for this warm evening. On her feet and clapping along to the beat, Jules watched, eyes catching on Miles, who stood at the top of the formation, moving his arms to direct the music. His jaw was set tight, focusing on the music and the band. A spike of energy ran through her body, impressed with the sense of ease and confidence he displayed.

In an instant, she was back in high school, marching alongside him on the same field. She remembered how the rush of the moment made her feel alive, how the music vibrated through their bodies, connecting them in a way that made it feel as though they were each a minor part of a larger, living thing. Thinking about it here made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and her skin broke out in tiny goosebumps. She’d forgotten how much she loved Friday night football games.

At most high schools, being in the band meant you were unpopular or nerdy, but not at Riverbend High. It meant bragging rights. To even get an invitation to try out for the band was a compliment, let alone make the cut. Riverbend’s marching band competed state-wide, winning the state championship almost every year and always ranking in the top ten nationally. Between its strong football program and award-winning marching band, it’s no wonder the entire town turned out for every home game.

And now Miles led the band. She’d always thought he’d do great things; he received a full-ride scholarship to Oberlin College for its renowned music program. A gifted musician and scary smart to boot, Miles scored almost perfect on his SATs. But then prom night happened senior year, and his scholarship disappeared.

Since then, Jules often wondered if he still played music. He had no social media to speak of and no family left in Riverbend to share any news. But it turned out he didn’t give up his love for music, although she doubted Riverbend was his first choice to build a career. Years ago, he’d dreamt of playing in a large city philharmonic. Nevertheless, it suited him. He looked in control and at home on the field.

With the game starting and Jules buzzing from head to toe with nostalgia and school pride, the three of them blended into the frenzied crowd, cheering along at every catch and touchdown. When halftime came, the show the marching band put on blew her socks off. They played “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor and Katy Perry’s “Fireworks” while marching around the field, forming the shape of fireworks and even a cat eye that blinked. It was well worth the eight dollar admission charge.

After the game finished with Riverbend winning by over twenty points, Winnie, Emily, and Jules headed for the exits.

“I forgot how much fun these football games are!” Jules shouted over the noise of the crowd as they shuffled forward towards the exit.

“Best thing to do in Riverbend on a Friday night,” Winnie yelled back in between greeting another onslaught of students and parents.

“But not the only thing to do in Riverbend!” Emily added. “Let’s head to the Kernel to grab some food.”

“You don’t mean The Golden Kernel, do you?” Jules asked, wrinkling up her nose. The Golden Kernel was a dive bar that had been around for decades in Riverbend. She’d only been there once, when she’d been home for Christmas break during college. Out of desperation and sheer boredom, Winnie and Jules found themselves dressed up and heading to the only bar in town. They regretted their decision as soon as they stepped into the dimly lit repurposed barn, hit by the stench of hay mixed with puke, shame, and stale beer. The three old men sitting at the bar whipped their heads around as the door closed with a thud behind them, like a scene from a horror movie. Jules grabbed Winnie’s hand and dragged her back out the door. They did not belong there.

“Yeah! It has new owners and looks completely different. It’s such a nice place now,” Winnie explained. “Their food is great.”

“They servefood?” Jules wondered aloud as Emily grabbed her arm to pull her through the crowd.

Emily opened the Uber app on her phone and ordered a ride for them. Tonight was full of surprises. She could never have imagined a time when Riverbend would have Uber. Growing up, there had only been one taxicab, driven by a guy named Earl who charged a flat rate of ten dollars to go anywhere within city limits.

Once in the spotless and family friendly minivan that picked them up, Jules called her grandma to check in. Rosa had been expecting a longtime friend to stop by with dinner, so Jules was off caretaking duty for the evening. Her grandma sounded happy but tired and told her to have a great night. Jules felt less guilty knowing she wasn’t alone for dinner and already getting ready for bed.

During their short ride, she learned more about the bar. Apparently, a young couple from Chicago bought it two years ago, remodeling it into a sort of gastropub that drew in sizeable crowds on the weekends. Most people loved it, but there was still a group of long-time locals who were not thrilled it was now owned by “city folk” instead of someone from Riverbend, a tale as old as time.

Sliding out of the minivan, Jules looked up at a fancy sign on top of the newly painted barn that flashed, “The Golden Kernel” in yellow glowing light with the phrase, “Riverbend’s Hometown Gastropub” painted beneath. A promising start.

There was already a short line of customers dressed in Riverbend’s blue and green colors standing near the front entrance hostess stand. A short young woman who wore her hair in two tight buns on either sides of her head and a smart all black jumper and bright white sneakers informed them that there was a thirty-minute wait for a table, but they could check out the bar area for open seats.

The gastropub didn’t even look like the same place she and Winnie had visited years ago. To start, it smelled like food. Good food. Inside, the wooden beams had been stained a dark walnut color with black iron fittings at the joints. The renovated bar was a long piece of live edge wood with a dozen rustic-looking backless stools lined up along it. Hanging above the bar was a huge elk head and a couple of deer heads, along with a handful of vintage-looking beer signs. A series of intimate leather booths and four-top tables full of lively customers filled the rest of the space. A small stage stood in the corner near the bar, which was empty except for a tall chair and microphone stand. Jules wondered if they had regular shows or mic nights.

Zipping past Jules and Emily, Winnie grabbed the last three open stools at the bar and motioned for them to join her. As they all sat down, Winnie struck up a conversation with the bartender, who looked like the furthest thing from a Riverbend native. His head was shaved on both sides except for the middle, where three large red spikes stood straight up, gelled into submission. In his earlobes hung gauges the size of silver dollars and tattoos ran up and down his arms, leaving little to no skin showing. Although he looked intimidating at first glance, his wide smile suggested otherwise.

“Jax, this is Jules. She lives in D.C. but is back in town helping her grandma for a while,” said Winnie as Jax reached across the bar to shake Jules’ hand.

“Nice to finally meet you. Winnie mentioned you a few times. Welcome to the Golden Kernel,” replied Jax.

“I hope you’ve only heard good things,” Jules teased.

“I might have shared a few of our young dalliances.” Winnie winked at Jules. “Jax and his wife, Roxy, own the Golden Kernel. They’re responsible for breathing life back into it. Where's your better half?”

“I’m afraid it’s just me manning the bar tonight. Roxy’s at home relaxing. Her back was acting up today.”

Jax explained Roxy was very pregnant with their first child, and it was wreaking havoc on her back.

“What’s your preferred poison, ladies?” Jax asked, grabbing a shaker and tossing a bar rag over his shoulder.

The evening was just what Jules needed, a fun night out with friends. She couldn’t believe a hip gastropub existed in Riverbend. And Winnie was right; the food was great. They ordered a bunch of plates to share and devoured every bite. Her favorite, the crispy brussels sprouts, had some sort of sauce on the bottom that was both sweet and salty, topped with toasted sunflower seeds. It reminded her of a dish she might get at a fancy restaurant in D.C.Impressive and unexpected, Jules thought.

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