Jam

The dried crust that had developed between the glass and the lid meant that the jar was impossible to open. The strain on his fingers and wrist was captured in the pained expression on his face which was screwed up as tight as the lid to the jar.

Why he had suddenly decided he wanted a strawberry jam sandwich he didn’t know but once the idea had formed in his head it was all he wanted, all he desired. Comfort food on a day when he needed comfort.

He had cut two perfect slices from a loaf of crusty bread he had bought fresh the day before. Being a day old he was able to slice the bread easily and with a perfect edge. A triumph of carving.

He had spread the butter with a care he rarely displayed in any other aspect of his life. Each face of the bread had a perfect thickness, the butter lapping to the edges of the crust but not over. They sat displayed on the breadboard, beautiful golden yellow butterfly wings awaiting the red that would lift them skywards to his mouth.

But the lid would not budge. Anger began to rise within him. He put the jar down and checked the cupboard and fridge in the desperate hope that a second jar might be hiding. He saw peanut butter, marmite, even raspberry jam but his heart and mind were set on strawberry and anything else would turn to ash in his mouth.

Suddenly he remembered about running the jar under hot water. The tap in his kitchen took ages to run hot so he boiled what little water was left in the kettle and placed the jar in the sink. After he had emptied the boiling water over the crusted lid he lifted up the jar and began to wrestle again.

Steaming hot water ran from the lid over his fingers and scalded the tips. The jar slipped from his fingers and fell in endless slow motion the distance from his waist to the concrete tiled floor.

The sound of shattering glass was deafening, the feeling of loss and frustration all consuming. The bread sat there as a taunting reminder of his crushed dream.

It was the final straw after a long day of bad straws. He knew this camels back was broken.

He bent down and picked up one of the largest shards of glass. He smiled at the fact that its edges were already red.