Let Me Know
October 27, 2026 2026-10-27 20:14
Let Me Know
Let Me Know
The message came in just as she was leaving the office.
Are you making that rice on Sunday? If you are, let me know so I won’t bother.
She was trying to get her laptop bag onto the back seat without dropping her keys.
She read it, put the phone in her handbag and got into the car.
Halfway home, she remembered she needed coconut milk.
At the supermarket, they didn’t have her usual brand. She stood comparing labels before choosing four small tins.
The woman ahead of her was arguing about the price of eggs.
She checked her phone.
Three messages from the office.
She answered two before it was her turn to pay.
On Saturday, she made the rice.
She had planned to cook on Sunday morning, but the thought of waking up early for people who would probably arrive late changed her mind.
The kitchen was hot.
She opened the back door.
The prawns went in last.
She tasted it, added salt, tasted it again.
Perfect.
She sent her brother a photograph.
He replied with three fire emojis.
Will there be enough to take home?
She ignored that one.
On Sunday, she arrived twenty minutes late.
Her sister opened the door.
“You’re late.”
“Good afternoon to you too.”
“What’s that?”
“Help me carry it.”
Her sister took one of the bags.
“Don’t turn it sideways.”
“Am I the one that cooked it?”
“Just carry it.”
They went into the kitchen.
Three pots stood on the cooker. A tray of chicken was on the counter.
Beside it was a large covered dish.
Her sister moved it to make room.
She lifted the lid on the dish.
Coconut rice.
“Ah. You made rice too?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Her sister looked at her.
“Because people are coming to eat.”
She laughed.
Someone called from the sitting room.
“Is there anything to drink?”
“Check the fridge!”
“The fridge is empty!”
“Then drink water!”
Her sister went back to the kitchen.
By the time everyone sat down, both dishes of rice were on the table.
Her sister’s was slightly darker.
Her brother helped himself from both.
“Which one is whose?”
“Just eat,” her sister said.
“I’m conducting research.”
He tasted one, then the other.
“Actually, this one is better.”
“Which one?”
He took some chicken.
Nobody got an answer.
After lunch, her sister brought out containers for the leftovers.
Someone wanted chicken without sauce.
Her brother wanted the rice he’d preferred, although he could no longer remember which one it was.
“Just put both,” her sister told him.
He held out his container.
“Not too much pepper. Remove the onions.”
Her sister looked into the container.
“Should I wash the rice for you too?”
“Just the onions.”
“Go and sit down.”
He went.
They continued packing.
She was pressing a lid onto a container when her sister said:
“I didn’t know you were bringing rice.”
“You asked me to.”
“I asked if you were making it.”
“Exactly.”
“And I said to let me know.”
She looked up.
“I did.”
“When?”
“Friday.”
Her sister picked up her phone and opened their conversation.
Are you making that rice on Sunday? If you are, let me know so I won’t bother.
Nothing underneath.
She took out her own phone.
Opened the chat.
Looked.
“Oh.”
Her sister waited.
“But I bought everything on Friday.”
“What does that have to do with answering me?”
“I even stopped at the supermarket.”
Her sister started laughing.
“You thought very well.”
She laughed too.
The lid came loose.
Her sister handed her another.
It fitted.
“Put some of yours in this one,” her sister said.
“Mine?”
“Yes.”
“For who?”
“For me.”
She looked at her sister.
“You liked it?”
“It’s nice.”
“Better than yours?”
“Don’t start.”
She took the serving spoon.
“How much?”
“Just put.”
She put in two spoonfuls.
“More.”
Her sister held the container steady while she added another.
