Loving Cousin

"Sure."

After we put away the food, except for a whole chicken, he pulled out a large skillet and a cutting board. "How about fried chicken?"

"I don't want anything that heavy. What about some kind of chicken and pasta?"

"I can do that. Want some steamed veggies with it?"

"Yes. That'll be my job," I said, and then we set to work. I chopped carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, while a pot full of water warmed on the stove. John began to cut up the chicken, but stopped and muttered under his breath.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you guys have a knife sharpener?"

"I think so." I dug around the knife drawer until I found a metal stick with a rough surface. "Something like this?"

"That'll do." He grabbed all the sharp knives from the drawer and put them on the counter. He picked up one and leaned back against the counter, and then began to run the blade rapidly against the sharpener.

"Are we supposed to do that? I don't think either one of us have ever done it."

"I can tell." He grinned and shook his