Woo! I will not fail this! Another one. So I have to tell you a short story behind this. We ate s'mores today (albeit microwaved ones, but that's hardly the point...) and I thought of this idea. But then I couldn't find a word to fit it. So I just picked sand, and decided they'd be at the beach. And then, as I was typing, I was like OH! Patience. So I asked my dear friend Mar (setarip) if I could steal her word from yesterday, and she agreed. So, thank you, Marbear. This one's for you. BTW you guys should go read her drabble from yesterday. It's hilarious.
And, without further ado, I give you drabble number two.
Patience
"Why can't I roast a marshmallow without burning it?" Elizabeth moaned dejectedly as she pulled off the black gloop of marshmallow and threw it on the pile of failed attempts at a perfect s'more. Kicking a bit of sand, she grabbed another fresh marshmallow from the bag and angrily pushed it onto the point of her stick. Her boyfriend Will smiled and wrapped his free hand around her shoulder.
"Patience, Elizabeth, patience. You can't just jab the stick in there and hope for the best," he laughed as he saw her stick become a torch again. Pulling his stick out of the flame, he rested it across his lap and went to assist the damsel in distress. After another fresh marshmallow was pulled from the bag and put on the now very sticky stick, Will took Elizabeth's hand in his and guided the stick towards the bright red and orange blaze dancing atop the blackened logs. Elizabeth smiled thankfully up at him, her brown eyes aglow from the flame.
"The trick to the perfect marshmallow is to leave it in the flame until just before it becomes so mushy that it falls off. It'll be a golden brown color," he explained.
"But how do you do that?" Will looked down at her, giving her a look that said if you hadn't interrupted me, I would have told you. "Sorry, go ahead. I'll let the master of the marshmallow show his skills."
"That's all I ask," he said, laughing. "Here, raise it up. Don't put it in the hottest part of the fire. There." He steadied her hand to the right place. "And you should keep it moving, so you get all sides of the marshmallow brown." She twirled the stick in her hand slowly, keeping an eye out to make sure that it didn't catch fire again.
Shivering, she scooted closer to Will's warm body. He pulled her in closer and she rested her head on his strong shoulder, looking out at the breaking waves on the shoreline and the setting sun. It was so calming, the sound of the waves gently lapping on the shore. It almost put her to sleep.
"Elizabeth," Will said suddenly.
"What? Is my marshmallow on fire again?" she jumped, pulling her stick out of the fire hurriedly.
"It's fine," he replied, stroking her hand with his thumb. "Look," he twirled the stick. "Golden brown to perfection." Elizabeth's pretty face broke out into an all- out grin as she reached for her chocolate and graham crackers. Assembling all the ingredients, she smushed the top graham cracker on and took a bite. It was utterly delicious.
"Thank you, Will!" she said excitedly, throwing her arms around his neck happily. He smiled and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"See, patience does pay off after all," he answered, and they sat on the beach enjoying their s'mores and watching the sun close the book on a beautiful day.
