Too Much Pepper

[This story comes to us from David Pennington, who heard Lee Edmonds share it with Ed Pennington, David’s dad while the two were in the rafters wiring the second story of the Pennington’s house.  David was listening from below.]

I forget your dad's rank aboard the ship [ensign, lieutenant Junior grade , but recall that he had some level of authority. He told my father that the cook on the ship had a habit of dishing up the food, then coating it with pepper till it was black.

I remember him saying, "Now I like a little pepper in my food, but I like to have it mixed in while it's cooking. I talked to him about it, but he told me it was his kitchen and he'd run it the way he wanted to."

One day a cable came in from the War Department, announcing that pepper was to be rationed to a certain amount per man, per month. As your dad told it, "I thought, oh, boy, I've got him now."

So, acting casual, he paid the cook a visit and handed him a copy of the cable. "This just came in, and I thought you ought to see it." The cook took the cable in one hand, leaned on the counter and studied it, while picking his teeth with the other. Then he stood up, got a pencil, and did a little figuring. "Well sir, according to this, I can use twice as much pepper as I have been. If you'd like me to do that, I can oblige." Your dad assured him it would be fine if he didn't change a thing, and beat a hasty retreat.

From the Meat Counter

[This story comes to us from David Pennington, who heard Lee Edmonds share it with Ed Pennington, David’s dad while the two were in the rafters wiring the second story of the Pennington’s house.  David was listening from below.]

One day, Lee’s father asked him to mind the meat counter while he ran an errand.  (Lee’s father worked in a grocery story.)  A woman who was a regular customer came in and asked for a chicken. Lee picked one out of the case and showed it to her. When she said she would take it, he asked her if she wanted it whole or cut up. He'd heard his father ask that question, but he'd never been taught anything about butchering. When the woman asked to have it cut up, he put it on the block and cut it into four pieces with a cleaver--two cuts, like a cross. Then he weighed and wrapped it for her.

A few weeks later, his father asked him to mind the meat counter again. Wouldn't you know it, the same woman came to the counter and asked for a chicken. When he asked her if she wanted it whole or cut up, she said she'd take it whole.