sanalayla | Drabble 60 | Groceries (Reply)

“So, what are we doing for dinner tonight, Smallville?” Lois asked, perching on his desk and smiling down at him. “My place or yours? Chinese or pizza? Maybe Indian?”

Clark leaned back in his chair and surveyed her for a second. Then, he suggested, “Actually, why don’t we make dinner? We’ve either eaten out or had take-out for the past five weeks. A home-cooked meal would do us good.”

“Umm…” Lois blinked back at him, wondering where he was getting the idea that she was craving a home-cooked meal. “Well… I’m perfectly happy with take-out. Maybe we could do burgers?”

“Lois, that’s not exactly choosing a healthier option,” Clark answered, with a slight eye roll. “C’mon, you won’t even have to do anything. I’ll do all the cooking.”

Lois gave him a dubious look. “You know how to cook?”

“My mom taught me some stuff,” Clark informed her, with a light shrug. “Simple things. Like meat loaf, lasagna, some casseroles…”

“Right, simple things,” Lois repeated, letting out a slight laugh. Only in Clark’s world would a meat loaf be a simple dinner. In her world, heating up a can of soup was a complicated process. She studied him for a moment, taking in his hopeful expression and shrugged. “Okay, fine. But, you know, if you’re going to do all the cooking, the least I can do is help somehow.”

Clark winced and assured her, hastily, “It’s OK, Lois, I got it.”

“Very funny, Smallville,” Lois made a face, knowing exactly why he didn’t want her to help him. “I’m not offering to help cook. I’ll clean up or something.”

Clark seemed to give that some consideration and then he shook his head. “No, I’m good. I can clean pretty fast… it’ll be easier if I do it.”

“Smallville.” Lois let out a frustrated sigh. “There must be something….” A thought occurred to her and she offered, “I’ll get the groceries. I’ve been in your kitchen – there’s nothing there.”

“Well….” Clark paused and gave her a skeptical look. “Are you sure? Because I can --.”

“How hard can it be?” Lois cut in. She slid off his desk and went back around towards her own. “Just e-mail me whatever your menu is and I’ll leave work early to pick it up on my way to the farm.”

“All right.” Clark still didn’t look convinced, but he nodded, anyway. “I’ll send you the list of the things we need.”

Lane to Smallville @ 4:34pm: What kind of ground beef do you want? Lean? Extra lean? With fat? The butcher wants to know.

Smallville to Lane @ 4:36pm: I don’t think it matters, Lois. Just get whatever makes sense to you.

Lane to Smallville @ 4:38pm: Be more specific. None of this makes sense to me.

Smallville to Lane @ 4:39pm: Get lean.

Lane to Smallville @ 4:41pm: Are you sure? The butcher said extra lean is healthier. And isn’t the point to eat healthy?

Smallville to Lane @ 4:42pm: Fine. Then get extra lean.

Lane to Smallville @ 4:43pm: But then why did you pick lean first?

Smallville to Lane @ 4:45pm: Because it doesn’t matter. Lois, are you sure you don’t just want me to do this? I can be there in five minutes.

Lane to Smallville @ 4:46pm: No. It’s only fair I do this, since you’re doing all the cooking.

Smallville to Lane @ 4:47pm: Seriously, I can be there in five minutes.

Lane to Smallville @ 4:48pm: Smallville! I can do it.

Smallville to Lane @ 4:49pm: Of course. I’ll see you tonight.

~

Lane to Smallville @ 4:57pm: You said you want apples for apple pie. There are 25 different kinds here.

Smallville to Lane @ 4:58pm: Any apples will work.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:01pm: 10 different kinds of red apples. 5 green ones.

Smallville to Lane @ 5:02pm: It doesn't matter.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:04pm: Really? I thought you needed a special kind for apple pie.

Smallville to Lane @ 5:05pm: Normally, yes. But today? I’ll figure it out. Just pick one.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:07pm: Well, in that case, there’s one that’s red AND green. Pretty cool looking.

Smallville to Lane @ 5:09pm: Get those, then. But it doesn’t matter what color it is. The skin gets thrown away.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:10pm: Oh, right. Then what’s the point in getting the cool ones?

Smallville to Lane @ 5:11pm: Fine… then just get the green ones.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:13pm: OK. Which ones? Granny smith? Golden delicious?

Smallville to Lane @ 5:14pm: The first one.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:17pm: I’m going to get the Golden delicious. It’s on sale.

Smallville to Lane @ 5:18pm: If you were going to ignore what I said, why’d you ask me?

Lane to Smallville @ 5:19pm: I just noticed they’re on sale now, Smallville.

Smallville to Lane @ 5:20pm: Why don’t I just come help you? It’ll get done faster.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:21pm: I got it. Besides, I’m almost done.

~

Lane to Smallville @ 5:30pm: Clark, I have no clue what this means. French cut green beans? Why does it need to be French? What’s the difference between that and American? And where do I find them?

Smallville to Lane @ 5:31pm: Just get whatever green beans you want to eat, Lois. About a pound.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:32pm: You want me to weigh the cans? Why can’t I just grab two?

Smallville to Lane @ 5:34pm: Lois… you’re in the wrong section. You need to be in the fresh vegetables section.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:36pm: But I was just there. Getting apples. Now I have to go all the way back? Damn it. Can’t we just eat the canned ones? It’s all green, anyway.

Smallville to Lane @ 5:38pm: I told you I would be happy to get the groceries.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:39pm: I am perfectly capable of doing this, Smallville.

Smallville to Lane @ 5:41pm: Lois, I know you. The only parts of the grocery store you EVER go in are the snacks aisle and the ice cream section.

Lane to Smallville @ 5:44pm: Not true. I go to the wine section, too. And that’s where I’m headed right now, because you’re making me want a drink.

Smallville to Lane @ 5:45pm: I don’t even know how to respond to that.

~

Lane to Smallville @ 5:55pm: Smallville… .

Smallville to Lane @ 5:58pm: Yes?

Lane to Smallville @ 5:59pm: There are four different kinds of mushrooms here. What kind do you want?

Smallville to Lane @ 6:01pm: Just grab a can. It doesn’t matter which one.

Lane to Smallville @ 6:03pm: Can? Are you kidding me? I’m in the fresh vegetables section. Are you doing this just to play with my mind?

Smallville to Lane @ 6:04pm: Lois. If I was there, we would have been DONE by now.

Lane to Smallville @ 6:05pm: If you’d written the list properly, *I* would be done by now.

Smallville to Lane @ 6:07pm: Good point.

Lane to Smallville @ 6:08pm: I know.

Smallville to Lane @ 6:10pm: Since I wrote the list down wrong, I’m going to finish getting the rest of the groceries. It’s the least I can do. Turn around and give me the cart. I’m already here.

~

Lane to Smallville @ 6:35pm: Smallville… don’t forget the beer. And the Doritos.

Smallville to Lane @ 6:37pm: The whole point is to eat healthy, Lois.

Lane to Smallville @ 6:39pm: For dinner. Not for the midnight snack! It defeats the purpose if the midnight snack is HEALTHY.

Smallville to Lane @ 6:41pm: You plan to be at the farm at midnight?

Lane to Smallville @ 6:43pm: Not if all you’ve got is stuff the Jolly Green Giant would eat.

Smallville to Lane @ 6:45pm: Okay, what do you want me to get?

Lane to Smallville @ 6:46pm: I’ll e-mail you the list.

~

Smallville to Lane @ 6:50pm: Lois… they’re out of chunky monkey. Can I just get chocolate chip?

Lane to Smallville @ 6:51pm: Smallville! It’s not even close!! You have so much to learn….