BooksBarbecue
Back Magma
Chapters (100)
  1. Magma
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Reykjavik 2007
  6. Chlamydia
  7. Bachelors I
  8. Vegetarians
  9. The Ex I
  10. The Bike
  11. Willpower I
  12. Willpower II
  13. Graduation Party
  14. His Children
  15. Hygiene
  16. Mom
  17. Ghosts of the Past
  18. The Ex II
  19. Girlfriends
  20. Butthole
  21. Love
  22. The Suburbs
  23. Privilege
  24. The Game I
  25. The Game II
  26. Prevention I
  27. Non Grata
  28. Oral Sex
  29. Plato’s Moon Child
  30. Vanity I
  31. Internet Friends I
  32. Bachelors II
  33. The Ex III
  34. The Ex IV
  35. Ephemera
  36. Deflowering
  37. Academia
  38. Internet Friends II
  39. Prevention II
  40. Limits I
  41. Limits II
  42. Birthday
  43. Bad
  44. Equation
  45. Vanity II
  46. Wedding
  47. He Loves Me
  48. The Sticking Place
  49. Blue Balls
  50. The Ex V
  51. Woman Warrior
  52. Words
  53. Lessons from History
  54. Cycle
  55. Love
  56. Contract
  57. Household
  58. Books
  59. Compromise I
  60. The Natural Habitat of Vegetarians
  61. Childhood
  62. Primitive
  63. Special Place
  64. Principles
  65. Growing Pains
  66. Treasure Hunt
  67. Compromise II
  68. Depression
  69. Alchemy
  70. Knowledge
  71. Disapparation
  72. Redhead
  73. Capulet
  74. Shame
  75. Kindness
  76. Hibernation
  77. Magma
  78. Mission
  79. Disappointment
  80. The Situation
  81. Out and About
  82. Appointment I
  83. Ground Zero
  84. Appointment II
  85. Desire
  86. Cold Slab
  87. Resolution
  88. Balance
  89. Untoward Effects
  90. Sleeping Beauty
  91. Optimism
  92. Drought
  93. Absence
  94. Going Down
  95. Situation
  96. Appointment III
  97. Crossroads
  98. Afterlife
  99. Cosmogenesis
  100. Back Cover

My friend Bryndís is in homemaking school. The other day she came for a short visit to check out the new apartment. She brought a delicious-smelling cake that she’d taken out of the oven just before she came over. He was in his room with his computer the entire time, only saying hello to her when she peeked into the room. When Bryndís had gone, he came out and scrutinized the cake. “What type of eggs did she use?” he asked accusingly. He’s much more of a purist than I am. Even though we’re both vegetarians, he’s much stricter about his diet.

“I don’t know, probably just brown eggs,” I answered, getting myself a glass of milk to drink with a warm slice of cake.

“Can you call your friend and find out? I’m not going to eat murder eggs.”

I did, and Bryndís said that the shells had been white. She apologized, saying they were just the eggs they use in school. I told her it was fine, the cake was surely going to be delicious. He rolled his eyes and grimaced as he watched me try to deal with the egg issue. Just before I hung up, he stormed out of the kitchen and locked himself in the bedroom. He eats only pastries that are baked with brown eggs or eggs from hens that have definitely ranged freely.

I sat alone next to the cake and my glass of milk. I ate the entire fucking cake because I thought it was rude to throw it out. To me, cake is just cake.

Growing Pains

Growing Pains

When I visit my parents, he never comes along. Since I’ve left home, I miss them sometimes. They invite us to dinner all the time, and they’re always ready to cook a hearty vegetarian recipe—they never feed us side dishes. It’s clear that he’s welcome, but he has difficulty being around my folks. My mom and dad are so normal, and he says he doesn’t know how he should act.

Sometimes I stay longer than expected, talking or watching a film. Then he gets peeved because he’s been sitting at home waiting for me. He doesn’t understand why I’m still so attached to my parents. “When are you going to leave the nest? When will I get to be your family?”

Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt