Four Bowls of Glory
Drabble for Shirley Belk's I Bet You Were Cute as a Child!? (An unofficial DRABBLE challenge)
As much as Nonna’s was a place for laughter, argument, and wine, it was also a gladiatorial arena. Where only the best could triumph.
Once pasta was served and bowls cleared, the call came: “You want more, Paul and Michael?”
Of course, we did. Her pasta was humble, but the best I’ve ever tasted.
Then came the competition. In one corner: my tall, skinny Dad. In another, my tall, Uncle Giovanni. Then me and my brother.
“I’m going to eat more than you!”
The adults usually won, but oh, to clear four bowls — that was glory.
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: The drabble is 100 words. For context, though -
I was a geeky little guy as a child. Glasses, big smiles, and boundless energy. I loved Transformers, He-Man, and Star Wars. Loved life. I also loved food. Food was an important part of my childhood, and thanks to my Scottish-Italian heritage, that meant lots and lots of pasta.
As many of my regular readers will know, my dad died this month and his funeral was on Monday, so it's been quite a bittersweet time, thinking back to my childhood, especially the later years during my teens.
However, my young childhood was actually in many ways rather awesome. So I wrote this for Shirley's challenge, to inject a little bit of positivity and give myself a smile, while fighting back tears, too.
Food competitions were a regular thing. Nothing official, but you had bragging rights if you cleared more bowls of pasta. Four, in my patchy mind, seems to have been the upper limit.
The picture I have included with the drabble is of one of our family holidays to Sesto Campano, Italy. That is the village where my Nonna was born and raised before she moved to Scotland. The picture was taken sometime in the 80s. I was likely about 6 years old.
From left to right around the table - Michael, my brother, my late Uncle Claudio, Linda (one of my many cousins), Lee (My Aunty Frances' late mother), Aunty Frances, Uncle Giovanni, Zio Giovanni (my Nonna's brother), my late Nonna Filomena, Zia Maria (Zio Giovanni's wife, both have passed away now, sadly), a little girl that's a distant Italian cousin, my Mum, Me, and my Aunty Teresa.
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About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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The Ritual of Winter Challenge Winners
Welcome to the Winners Announcement for The Ritual of Winter challenge. This prompt focused on winter rituals and the meaning that settles into them over time. The top pieces stay grounded in ordinary acts and repeated routines, letting winter shape the work through pace, attention, and restraint.
By Vocal Curation Team3 days ago in Resources
Comments (25)
Ugh I miss these days. Feel like I was kinda there. Very warm and cute. 😊 🍝
Well, I guess if someone is going to plagiarize my work, it shouldn't surprise me that he also stole yours. Glad Judey found this and reported it.
This guy stole your story and it’s been reported https://shopping-feedback.today/writers/four-bowls-of-glory-cu13107ja%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
part I loved the best: Well, besides giving me a chuckle with your expression and seeing Aunt Zia Maria orchestrate her own personal symphony (and making me hungry for some of Nonna's pasta,) there was seeing the little Maximus Decimus Meridius in you, and your Roman DNA shining in the arena!! I think you have made us all jealous of your lovely family and the love and laughter you had at Nonna's. Seeing this picture of community and generosity indwelling within you comes at no surprise to me, though. Now we see its beginnings... ****TOP STORY****
so sweet 💙 and what a grin, paul! looks like you're celebrating clearing those four bowls 😃
And a cute child you were . Congratulations on placement in Top Stories
Son, you were such a cute little boy ! And such a live wire! You soon burned off those 4 bowls! Look at how cute Michael was too! Such wonderful smiles from the both of you: all of us ! As well as your Dad who is taking it, many of our dear loved ones in the picture may no longer be with us, but at least we can look at it and step back into a truly joyous moment in time 💕
A lovely Drabble and back story… you all look a happy bunch. Good to remember some happy times.
very nice😍
This was such a delight to read, Paul!! Can really tell some fond memories were stirred up in writing this. And love the picture! Some pure joy captured in that moment!
Oh, I hope you still have that big smile on sometimes! I can't even imagine where 4 bowls of pasta could fit in the little you but my youngest sister proved that one can be skinny and tiny but make any amount of food vanish in no time without it being visible on them.
This is such a beautiful and heartfelt piece. It perfectly captures the warmth and competitive spirit of family meals, especially with the added poignancy of your recent loss. The way you describe Nonna's kitchen as both a place of love and a "gladiatorial arena" is brilliant, and the image of everyone vying for extra pasta bowls is so vivid. It's clear how much these memories, especially of your dad, mean to you. Thank you for sharing this glimpse into your awesome childhood; it truly brings a smile to the reader, even with the bittersweet context.
What a fun memory! That picture is so joyous :) So sorry to hear about your dad :( Sending hugs 🫶🏼💙🥹
This was fun, it left me reminiscing about the good times! Great work Paul and congrats on Top Story!!
Lovely story. I have two brothers so I can relate to the food challenge part. Not the pasta part. I was raised on Sunday roasts and shepherds pies. Sorry for your loss.
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Paul is back on the front page, and all is right with the world once more 😎 Also I want a bowl of that pasta—or four
This is so sweet. Great to have memories like this. You smile like Luffy! All you need is the hat (you said you had two hats, so maybe one is a strawhat, lol).
Loved this story and glimpse into your childhood. I hope you still smile just as brightly as you did back in the 80's. I'm sorry to hear you lost your father. When I lost mine three years ago I find writing very therapeutic. Diving into my memories and immortalizing my Dad in words helped me keep him alive for myself and my children. I hope you are able to find the same comfort.
Lovely memories, Paul. Although neither Mary or I are Italian, we both share an intense love for authentic Italian cuisine. In the winter of 1984 we drove from Leinzell, Germany to Roma. On our second overnight we stayed at a hotel in Valdichiana, and ate the most wonderful meal in our collective memory!
Awww, you're smile made me smile! Thank you for sharing your photo ans story, Sir Paul 🍩🥐
wow-food seems to drive back most memories
Quite the family & quite the delightful memories.
What a wonderful memory, Paul. I used to have eating contests with my dad, up til I was 13, lol ;) BTW, IK that was you in the picture, the little boy with the big smile.
Love this and what a great thing to focus on at this time. Glad you’ve got this outlet