I said to Santa Claus
(That's what we call our elderly neighbor who has a long white beard and is a avid gardener.)
"I would love to have a few stalks of your rhubarb."
He got up from his chair.
He walked toward me.
His hands in his overall pockets.
"I make rhubarb jam.
"The old-fashioned way.
"The way my mother and grandmother made it.
"I used Jell-o. That's right. Jell-o.
"I cut enough rhubarb to give me five cups
"Of one-quarter inch pieces.
"I cover it all in a large saucepan with water.
"And sugar. Three cups.
"I let it sit overnight.
"I boil it and then simmer.
"For fifteen minutes.
"Then I stir in the dry Jell-o."
My dog is at my side.
He is a very good boy.
Santa says
"What are you going to make?
"A pie?"
Or rhubarb, strawberry, raspberry tarte.
Bruce Barone 