The Gourmet

By the time my sister April was about your age, she'd begun to behave like my mom whenever we went to a restaurant (see "The Papaya"). When it was April's turn to order, she'd ask the waiter what seemed like dozens of questions, like "What's good?" or "What do you like?" or "Is the seafood fresh?" She'd even point at the food on someone else's table and ask "What's she having?"

After thoroughly interrogating the waiter, my sister would usually order one of the most expensive items on the menu. My dad didn't seem to mind for he knew that if my sister didn't like it, someone else (usually me) would finish it for her.

Later, when the food arrived, my sister would always ask the waiter one last question:


"Can I have some ketchup?"