In the Palm of My Hand – Siskiyou Writers’ Club

Bob Mason’s story, In the Palm of My Hand, was chosen by the Siskiyou Writers Club as the favorite at its February meeting.  The challenge was to write a Valentine’s Day-themed story.

By Bob Mason

In 1977, Ashleigh Brilliant summarized the Valentine dilemma so very well: “Why isn’t there some cheap and easy way I can prove how much you mean to me?” I saw it in a gift shop in St. Helena. I was a student. I don’t think I bought it—too expensive.

Every Valentine’s Day presents itself to me as a wonderful and fearsome opportunity to shower my beloved Stephanie in just the right way, a stellar gesture that preserves and honors our love for one another as well as our financial viability. Sometimes I hear the voice of Tevye echoing from the last time I saw “Fiddler on the Roof”: “If I were a rich man, Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum . . .”

This year brought another interesting wrinkle to the lovely challenge. Stephanie was out of town, house sitting for her cousin. What could I plan that would not only let her know, but really feel the strength of my love for her, and the treasure that she is to me?

I realized I had the answer right in the palm of my hand, and if I worked it right, that’s exactly where she’d end up, too–as if that’s ever been possible (One of the things I’ve always loved about her is that she’s not the sort of woman to be in the palm of anyone’s hand!).

I took that phone in my hand, that tool of the devil for the construction of shallow relationships and equally useful for destroying them. I opened Google maps, looked up the town where she would be, and searched for a great Asian restaurant. I found it, just around the corner from where she would be tending shop at lunchtime, Pho House. Perfect!

When their menu showed up on my reasonably intelligent phone’s screen I knew this would work—great food at great prices! I was sure she would agree.

Step 2—Valentine’s morning. I got that phone out again, called her up and asked, “How would you like to go to Pho House for lunch?”

“Are you here?!” I had to tell her no, but that I had a plan! Honestly, that hasn’t always been the good news I intend it to be, but she actually heard me out.

“I’ll order lunch for you and pay for it, and you can eat it there. I’ll go to Natalee Thai here in Yreka, order my food, and we’ll eat together via video call.”

To my great joy, she approved the plan with only one change. She couldn’t leave the shop she was tending, so she would have to eat the food there.

You know the saying, “The best laid plans . . .” and so on? I am happy to tell you, it doesn’t apply here.

Stephanie got her stir-fried vegetables, rice, and jasmine tea from Pho House, and set herself up at the store counter. I got my table at Natalee Thai, and ordered my wonderful warm Natalee salad with tofu and peanut sauce.

We got out our phones, opened the video call, and connected—not just the kind of connection that Verizon could make for us through its towers and wires, but the real heart connection that we wanted more than anything in our Valentine’s lunch together.

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but sometimes it needs a little help, technical help you might say.

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The Siskiyou Writers’ Club is open to all folks with a passion for creative writing of all genres.
We generally meet the last Thursday of the month; you are welcome to join us. Our next
meeting is Thursday, March 27, 2025, 5:00 PM, at the YMCA in Yreka. For more information
about the club, contact Bob Kaster, 530-598-5204, email [email protected], or Mike
Grifantini, 530-710-4882, email [email protected]

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