“First off, I can store smelly things in a container with a lid,” Roman said.
That would work for when the bleu cheese was lying dormant. “Airtight and color-coded so that I don’t accidentally open it.”
“Yes, and if I’m going to cook with pungent foods, I can give you a warning.”
“I can spend the night somewhere else,” Ezra said, feeling a little more hopeful now that Roman was willing to work with him to solve the problem. His roommate in the dorms had not been nearly as understanding.
Roman’s stern look was back. “You shouldn’t have to spend the night somewhere else.”
“I can sleep outside then. As long as it’s not raining.”
Roman’s eyebrows pinched together. “How about you make me a list of the foods you really don’t like and that will give me a better idea of what your triggers are?”
“Okay,” Ezra said. He felt a little foolish that he’d gotten so upset about it, but he really couldn’t risk another encounter with the stuff. “Thank you for understanding.”
Roman smiled gently. “I really like having you here as my housekeeper.”
Ezra nodded. “I like being your housekeeper. I haven’t even started on the bathrooms yet.”
“And they really need a deep cleaning,” Roman agreed. “So, how about next time something like this happens, we talk about it before you make any decisions? I’m sure that between your brilliant brain and my know-how, we can come up with a solution.”
Ezra hoped that something like thisneverhappened again but the rest he agreed with. “Can you please put the bleu cheese in a container now? A really tight one? I don’t think I can go out there for the rest of the night.”
“Can I bring you something to eat in here?”
“I was going to make a grilled cheese sandwich, but now my American cheese is contaminated.”
“But it has plastic around it,” Roman reasoned. “If I let it air out on the counter for a few minutes, do you think it might be okay?”
That made sense to Ezra, so long as the bleu cheese was contained. He nodded. Roman squeezed Ezra’s shoulder with just the right amount of pressure and got up to leave.
Despite the upset, Ezra started on his homework. He needed something else to focus his attention. A few minutes later Roman returned with a grilled cheese sandwich made just the way Ezra liked, and it tasted mostly right. He ate it with his nose plugs in place, just in case. He promised Roman he’d get the list for him right away. If Ezra were to remain here as Roman’s housekeeper, they really couldn’t risk another Bleu Cheese Incident.
* * *
Roman was,at turns, fascinated and perplexed by his new roommate. Seeing Ezra so distraught over bleu cheese had really rattled him, not only because he felt guilty about having caused him such turmoil but also because Ezra’s reaction had seemed soextreme. He wanted to better understand Ezra’s aversions so that they might avoid another outburst altogether, which was why he’d suggested Ezra make him a list. Still, he worried that he didn’t have all of the information, nor did he know the extent of Ezra’s quirks.
“Sir, may I have a moment of your time?” Ezra asked the following afternoon, which felt overly formal after the events of the day before.
“Sure, Ezra, is this a Serious Talk?” If so, Roman had already scouted a place for them to have such discussions.
“I think it is.” Ezra chewed on his lower lip and looked very nervous. Roman worried that he might be putting in his two-weeks notice, even though he thought they’d reached a pretty good compromise the day before. He gestured to the kitchen table and followed Ezra there.
“What’s got you so worried?” Roman asked, not wanting to draw it out.
“Do you remember yesterday, the Bleu Cheese Incident?”
Roman bit back a smile because even though it was amusing, the fact that Ezra had given it a name spoke to its degree of seriousness. “I do remember the Bleu Cheese Incident.” He didn’t think he’d soon forget.
“Well, I made a list of particularly offensive foods for you to take a look at, if you wouldn’t mind.”
Ezra slid his tablet toward him. Roman read over the list and was thankful that it wasn’t too extensive.
“This is very detailed,” Roman said. It wasn’t just “cabbage” but “boiled cabbage.” And under the category of “moldy cheeses” were additional bullet points listing the exact types.
“I wanted to be specific.”
And he certainly had. Ezra was thorough and precise in everything he did. Roman took a moment to memorize the list, as if it were a playbook or a menu.
