57 Minutes

by Louise Yeiser

"What does ketchup taste like?” asks a heavily accented woman’s voice. “Well..." (and there is a long pause) "...it tastes like ketchup, of course." Of course ketchup tastes like ketchup I think, burying my face in my menu and trying not to laugh. How could it be otherwise? I decide on the scrambled eggs after I glance at the full bottle of Heinz, lying upside down on my table next to the salt and pepper shakers with their shiny, silver tops; so I close my menu and motion to the server. My flight leaves in less than an hour.

6S

Louise Yeiser, whose full catalog is here, is a freelance writer and student of Creative Nonfiction who likes to take liberties with other people’s conversations.