In our home, you will find
- A container with nothing more than one jelly bean.
- A bag containing one tortilla chip.
- A single cookie in a box.
- One slice of bread in a bag secured by a twist tie.
- One Cheezit in the bag.
We have an unwritten rule: “Don’t eat the last one.”
That rule evolved over time, emerging from questions like, “Did you eat all the jellybeans… cookies… bread… Cheezits?”
Yes, it was me. Too often I ate the last of something, just moments before I heard the question, “Did you eat all of those?”
It took me a long time to learn the principle of “Don’t eat the last one.” It doesn’t matter how long it’s been in the refrigerator. It doesn’t matter if it’s past the expiration date. It doesn’t matter if the package is unopened. It doesn’t matter if it’s generic or a brand name. As soon as I eat the last one, someone will ask, “Did you eat that?”
Yes, it’s me. I ate all of them. I ate the last one. I finished the bag. I ate all the jellybeans. I finished off the box of cookies. And the banana bread. Ice cream. Cashews. Peanuts.
So I no longer eat the last one. Why is there one jellybean in the container? Why is there one cookie left in the bag? Why is there one slice of bread left? Why is there one segment of an orange in the fridge? Why is there one cashew in the jar?
I will not eat the last one in a plane or a train, in a house or with a mouse, in a box or with a fox.
I will not eat the last one!
Waite for it... 