The pepperbox

The pepperbox that wanted a sweetheart

The pepperbox was always so happy when somebody held him and twisted him. It tickled his tummy and it made his heart feel warm. But it never lasted long, and most of the time he was left on the spice shelf longing for the next time somebody would squeeze him.

So one day while the family was eating soup, and the pepperbox stood untouched on his shelf he couldn't stand being alone any more. He turned towards the sugarbowl and bowed to her. "Dear sugarbowl, would you care to be my sweetheart?" A brief shivering went through the sugarbowl when she answered: "Yes I would like to be your sweetheart. People use the spoon when they have sugar in their tea or on their porridge. And when I'm not in use I'm always longing for love."

The sugarbowl tottered towards the pepperbox, but when it came close it started to sneeze sugar all over the shelf. "Oh no, we can't be sweethearts after all," she said blinking away some syrupy tears before tottering back to her place.

The pepperbox then turned towards the box of matches. "Would you care to be my sweetheart?" he asked as mildly and seductively as he could." "Yes, yes, I'm longing for someone to hold me tight and set me on fire," she said. "It's going to be wonderful, feeling your strong peppery love." She was so excited that she lit a match in pure joy. "Au," the pepperbox said when he burned himself, and pulled away from the flame. "Your kind of love is far too hot for me."

The sugarbowl tottered towards the match box. She liked the heat and soon there were lots of little toffees tottering around on the spice shelf. The pepperbox felt even more alone when he saw how happy the others were. "Is there no one who wants to be my sweetheart?" he complained loud and miserably. Then he heard a soft voice behind him: "You haven't asked me."

The pepperbox glanced at the saltshaker. She was taken out so often that the pepperbox didn't think she needed any more caressing. "Are you just as lonely as me?" he asked. "Yes, I am," the saltshaker said modestly. "People hold me between their thumb and index finger and sprinkle salt so carefully. At least they hold you tight, and that looks so cosy."

"Shall we make a couple then?" the pepperbox asked impatiently. "Yes," the saltshaker said and moved over to him. "We belong together on the food, and now we belong to each other in love."

From that day the pepperbox and the saltshaker have been sweethearts, and they probably are at your house too. Just have a look in the kitchen.