The Wok and the Boy, Part 2

Once upon a time there was a boy and a wok. Almost every day the wok would get a visit from the boy. After taking the wok off the pan shelf, the boy would look the wok straight into the bottom and ask “wok, please make me some deliciously exquisite egg fried rice.” Every time the response was the same: “sure boy, I’ll just use some rice, random vegetables you have lying around, eggs, oil, and soy sauce.” And when the boy would put the first bite in his mouth, he would sigh, for it was deliciously exquisite. And the wok was happy.

But then one day the boy asked the wok “wok, please make me some deliciously exquisite egg fried rice” and the wok looked around, but there was no more soy sauce. The large bottle of Kikkoman Original that the boy had bought in Nampula during supervisors conference was empty, not a drop left. Sadly, the wok responded “I’m sorry boy, but there is no soy sauce. We could make some fried rice with Raja curry seasoning and piri piri instead?” “Ok” said the boy, but once he put that first bite in his mouth, he knew that it just wasn’t the same. At times, it may have been delicious, and at other times exquisite, but never once was it deliciously exquisite.

Once the wok was washed, the boy put it back on the pan shelf, and walked away saddened. The next time the boy wanted to make fried rice, he picked up the wok, only to look at it and be reminded of the utter disappointment that accompanied the soy-sauce-less fried rice. So he put it back on the pan self, and went in search of other pans.

Each time the boy came into the kitchen, each time the boy laid out vegetables, each time the boy made rice, each time the boy looked at the wok, the wok thought “this is it, I’ve been forgiven, he needs me.” But the wok was only met with the same disappointment that the boy felt. And the wok was sad.

2 months and 3 weeks passed with the wok being used, an incredibly long amount of time for a wok. Then boy came back from a fantastic first-time trip to Quelimane with Gamill Superior Dark soy sauce. The wok thought “Sure that isn’t Kikoman Original, but it must be enough.” After laying out the vegetables, and putting the rice on the stove to cook, the boy looked at the wok. And it may have been the quickest little glance that has ever glanced, but for the wok it was like waiting for eternity. “wok, please make me some deliciously exquisite egg fried rice” the boy asked.

“Sure boy, I’ll just use some rice, random vegetables you have lying around, eggs, oil, and soy sauce.” After happily going through its work, the wok carefully watched as the boy served himself and his friend Eric a bowl of fried rice. Looking on from afar, the wok saw the boy lift the first bite to his mouth, and then sigh, for it was deliciously exquisite. And the wok was happy.