The salt

Don't call him salt, or else he will get insulted. He is Mr. Salt and now he is on the highest shelf of the cupboard. Mr. Salt doesn't like talking to his neighbors.
“They are very silly and useless,” he thought, “look at these plates. What are they for? Just to eat supper in. Besides, they are very dirty. They need a good bath every day. And me, I am always pretty; people take care of me, so that not a single drop of water ever touches me.”

And putting on airs this way, he went to the darkest corner of the cupboard.
“I better sit here alone, than talk to them. Above all, water is my enemy,” he decided.

When the family gathered around the supper table, they forgot about Mr. Salt. The little girl had failed to find the salt in the dark corners of the cupboard.

Mr. Salt was at the verge of blowing up. He was red with anger.

“I think, there is something missing in the supper, dear,” the father noted carefully to mother. He did not want to make her feel bad.

“I know; the salad is not tasty, at all,” said mother.

“Where is the salt?” grandpa asked, “You didn't salt any food.”

“At last; here I am,” shouted Mr. Salt, taking a deep breath. “Next time put me on the table first,” he mumbled.

“I didn't know salt is so important,” thought the little girl. “No food tastes good without it. Maybe the taste is salt himself.”

It was good that Mr. Salt was not able to guess what people were thinking about. Can you imagine what would happen in that case?

Gevorg Mantashyan

11 years old