> As ham sandwiches go, it was perfection: a thick
>
> slab of ham on a fresh bun with crisp lettuce and
>
> plenty of expensive, light brown, gourmet mustard.
>
> The corners of my jaw aching in anticipation, I
>
> carried it to the table in our backyard, picked it
>
> up with both hands but was stopped by my wife
>
> suddenly at my side.
> "Here, hold Johnny (our six-week-old son) while
>
> I get my sandwich," she said. I had him balanced
>
> between my left elbow and shoulder and
>
> was reaching again for the ham sandwich
>
> when I noticed a streak of mustard on my fingers.
> I love mustard.
> I had no napkin.
>
> I licked it off.
>
> It was not mustard.
>
> No man ever put a baby down faster.
>
> It was the first and only time I have sprinted
>
> with my tongue protruding. With a washcloth in
>
> each hand, I did the sort of routine shoeshine
>
> boys do; only I did it on my tongue.
>
>
>
> Later, after she stopped crying from laughing
>
> so hard, my wife said, "Now you know why
>
> they call that fancy mustard . .
>
>
>
> "Poupon."
>
> slab of ham on a fresh bun with crisp lettuce and
>
> plenty of expensive, light brown, gourmet mustard.
>
> The corners of my jaw aching in anticipation, I
>
> carried it to the table in our backyard, picked it
>
> up with both hands but was stopped by my wife
>
> suddenly at my side.
> "Here, hold Johnny (our six-week-old son) while
>
> I get my sandwich," she said. I had him balanced
>
> between my left elbow and shoulder and
>
> was reaching again for the ham sandwich
>
> when I noticed a streak of mustard on my fingers.
> I love mustard.
> I had no napkin.
>
> I licked it off.
>
> It was not mustard.
>
> No man ever put a baby down faster.
>
> It was the first and only time I have sprinted
>
> with my tongue protruding. With a washcloth in
>
> each hand, I did the sort of routine shoeshine
>
> boys do; only I did it on my tongue.
>
>
>
> Later, after she stopped crying from laughing
>
> so hard, my wife said, "Now you know why
>
> they call that fancy mustard . .
>
>
>
> "Poupon."
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