Pie Plates, by Nathan Delong

Sunday we had a cul-de-sac party in my mom's neighborhood. Growing up in Greene County, I had never been to a neighborhood party, so I was excited to attend. I made a pie before church to contribute. As I went through the day and the delightful party and considered my upcoming transitions, I realized that I used to have 4 pie plates and I now don't know where any of them are. For a moment I thought of how much I like to make pies and yet have no plates, and how so many pie plates out there may never even be used again. I wished we could meet and each be fulfilled, but decided I would just have to keep an eye out for one.

After I returned to my apartment later I took a long nap, and woke up right before sunset. I decided I would walk to the pedestrian bridge over 45/46 and watch the sunset. The sunset was not stunningly beautiful but the quiet was nice. As I walked home on Gourley Pike, I came across something that looked like a plastic tray on the ground on the side of the road. I nudged it with my foot and learned that it was glass. It was a pie plate, neglected but intact.

I felt loved.