‘A Summer Soup to Cure Magical Thinking’ by Kim Harbridge

Gather your ingredients. Do not get confused when sourcing the first two items.

The soup starts with the bone. If you have a whole carcass at your disposal, choose the bone that calls to you, the one that yearns to be turned into something else, to live its second life. Make that bone into broth, any way you choose. 

Next, strip the herbs from their stems. Strip yourself of your garments while you’re at it, to prevent the stems from feeling too conspicuous. Draw the blinds if you don’t want to be observed by your neighbour, who is probably out in his yard right this minute hunting whatever creature he supposes has plundered his oregano and thyme. Add the herbs to the broth. Retain the stems. 

Using your sharpest knife, the one your late husband gave you on your wedding night, slice the onion into the broth. Take care not to cut your palm, but know that a drop or two of blood never spoiled a broth that wasn’t sour already.