Ingredients

In the short story “The Ingredients” by Jason Reynolds the author is trying to portray to the audience that sometimes what you hope for and have expectations for don’t always turn out to be the reality and sometimes you have to be grateful for and make due with what you have. Flaco says, “‘So, yeah, put all the veggies on that bread. Pumpernickel!’ Flasco just has to say it again. ‘And to top it all off . . . the Michael Jordan of all meats . . . bacon.’” This quote is the boys fantasizing over how amazing their sandwiches are going to be and all the things they are going to add to it to make it the best sandwich ever. But then, “And then Flaco returns from the kitchen with four bowls, a box of cereal, and a half gallon of milk.” This quote ties back to the earlier quote because it shows a very different reality than what the boys were hoping for which shows sometimes you have to make due with what you have and accept that it is still better than nothing even though it is not what you hoped for. 

This compares to my life in a lot of ways. The main one that comes to mind is my relationship with my boyfriend. Growing up I had always dreamed about having someone that would be my partner and how amazing it would be. I imagined how perfect it would be, going on dates and having sweet small actions done to make me feel loved but that is nothing like my real relationship at all. It is tough facing the reality that just because you wish something would be a certain way, it won’t always be how you hoped it would be. Don’t get me wrong, I love my boyfriend and our relationship is very good. We don’t argue, we never get tired of each other and we have been together for over a year now. It is difficult having to learn that some people don’t always care about you as much as you care for them though. I have put my all into this relationship and am always going out of my way to make his day better. I buy him gifts, I surprise him with Aroma Joes, I make him paintings of his trucks and I always support his decisions. But when it comes to me I feel the complete opposite. My actions are never reciprocated; I don’t get to go on any dates, I don’t get any just because of gifts, it feels like no one is ever there caring about me and wanting to make me happy. Which relates to this story because I had always hoped for a perfect relationship but that is just not my reality. I have learned to be grateful for what I have and learn that people show love in different ways. But it is a hard pill to swallow. Sometimes you have to face the reality that you are getting a bowl of cereal instead of a fancy gourmet sandwich.