Company’s coming.  Gotta start a roux. Melt the lard and add the wheat flour slow.When they coming?  Jus’ about ten? Who these people, Boo?  From politics?Glad-handers like them Bayou trash? A nice couple you say?  Better stir the roux. 

Better get out this ol’ gunny and rouge my lips. Is that the door?  You get it, Boo. Lordy, Lord. Come in this kitchen and sit a spell. Pull in your chairs and help me stir the roux.  How was traffic, eh?  I see it done melted you.  Boo get these folks some beers.   

Naw Houston be alright, not so swampy as Bat-on Rouge but the heat ‘bout the same.  These onions tearing you up? Boo say you running de city or sometin?  A voting clerk?  Well that ain’t so bad.  That’s red beans you smell.  It’s past 12 — have another beers. 

Yeah we met at a Fais do-do.  Boo was some dancer, hey.  Full of spunk and gots him a job at the oil refinery.  Five years now.  How about you? Got any chiren?  Aw go play now — six chiren?  Ga-lee, that’s a passel.   Watch your sleeve Boo.  You’ll tip the roux. 

We done let that jar run dry again and it’s barely 2.  Boo, get these folks some more beers.  Ooo-ee, this roux is coming along just right.  Needs some mo’ cayenne. Near soon comes the Filé powder.  Born Texians you say?  Ever visited with Loos-iana? 

Fat Tuesday draws ‘em in to New Awlins, for sure.  ‘Scuse me while I reach that pot to stir.  It’s lak a lot o’ things, you just keep workin’ it.  Don’t pay a mind to that old clock.  It’s probably 15 minutes shy of 4 now.  We sets it early to get Boo to work on time. 

Now how’d it get to be so late?  It’s well after 6 you say?  Time fly when you laughin’ so hard.  Ya child, give that roux a stir.  Gonna plop in the crawfish.  And the andooyi.  Boo, you been nappin’ or something.  We done run out of beers again an’ it ain’t sunset yet. 

Sho, you can add that table spread.  Here’s the crockery and the spoons.  Down home folks jes’ eat around the kitchen sink but I’ve gone uptown.  Boo teases me somethin’ awful but life is serious stuff.  You gots to honor the roux and bless the provider. 

Boo, you know the words.  Then put the boudin-pot on the table and serve it.  I sait serve it up.  These folks hungry for some gumbo.  Bless you both for those kind words.  Mama taught me to cook.  Secret’s in the roux.  My no-account Papa taught me ‘bout the beers.