The Key Ingredient. Сьюзен Виггс

She told me about the red clay soil and palmetto trees, the okra and hominy cakes and red peas in a dish called Hoppin’ John, and black-eyed peas topped with spicy chow chow. Like me, Glory was overly preoccupied with food, and we perused library books about regional cuisine together. There was a time – right around the time of my parents’ divorce, I believe – when Glory was as real to me as my other best friend, a dog named Rocket.