A Star of Cloves

A smooth, fragrant clementine was resting in the pool of morning sunlight on the low kitchen sideboard. Beside the fruit bowl, a small white saucer held a scatter of dried whole cloves, their dark woody crowns smelling rich and warm. I walked over and rested my vinyl hands against the cool, dimpled orange peel, feeling its soft give. Picking up a single clove by its slender stem, I leaned my weight forward and pressed the sharp tip into the rind. It sank in with a tiny, sweet-scented pop. One by one, I pressed four more cloves in a gentle curve, turning the citrus peel into a starry, spiced crown.#Real Dottie