The Silverware Tray

First published January 31, 2010

Our kitchen in Khartoum.

This morning, Emileigh and Aria were invited to go to Nile Valley Academy to be teachers' aides today. They readily agreed as I suspect that they knew another day of organizing and scrubbing the house were to take place...AND they love kids. That left John and I to wander about town with my list of household goods that I am in need of...

We thought we'd find everything we needed at a place called Afra, but alas I was wrong. I did find 2 things on my list and some beautiful bottles of Diet Coke so the trip overall was a success. One of the things on my list was a plastic silverware holder. I didn't think that would be too hard to find and sure enough, I found one complete with an EXPAND-O-TRAY. I don't know why you'd need the tray to expand, but I always have the option. It also included little plastic trays to fit on top in case you had any additional items to stack. Too sweet.

I put all the items up on the conveyor belt and the lady rang them up. The bottle of Diet Coke 1 pound. Not bad. .50 cents in US currency. Then she rang up the silverware tray (insert drumroll and major eyerolling by all of my international compatriots) at 35 Sudanese pounds or $17 US!!! Yes, folks. I, Pam M., just paid $17 for a plastic thing to hold my non-silver silverware. Sigh.

"Well," I told John, "at least it's the DELUXE model."

I got home and started flinging utensils into the compartments. I had already talked myself out of the "I-can't-believe-I-paid-so-much-for-this-and-why-didn't-I-wait-and-ask-for-help-or-put-it-back" dialogue which could easily play out in my head. Instead I was humming and sorting. After I finished I opened up the drawer and put the tray in. It wouldn't fit. The width was fine but the drawer was too short or the tray was too long. Either way it wasn't going in. I removed all the EXPAND-O features and the extra trays, but still no-go. 

I stared long and hard at the drawer and willed the tray to fit, but still nothing. Unbelievable. I looked around the kitchen to see what other options I could possibly have. Not many. I took the two little trays that were to be extra storage and crammed them in the drawer. They fit, but not too easily. I put the utensils in them and stared and my beautiful, amazing silverware tray that is now completely worthless.

Oh, well. Emileigh will be thrilled with a new organizational item for her room. I'm sure in no time she'll have made that $17 purchase worthwhile. Until then, I still have about 9 items to go to finish out my list. I hope John can afford it.