Chapter 1: A Day of Learning

One sunny afternoon, I was fully engaged in flying my kite when I heard someone call my name. Unfortunately, the kite came down gently as the wind died down. Upon arriving at Charlie's back door, I was taken aback to see him dressed in a suit and tie—something I had never seen before, as he usually wore overalls. He was headed to Springfield to handle some paperwork and asked me to bake two rustic loaves of bread in his absence. I eagerly agreed.

Afterward, I returned to my kite just as two friends raced down the alley, excited to fly kites now that the wind had picked up. We experimented with different tail configurations, and soon we were all having a great time, enjoying the nearly darkening sky.

Later, I returned home to prepare for dinner. Mom instructed me to wash the dishes and mop the kitchen floor before I finally went to bed.

The next morning, the neighborhood kids were outside playing ball, and I joined them, momentarily forgetting my earlier commitments. After lunch, Charlie called me over, asking for an onion and some tomatoes from our garden for a meal he was preparing for my family. I gathered those along with other vegetables like green beans, carrots, peas, zucchini, and basil.

In Charlie's kitchen, a pot of beef stock simmered on the stove beside an iron frying pan. There were various ingredients on the counter that were unfamiliar to me. Charlie pointed out a bag of small beans he called barley and a few spices, including oregano and a chipotle pepper, which he cautioned me to handle with care.

He then had me chop the vegetables. After I diced the onions and tomatoes, Charlie added them to the frying pan along with chopped beef. The aroma filled the kitchen as the meat and onions browned beautifully.

Next, I added all the chopped vegetables to the boiling stock. Charlie seasoned the mixture with salt, pepper, and oregano. He set aside the cooked meat and incorporated the pan drippings into the stock pot.

The pot contained two pints of beef stock, and he added another pint of water. Charlie introduced half a cup of barley and rinsed another half cup in a sieve, which he later added to the simmering pot to meld the flavors together.

We then moved to the living room for a chat. I was curious about what lesson Charlie had in store for me that day. He asked me what was missing from the stew, and despite my efforts to think of the answer, I was stumped. Suddenly, I realized that fresh bread would have complemented the stew perfectly. At that moment, I recognized my significant oversight; I had promised to make the bread while he was away but had gotten distracted.

Charlie leaned forward, imparting a crucial lesson: "Do all you have agreed to do." He then informed me that I would take the stew home for dinner, explaining why there was no bread to accompany it.

Returning to the kitchen, I added the rinsed barley and a half cup of wine to the pot. Charlie covered it and placed it on a low flame to continue simmering. After some time, he prepared four bowls, layering basil ribbons at the bottom and sprinkling tarragon on top of the stew before stirring it well.

I served the stew into each bowl and Charlie topped them off with grated soft cheese. I expressed my gratitude, knowing I was about to face the consequences of my neglect.

Carrying the bowls back home, I noticed the dinner table was set. I placed the bowls around the table just as Mom announced dinner. We gathered around, and my brother, catching a whiff of the stew, asked bluntly, "Where is the bread?"

I took a deep breath and explained my mistake to the family, apologizing for my failure. Mom quickly brought out some sliced white bread from the cupboard, which, although not ideal, was still delicious.

This experience weighed heavily on me; I had let down my friend, mentor, and family. I felt a lasting stain from my failure to keep my word. However, the lesson I learned that day was profound and has remained with me throughout the years.

This principle has become a guiding philosophy in my life. It echoes the two laws articulated by Richard Maybury in "Whatever Happened to Justice?" published in 1993: "Do all you have agreed to do" and "Do not encroach on other persons or their property." Charlie Taylor instilled these values in me long before they were ever published. Adhering to these principles would undoubtedly create a more harmonious world.

Chapter 2: Cooking Lessons and the Value of Commitment

In this video, Charlie Hibbert shares his recipe for Chicken, Barley & Morels, emphasizing the importance of using fresh ingredients and cooking with intention.

This video features Sarah Carey as she demonstrates how to make a hearty Beef and Barley Stew, perfect for bringing family together around the dinner table.