He used to sit, crystalized, in the pantry opposite from the microwave. Kept on a shelf just off the floor, hibernating between his organic-glass-jar grandfather and Costco-sized cousin.
Unlike Chickpeas and Flour, he survived the keto kitchen cleanse of 2018. Until I found his den. And needed honey fast. I microwaved Honey Bear— which was fine for 15 seconds, but 5 more made him and the honey a little melted on one side. After an oven mitt rescue, I poured the congealing contents into a snap-top-lid container and set it to rest between Grandfather and Cousin.
What remained: a pale, disfigured plastic shell I had abandoned on the countertop. Dark dredges of honey stuck to its hazy-clear-molded form. Head tilted and ear slouched, eyes uneven. Discomposed. Questioning me. What use am I now?
Honey Bear. My melt-preserved mascot.