King of the Grill

Don't touch the tongs.

Don't crowd the coals.

Don't ask me if it's ready — the meat will tell my

soul. I don't cook inside the house.

I can't. I've never tried.

But hand me fire and half a pig and watch a man

come alive.

Medium rare!

(Stand back, stand clear!) Medium rare!

(The dad is here!)

Fifty weeks a year I'm just a guy who pays the bills.

But out here by the propane I am king of all the

grills. My family's in the pool.

They wave. I cannot wave back

— both hands are doing something holy.

It needs five more minutes.

Everything

good

needs five more minutes.