marine fish casserole

by Karen Walker

Was not my childhood fav.

Marnie Fish Casserole didn't stink up the kitchen while Dad was with Mum. He didn't like tuna. He never cheated on Mum. She cheated on him.

Then I turned eight, and she left for good, and suddenly he loved tuna. Every morning, fast-swimming Marnie at the kitchen table in his pyjamas.  

Dad owned the only grocery store in town back then, so we certainly could've eaten better. I wish he had loved better.

 

Ingredients

—1 12 oz package of egg noodles

I liked noodles. They were happy food. I wanted Dad to be happy. 

—1/4 cup chopped onion

When Mum left, I told Dad I'd take over the cooking. No, he said. You're too young for a knife. He'd dice and weep and we'd blame the onions.   

—2 cups shredded cheese

Dad was mild.

—1 cup frozen green peas

Marnie's eyes looking at me.   

—2 cans of tuna

She had been a fishy friend of Mum's from the ladies' bowling league or the bar on Queen Street. Maybe both.   

—2 cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup

—1 can of mushrooms

Canned! Gag. Our store had fresh.  

—1/4 cup melted butter

Dad with Marnie.

—potato chips

Nothing to eat after school. Bags of chips on the table. Her pointing and her yelling, Don't you dare touch.  

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

As the temperature rose, Marnie would sit smoking while she greased Mum's old casserole dish.

2. Crush the potato chips.

She'd smash and snack, smash and snack. I'd stand in the kitchen doorway.

In a bowl, mix the crumbs with the melted butter. Set aside like I'd eventually be.  

3. Cook the noodles until al dente. Drain.

Draining: Marnie could stare at me longer than I could ignore her.

4. Add the onion, mushrooms, shredded cheese, peas, tuna, and soup to the noodles. Mix well and turn into the prepared dish. Top with the chips.

She'd finish the bag then lick fingers. Say something salty to me.    

5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the topping is golden brown, and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.

Serves 4 to 6.

Soon, Marnie was pregnant with twin boys.

(Mushroom and Pea)

The next year, she had a daughter with some guy and Dad adopted the gooey baby.  

(Soup)

The table became elbow to elbow to elbow, and, to make room, I was shoved to the back of the highest cupboard.

Photo of Karen Walker

BIO: Karen Walker draws and paints and writes in Ontario, Canada. Her recent work is in or forthcoming in Full House Literary, NUNUM, Weird Lit Magazine,Trash Cat Lit, Blink Ink, Switch, Turn and Work, and Temple in a City. @kawalker.bsky.social