As each separate layer of onion came out he placed it on a piece of aluminum foil Laura had supplied. "That for another cooking", he said. With the onion hollowed out, Ray stuffed the hamburger into the hole until there was just enough room to replace the top. He then recovered the top and securely pressed it back into place rotating it several times until he found the exact place where all the points matched and the top fit perfectly. When it came to the fire, Ray was not as happy as he had been with the onions. There were plenty of hot coals but there was still plenty of fire left too. "Should only be coals", Ray murmured as he moved the fire around with a stick trying to build a hole in the middle where the onion was to be deposited. Finally, he was satisfied and into the fire the onion went, sizzling and crackling from the water in its fibers. "That's it", exclaimed Ray. "A half hour from now and you'll have meatloaf." There was nothing to do but wait and watch and, as if a boiling pot of water, it seemed like forever for the half hour to pass. We stopped by the fire from one side and then from the other, watching the onion simmer. Once in a while Ray would pick up the top and look at the meat inside. "Not done yet", he would announce with each examination. Finally, after what seemed to be ages, Ray reported that the meal was cooked and ready to be eaten. The feast was tonged out of the coals and placed on a serving plate. Ray beamed with satisfaction as he examined the morsels before him. There was a short discussion as to who was going to eat it. The consensus was that since it was my challenge, I should have first choice. I picked the fat one and settled down to the picnic table. A little salt and pepper and voila! "It's delicious", I proclaimed as I swallowed my first bite. "Unusually sweet" I added, as the meat had been flavored by the sweetening juices from the onion. It really was good. "And not a pot or pan to wash!", bragged Ray as he delivered the second onion to a waiting and admiring group at the other table. The night would go on with tales of the woods and adventures the brothers had been on over the years. At one point Ray tried the bacon and eggs in a paper bag, but there was still flame in the fire and a sudden change of wind sent the bag up in flames. I didn't press the matter, the onion was too good, and the mood too joyful.

*** THE END ***