For example, in the story from which his latest book's title is taken, he begins with his daughter's fond memories as a teenager of fried-egg sandwiches. They came to symbolize all the comforts of being at home-safety, freedom to share with her parents, and the assurance of being loved. From this point, Speight moves to the role of the family table as an equalizer where people can meet face-to-face and heart-to-heart, but he also recalls Sunday dinner as a youth with his family around a second-rate motel table when they had no home, no money, no prospects or hope. Finally, he remembers meals at the table of his future in-laws where he always felt welcome.
Speight adds even more meaning to this story when he goes on to describe Jesus' gathering his friends at a table for the last time: "He needed to express his love by making a covenant with each of them, and with us. . . . He chose a table."
Suddenly we understand that it's not what's on the table, and it's not the table itself; it's the love and commitment around the table that give meaning.
Each of the 12 stories in Fried-Egg Sandwiches has similarly moving content. With enticing titles ("The Butter Eater from Al Khobar," "Coal Mines, Baby Chicks, and Human Hearts"), all are written as though Speight were talking directly to us. They are exactly what the subtitle calls them: Stories that Nourish the Soul.
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