Exit Only ✔︎

|07|

Posy

I stir the stew over the fire slowly, eyeing the enormous alien who sits at the table. He stares at me as I continuously add in a few spices here and there. I bring the spoon to my lips and give it a taste.

Dread pools in my gut when I realize the soup is done and I need to serve it. That meant that I had to interact with Torint.

I turn back to the pay as I heave it up and towards the kitchen. I didn't want to look at the handsome alien man. Well, he wasn't a man I guess.

I set the enormous pot on the kitchen counter, carefully setting a rag underneath so I don't burn the wood. I pull two bowls towards me and dip some soup into each of them. The dishes are nearly overflowing with the creamy soup.

My heart rate nearly triples as I think about his handsome face and my palms are suddenly slick with nervous sweat.

Why did I have to be so antisocial? Probably because the last guy I'd spoken to was my father before he abandoned me. That wasn't very helpful.

I get out some spoons, glasses, and napkins and head to the dining room to set the table. While I work in setting up for supper, the alien watches me. He squints as I lay out his napkin and cup. He pinched the fabric of the napkin between two humongous fingers and stares at it.

"That's for... uh... cleaning yourself when you eat. It's a napkin. See?" I take my napkins in my hand and dab at my mouth as if to wipe away some imaginary smudge of food left behind.

Torint watches me ever so carefully and I sigh. I knew the giant could understand me, but I guess some things didn't translate as well.

I round the table and set up my own place. Before I know it it's time to serve the soup and a flutter of unease fills my stomach.

What if he doesn't like my cooking? What if he can't eat earth food?

I sneak a glance at him around the corner of the kitchen door. The guy was huge and strong, I'm sure he had a stomach of steel.

Everything will be okay. It'll be fine.

I carry the two bowls of food and set them down on the table. Torint stares at the bowl with a squinted gaze and his eyebrows drawn together. He dips his spoon in and takes a sip, his features transforming into a mask of joy.

"You like it!?" He nods fervently, looking startled by my outburst. "I'm so relieved. I'm not the greatest cook on the planet."

Not that I would really know, seeing as how I knew no one else on this planet. But, I was pretty sure that somewhere out there was an amazing chef who's skill far outmatches mine.

I brought in the fresh squeezed lemonade I had made earlier and poured some for each of us. When I finally sit down, Torint is almost done with his soup. I'm incredulous as I stare at him. It was a huge bowl!

Quickly, I rush to the kitchen and grab the pot of soup from the kitchen counter and rush it to the table.

"Don't be afraid to help yourself. You can have as much as you want. You need to get back your strength." I tell him as I settle into my chair and finally dig into my meal.

The strange alien man furrows his eyebrows at me in confusion and I laugh.

"Since you know, you're hurt? You need to get your strength back." I explain further after swallowing some hot food. Torint answers by saying something in his growly language before lifting his arms above the table and flexing them.