Page 2 of When She's Stuffed
"What's today?" Toghar asks, moving to the doorway of the kitchen and standing there instead.
"I've decided it's Thanksgiving."
"I am unfamiliar with this term. Is it different than a regular giving of thanks?"
I bite back a laugh, because the aliens, as nice as they are, have a poor grasp of human idioms. He doesn't realize how goofy he sounds. It's adorable. "It's a human holiday. Well, anAmerican one. Basically, the entire family gets together and has a big dinner and?—"
Toghar opens his mouth.
"—and I know what you're thinking. That everyone eats dinner every day. But Thanksgiving is different. It's a special meal where everyone eats as much as they want because calories don't count. The family all sits together and shares what they're thankful for, and there's stuffing and sweet potato pie and, well, it makes everyone just a little bit happier. It's been a long time since we had a nice juicy holiday, and I miss them." I find the pan I've been searching for and pull it out of the stack with satisfaction. "Lady va'Rin loves this idea."
"A gratitude meal does not sound like a bad thing," Toghar ventures. "I think it is kind of you to consider Lady va'Rin and her children. But did they not have the gifting holiday with the old red male recently?"
"That was Christmas, and the old red male was Santa Claus...or it was supposed to be." It ended up being a very disgruntled splice by the name of Victor. He wasn't thrilled about having to wear a costume, but he was great with Lady va'Rin's children and let all of them pet his “beard.” Which was his face. I think. It's hard to tell with some of these aliens, and I mean that in the kindest way. "And that's an entirely different holiday. And it's been months."
"Are holidays more frequent where you are from?" Toghar asks, watching as I move across the kitchen to find yet another pan.
"Sometimes it feels like there's one every month. I kind of miss the celebrations. I know Lady va'Rin and Lord va'Rin travel and go to a lot of parties, so maybe this one's for me more than for them."
"So, your solution is to cook a massive meal for others and overwork yourself?"
"Well, when you put it that way, it sounds foolish, doesn't it?" I chuckle to myself, deciding to butter the pan at hand before hunting for others, or else I'm going to forget entirely. "I guess it's my way of showing them how grateful I am to be here. That they let me take care of them in exchange for my safety. And I just love to take care of people. I'm going to make enough for the men, too."
"To show them that you care for them?" He stiffens and it seems he doesn't like this idea, which strikes me as weird.
"Why wouldn't I? You don't think they'd enjoy a nice meal?"
His mouth is tight as he stares at me. "I...suppose."
What in the world has crawled up his butt?
"So you care for all the soldiers...equally?"
"Not equally, but it seems rude to feed the others less because I like you more."
He blushes again. It's adorable and makes my heart flip-flop. Like all mesakkah, he's blue-skinned, almost seven feet tall, with a long, lion-like tail and a pair of ram-like horns arching from his brow. He's heavily muscled thanks to his job and has enormous hands. His appearance could be terrifying. But Toghar's hands are kind, and his eyes are full of warmth. I like his laughter, and the funny way his mouth purses when he's trying to decipher a particularly weird human colloquialism.
I might have a bit of a crush on him, but it's useless to focus on. We're co-workers, and two very different people. We can be friends, but nothing more.
"Is that why you're here early today?" he asks me, peering around the kitchen at all the supplies covering the countertops. "To make this special thankful meal?"
I slide my greased fingers along the nooks and crannies of the pan. "Exactly. I want to make this day special for everyone, so it involves a little more work. The bird alone is going to take hoursto cook, and then there's cakes and pies to be made, the side dishes, some bread, all that good stuff."
"The...bird? An avian?" He watches my greased hands move in a fascinated way that makes me blush, just a little.
"Yes. That's one of the biggest parts of the tradition. It's an enormous bird, with enough meat to feed everyone and...hmm." I pause, eyeing him and the greenish cast to his normally vibrantly blue skin. "I'm suddenly remembering that quite a few of your people are vegetarian."
"Indeed. But I am certain if you cook it, it will be delicious," he says, expression staunch.
That's very sweet of him, but I can't imagine forcing meat on someone that is morally opposed to it. "I'm sure I can craft something else for those that don't eat meat. Perhaps a nice tuber casserole." My mind is already racing with what I can make for him and the other guards. A barley stew. Vegetable pie. I can make them a feast just like I can for Lady va'Rin and her family.
And I'm picturing Toghar's appreciation, the warm way his eyes would light up. I don't care how much time it takes, I'm going to make Thanksgiving for everyone.
Especially Toghar.
His face brightens with relief at my mention of a tuber casserole. "Perhaps so."
"If you're not too busy, I wouldn't mind your assistance today," I say, trying to be as sly about it as possible. I've already got most of the meals planned out in my head, but I enjoy his company. Toghar's post is near the kitchens, and he often stops in to chat with me. I've started to crave those moments together, and the opportunity to talk and laugh with him all day is one I won't waste. "Another set of hands would be lovely, and you can advise me on certain dishes."
