The Beast Within The Man

New Friends

A little later, we went poking around the castle to see what was there. I carried Mei while following Belle around. Then we heard voices from in the kitchen area talking about what had happened earlier.

"Oh, stop your grousing! It's been a long night for all of us." I heard Mrs. Potts say.

"Well, if you ask me, they were just being stubborn. After all, he did say 'please.'" The mantle clock commented.

"But if the master doesn't control that temper, he'll never break the—" Mrs. Potts explained.

I knew exactly what they were talking about as I walked in with Belle and Mei.

"Splendid to see you out and about, monsieur, madamoiselles." The mantle clock introduced friendly. "I am Cogsworth, head of the household..."

"Pleasure, sir." I smiled.

"Hello." Mei giggled. She saw the male dog and hugged it gently. He licked her face and she squealed with laughter.

The candle labra took Belle's hand. I chuckled amused.

"This is Lumiere." Cogsworth introduced his candle labra friend.

"Enchanté, chèrie." Lumiere recited in French.

"Ravi de vous recontre, monsieur." I greeted back.

"If there's...stop that...anything that we...please...can do to make your stay more comfortable...Ow!!!!" Cogsworth was shoving—at least trying to until Lumiere burned his hand.

"I am a little hungry." Belle smiled.

"So are we." Mei nodded.

"Don't mind if we do." I agreed.

"You are? Hear that? They're hungry! Stoke the fire! Break out the silver, wake the china!" Mrs. Potts excitedly exclaimed. The stove was roaring back to life and the china were getting ready.

"Remember what the master said...!" Cogsworth said in a hushed tone.

"Oh, pish tosh. I'm not going to let the three of them go hungry." Mrs. Potts insisted.

"Oh, all right. Glass of water, crust of bread, and then—" Cogsworth demanded.

"Cogsworth, I am surprised at you. They're not our prisoners. They're our guests! We must make them feel welcome here. Right this way, mes amis!" Lumiere chided Cogsworth and led us to the dining area.

"Well keep it down. If the master finds out about this, it will be our necks!" Cogsworth warned.

"Of course, of course. But what is dinner without a little music?" Lumiere suggested as he swung the door towards his friend.

"MUSIC?!?!" Cogsworth shouted.

All three of us were in the dining area and we were experiencing a cabaret of some sort with different kinds of food, teas and desserts to be had. Lumiere had the spotlight on him and we all felt at home.

" Ma chere, mademoiselles...monsieur. It is with deepest pleasure and greatest pride that I welcome you tonight. And now, we invite you to relax. Let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents...your dinner." Lumiere announced.

Be... our... guest, be our guest,
Put our service to the test,
Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie
And we provide the rest!

A chair tied a napkin around our necks and I helped Mei with hers.

Soup du jour, hot hors d'oeuvres! Why we only live to serve! Try the grey stuff, it's delicious! Don't believe me? Ask the dishes!