In My Sights

Dinner Date

We walked through Pentagram City in relative calm despite Charlie's humming and dancing, her sorrows seemingly forgotten after the lighthearted musical. We stopped in front of a small restaurant called La Nourriture Vaudous. "Ahh yes! Here we are!"

Charlie and I went inside and were seated and greeted. Charlie looked over the menu and her stomach growled. A waiter approached us and spoke with thick Yat accent. "Good evenin, can I get yous folks somethin to drink?"

"A good Old Fashioned for myself and a Brandy Crusta for the lady, my good fellow." I said to him before turning my attention to Charlie who was surprised I ordered for her. "I insist you try it, it's a classic. And if you don't like it you can get something else." 

The waiter returned with our beverages and placed them on the table. He took a pen and a small pad of paper out of his pocket, "Are ya'll ready to orda?"

"Have you decided what you desire?" I asked Charlie and folded my hands in front of me on the table.

"I think so..." She turned to the waiter, "May I please have the Cajun Gumbo? Ohh! And a sweet tea please?" She chuckled nervously, "J-just in case!"

"What a great choice! I will have the Jambalaya, and do be sure to give it some kick."

"Yessuh." the waiter replied, jotted down our order, and left for the kitchen.

"This food is all spicy isn't it?" Charlie asked anxiously.

"If by spicy you mean it has flavor, then yes, it is 'spicy,'" I laughed as she frowned, clearly unsatisfied with my response. "You have nothing to worry about my dear."

She gave me a look of doubt and shrugged. "Okay, if you say so." She looked around the room, taking in the decor. "So did you just bring me here because you wanted Jambalaya?"

I took a sip of my drink and carefully set the glass down on the table. "Well yes and no. I always love a small taste of home, but there's nothing like southern hospitality for a soul that needs a pick-me-up!"

She cocked her head slightly. "A taste of home?"

"Ohh of course, you wouldn't have known this but when I was alive, the lovely state of Louisiana was where I called home." I said with a close-lipped smile. "Home to the best cuisine around, in my opinion!"

At that moment the waiter returned with Charlie's sweet tea and set it down in front of her a slice of lemon garnished the rim of the glass. He also set two small plates and a basket of fresh crusty baguettes on the table. 

"Ooh!" Charlie said as she reached for a slice of the bread, and groaned dramatically "I am starving!"

I quietly observed her as she carefully tore off, buttered, and ate one bite sized piece of bread at a time until the slice of bread was gone. She took a sip of her cocktail and eyes widened. "Wow! This is super good!"

"Much too sweet for my taste, but I just knew you would enjoy it." I replied feeling rather pleased that she was enjoying what I'd ordered for her.

It wasn't long before Charlie had finished her drink and licked all the sugar off the rim of her glass. She set her empty glass off to the side as the server returned to our table with our meals. She pointed at the glass and flashed the waiter a smile, "Could I please have another one of these ummm..."

"Brandy Crusta?" The server asked.

"Ooh yes please! It was super yummy!" She folded her hands together on the table and turned now to her food. "This smells amazing!"