Legacy's Ghost

Episode 13: Surviving Breakfast

I glance up over my shoulder to see who is talking to me to find an older woman, probably close to Edmond's age, with ornately braided and curled gray hair arranged down her back. "It may take years to learn all the different traditions, rules, and circumstances of our neighboring galaxies and worlds. Lucky for you, this month we are working on Earth customs. So we'll start with the basics," she says as as she adjusts the silver belt on her maroon robe.

I looked down at my place setting and want to throw up. This is the basics? There must be ten or eleven pieces just for me.

Elvira rattles off the different names of the plates and cups, then briefly describes their purpose. Their names jumble together my brain making a thread of anxiety wind through my gut. I want to cover my ears and block her out.

She gestures to my napkin, as another server fills one of my cups with water and another with orange juice.

"Place your napkin in your lap."

I nod, then dart a glance at Tercia to see how she's positioned her napkin before mimicking her with mine.

"Good," the woman murmurs. "Now pick up your knife and fork."

As I follow her instructions, she says, "You mustn't use your fingers under any circumstances. Everything must be handled with a knife and fork."

"Everything?" I say, scrunching my nose.

"Everything." She squeezes my shoulder gently. "It takes some practice at first. Nobody expects you to get it right the first, or even the tenth time."

I nod, numbly staring at my food, then jab at the egg, watching the yellow center ooze out a little more. Using my knife and fork, a saw down the center of the layered egg sandwich and swallow. Please, oh, please don't taste bad.

My stomach rumbles in anticipation. I haven't eaten in hours. If this thing doesn't taste good, there'll be no way for me to slip away and find something at Cook's kitchen.

After cutting out a bite-sized piece, I glance over my shoulder at the woman again. She offers a kind smile and nods, as if encouraging me to eat.

I take a deep breath and brace myself. Then, I open my mouth and shove the egg concoction in, and chew.

I chew three times, grimacing at the texture of the crunchy, salty, gooey food before I spit it out and grab my water, gulping the entire glassful.

Tercia, the girl to my right, laughs and covers her mouth, but her shoulders continue to shake. Grey grins, but looks away, continuing to struggle with his food, too. in the one to my

My cheeks warm as I look around and realize that nearly everyone at the table is watching me now.

Elvira clears her throat. "You mustn't spit out your food. No matter what it taste like, you need to eat it. If you're fed food from other cultures, they may not eat something you're used to. These meals teach you how to eat whatever is placed before you. If you don't the chef, the host, or the host may be offended."

I stare my offending food and my stomach roils at what little bit I'd swallowed. It's too rich. Too salty. Too gooey. I'm used to bland and soft. I think I'd rather go hungry than eat this stuff.

My stomach gurgles. And not in a nice way. Forget about classes. How am I going to eat this stuff and not end up on the toilet all day long.

Tercia leans over and whispers, "Plug your nose. It doesn't get rid of the texture but you can't taste it as much."

"Thanks," I mutter, feeling my cheeks burn.

I spear another piece of the egg, purse my lips, take a deep breath, and shove the nasty food into my mouth. Plugging my nose, I breathe through my mouth, chewing with an open mouth.

"Mouth closed," Elvira says.

I chew as many times I can before I have to breathe, then swallow. It's slimy and bursting with different flavors, even with my nose plugged. I shudder trying to keep from gagging. But I get it down and chase it with more water before I have to take another breath.

I stare my plate and groaned inwardly. At least four more bites.

By the time I'm done, my stomach is queasy and threatening to reject its contents.

Another server comes from the side, removes the small plate and replaces it with a bowl of fruit. I need to catch up. I grabbed my bowl and begin pulling the grapes from their stem, stuffing them into my mouth. They're cold and sweet, and help to calm my stomach.

Behind me, Elvira taps my shoulder. "We do not use our fingers. If you want the fruit, you must use your fork."

I furrow my brows, glancing from the grapes on their stem, up to her, and back to the grapes again. "How do I pull them off?"

"Use your fork," she says, simply. "And keep your back straight. Bring the fork to you."

My eyes widen. Is this woman serious?

My cheeks burn as I look around and notice everyone watching me again, several of them grinning or snickering. I close my eyes momentarily and pull in a deep breath before skewering the grape with my fork, anchoring the stem with my knife, and then pulling the grape from the stem. Stupid rules.

Finally, when we're done with our grapes and strawberries, they clear the plate and hand us a cup filled with warm brown liquid.

I lift the cup to my nose and sniff. It's sweet and chocolate scented.

Definitely not coffee.

I watch the others take a sip before following suit. The liquid tastes a lot like it smells. But it's so hot, that I can't gulp it without burning my mouth. So I must sip.

I'm relieved when they remove my empty cup and don't bring anything else to replace it. My stomach is full but upset, gurgling from the richness of the food and threatening to regurgitate everything I've just eaten.

We all stand when Elvira announces breakfast complete. Then she says, "You have Just enough time to return to your rooms and change into proper attire for class. Today's game day."

"Game day?" I ask Tercia.

"Don't let the name fool you. There's still lots of learning involved. They should rename it strategy and diplomacy," Tercia says. "You'll learn a lot about the TAGs by playing games with them."

I nod slowly, and watch the rest of the TAGs leave to prepare for game day. "This should be interesting."