The Façade of Quad in Nimrod ✓ | Satire, family drama, dark society

XXVII

As Valerie ordered food with titles that seemed less off putting, Henry was at a famous Koltsland seafood restaurant that Frankie was familiar with. Just a few hours ago, they had arrived in Koltsland's harbor town for a rest stop on their way up to the target's house, and Frankie took Henry and Wester to Goldfin Joe's.

"I'll have the Fried Oysters with Tartar Sauce, Roasted Anchovies, and your Cream Broth of the Day and my friends here will have the same, unless something catches your eye, Henry?" Frankie handed him the menu. Henry briefly gazed over the words and shook his head.

"I trust you my friend, and a drink?" he said. "What will be your recommendation?" he asked the waiter.

"I have just the thing for you gentlemen," he replied.

"Good, we'll have that," Frankie smiled, and the waiter walked away. "You'll like the oysters," he licked his lips. "Only in a restaurant of class you'll get such delights."

Twenty minutes later, Henry was stuffed silly with luxurious foods. Each plate had been served with such class he was almost weary of destroying such masterpieces. Frankie was right. He loved the oysters. In fact, besides the sweet bread from the bread store in Nimrod, Henry decided oysters were going to be another of his favorite foods to eat.

For dessert, Frankie ordered their special crème brûlée with raspberry sauce and Henry ended up ordering another as it was the sweetest delight he had ever had in his life. In his mind, he crossed out 'sweet bread from Nimrod' and replaced it with 'crème brûlée'. Feeling very satisfied with himself for now knowing such an expensive sounding dessert, he leaned back in his chair and sighed in content.

"Enjoyed it?" Wester laughed.

"It was the most wonderful dessert I have ever had."

"The chef will be delighted," came the waiter's voice. "Your check."

"On me." Frankie grinned and took out his bulging wallet stuffed with pholars. Henry could see the greed flash over the waiter's face, but when he received the bit extra, he frowned.

"Sir, this is—"

"Keep it, my good man." Frankie flashed a smile.

"Well, gentlemen," Wester stood up. "How about a walk off the weight?"

Henry almost went back to his plate to finish the bits and pieces that Frankie had left, but he knew those actions were not for a gentleman. A gentleman did not completely finish what was on their plate or anyone else's even when they were full. Gentlemen did not stuff themselves silly. 

One thing about food Henry learned was that if you were rich enough, you had the privilege to have leftovers for those less fortunate and could give it to them, and, you would sometimes purposefully leave leftovers for the poor.

This thinking was very similar to Ebenezer Scrooge, the philanthropist who created Bits 'n' Pieces. When he was still alive, he would purposefully order too much at restaurants and make them give it to Bits 'n' Pieces. That was how he got the restaurant for the poor up and running.

Outside was chilly and Henry wrapped his arms around his chest. Nimrod was a cold place, but Quinex was colder and Koltsland was freezing even if they were in the south most part of it. Henry, Wester, and Frankie went separate ways to 'walk off the weight' but mostly it was to 'let out the gas' as Frankie joked. 

Henry wandered into a forested area nearby, finding it beautiful even on this cold, gray afternoon. As he let his boots crunch icy snow underneath, he spotted a little wooden cabin in the forest. It was curious that a wooden cabin would be here, but in truth, this part of Koltsland was often used for rest stops for ironworkers from the Glaid. They would travel up to Koltsland to trade and go back down to harvest more iron in Lwendolen.