Dinner at the Inn

One hour later, the sun had set, and young Thom lit some candles on one of the Inn’s dining room tables. Having placed the best chair for the teacher to sit on he sat uneasily at the edge of a wobbly one while examining his washed hands that still revealed some scars, a blister and some persistent dirt under his fingernails. With his fork he tried to remedy most of it until suddenly the kitchen door opened. He quickly moved his hands under the table as the teacher - bearing a broad smile - brought forward a slightly tarnished silver plate. Young Thom remembered the food of the factory’s kitchen where everything was also presented on metal plates – tin or iron. But this silver one offered a feast to his eyes and soon to his stomach, he imagined. He shared his excitement with the cook who blushed while she instructed him to hurry before it got cold.
But young Thom did not hurry. He had heard of the peculiar ways at the table of well raised people and knew they were quite different that what he was used to. Following the example of the teacher he carefully cut as small peace of lamb and dipped it gently into the mint sauce. Young Thom had never tasted something like that before. He quickly took a larger peace of lamb and yet another one...
The teacher smiled and assured him there was more lamb in the kitchen. Young Thom could recognize a hint and slowed down again. Suddenly he stood up and ran away leaving the teacher wondering what might be wrong. She worriedly called out for him twice and before she could do so a third time young Thom entered the room again holding a dusty bottle of wine. He had remembered the cellar was still full of them and many would no doubt still be good. Two crystal glasses were soon found, filled and raised. To the restoration of this once glorious guesthouse!
The moon raised high above the Inn while many stories were exchanged and a midnight bell could be heard in the distance.

Next : Empty Handed