Lunch and Litter | Loveable Klutz Pt.1

During my walks to the watering hole, I caught the eye of Briar, happy to see that I was coming out of my house to get fresh air and was asking how I was doing since the Spring Eve festival. She hadn't seen me try my chocolates I had made. I cringed and told her they hadn't worked out and I was ashamed to even bring out any of the burnt remains in a heart shaped coffin to her. Of course she was disappointed that my confectionery hadn't worked out and still would have to try one, which I shook my head no.

Before I could leave, she grabbed my hand, “let’s make your welcome to Bovine Bluffs or let me welcome you! Jasper told me at the festival that you were having a rough time transitioning here and been avoiding the cafe! He has the best coffee here in Bovine Bluffs! But I'll tell you more about it at lunch at my place!” Briar said excitedly as she told me her address before I could even stop her. “Come by at twelve tomorrow! I got lunch covered for us!” She waved as she excused herself to go to the market to pick up supplies for it.

I just had a sense of dread that what she had in mind for lunch made me lose my appetite for the rest of the day.

~&~

I was about five minutes late and knocked on the door that Briar had said was her home. It was a nice little place, just as I was about to let my presence be known, there was a small earthquake that seemed to come from inside her place. Panicking, I was about to rush in when she came to let me in… only she was covered in some food substances. I was going to ask if she was okay when she gave me a big grin and pulled me inside her place.

“You alright? I felt there was an earthquake or something when… Oh… Oh my… You… You’ve been busy haven’t you Briar?” I got out of my mouth as I was honestly gobsmacked by the amount of mess around her place! I could see straight through to her kitchen to see the mess she made there along the way. Spring's Eve chocolate boxes were scattered across her table. I don’t know if they were full or empty of chocolates. Even the living room! What in Cybele's Garden has this little lady been up to?!

Briar simply smiled as I watched wiped the food off her face. “Sorry my place is in such disarray! But don’t worry about that! I’ll finish with our lunch! I was just making a dessert for us to enjoy after we ate. So just relax in the living room while I put some last minute touches on our lunches!” She cheerfully went into the kitchen to resume her cooking while I struggled to find a place to sit. I could only imagine how my ears would have been smacked if I hadn’t tried to keep things in their proper place.

Not able to take it anymore, I started to organize the stuff in the living room and started to talk to her about how she was enjoying Spring’s Eve. “This is my first time participating in an event like this. Though, this is going to sound sad, I don’t have anyone to be around to really enjoy it.” “I looked at a picture of Briar, Reece, Jasper, and someone I wasn’t familiar with, probably someone in town. My tail was swaying back and forth as it brushed some dust away. The living room was looking more decent than it was when I came here. You could actually sit on the couch and see things more clearly.

“Oh! Then me and Reece will help show you around! I’m sure she wouldn’t mind and sweet Jasper could help you introduce you to more to the community!” Briar said, the sound of a beater going wild in there as she struggled to tame it. I slowly crept my way to the dining room to try and sort the boxes that towered towards the ceiling. “So uh,” I was struggling to think of something to distract her as I worked on the pile of boxes in front of me. “So has Spring Eve been kind to you? I couldn’t help that you are quite popular!”

“Hmm?” She stopped what she was doing and started walking towards the dining room, which I stopped what I was doing and sat in a chair quickly, smiling at her when she saw me sitting there. “I thought it would be easier to talk in here while you work in the kitchen.” I told her weakly as she shrugged her shoulders and got back to work there. I gave a breath of relief as I started to sort the boxes and move them out of the way so we would have a place to eat at.

Each box had a name of a recipient she received it from, a lot from being friends or potential lovers with how they wrote a message on it before I stopped reading them, not wanting to pry too deeply. There were two piles at the end of the table, one still filled with chocolates, the others empty in case she wanted to return the empty boxes. I heard a time ding, signaling whatever she had baked was done as I heard her place the tray on top of the oven and bring out the food.

“I hope you brought your appetite! I made a lot of food for us to eat! All of it from the farmer’s market!” She beamed proudly as she showed me the array of sandwiches and two soup choices. “I also made a dessert of chocolates since we couldn’t enjoy yours if that is okay.” I leaned over and cleaned a streak of powdered sugar off her cheek with my napkin. “That’s fine with me, as long as I get to help clean up in the kitchen, we’ll call it square.” I told her as we argued back and forth about manners and how I eventually won when I threw in, ‘what about what the guest wants to do?’

I had fun that afternoon, my tail swaying happily as I got to enjoy a conversation as we washed dishes and tidied up her kitchen for the next round of chocolates she was going to make for the ongoing Spring Eve’s festival. I don’t know how she did or where she got the energy, but I was glad I got an invite over to her place… I just hope it is tidier next time I come over!