Master Of The Kitchen

Writers: AL, Devin
Date Posted: 9th July 2008

Characters: Jerroll, Edele
Description: Edele recruits Jerroll to help organize the galley
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 4

"No, no, put that over there, in that cabinet." Edele motioned to one of the crew members that was helping her, gently directing him to put the pot where she wanted it instead of trying to toss it in willy nilly. "The pots go in that one, these have the dishes."

Jerroll poked his head in and looked around. "I see you at least have an inclination for organizing things." The crewman who had been acting as cook had put things wherever they fit. And sometimes where they didn't.

"Oh, Jerroll, good." Edele moved over to the door and grasped Jerroll's hand, tugging him inside. "We can use one more helper."

"Commandeering the First Mate for kitchen work? Maybe you used to be a Headwoman," he joked.

Edele paused and wavered for a moment. Headwoman? She reached up, her fingers dancing over her forehead. She took a step back, pressing into Jerroll, then jerking away in surprise. "Oh...sorry. I'm sorry. I wasn't..."

"Don't worry about it. This is a ship, with small spaces and several large crew members. We're used to bumping into each other." He smiled.

"Yes." It wasn't that, though. Something he had said. But what?
Headwoman? Why would that make her skip like that? Edele shook her head, then pointed to a pile of dishes. "Would you put those," She then pointed to a different cabinet. "Over there, please?"

"Yes ma'am." He put the dishes where she'd indicated.

"If you cook as good as you clean, I can't wait for dinner," the crewman said, exchanging a smile with Jerroll.

"Well I won't be getting around to cooking unless I see more items being put in their proper place." Edele stated, then pointed to a drawer. "Serving utensils go in there. Jerroll, will you grab those knives and put them in that one?"

Jerroll smiled to himself as he put the knives away. He'd told her to try cooking to give her something useful to do, and she was already turning the kitchen into her private domain.

"Oh good, we're almost done." Edele pointed out a few more places where things went. Once everything was in its place, she 'dismissed' the crewmembers, then turned to Jerroll and smiled. "Now I can actually find things when I need them."

"Once you pass the cooking test, which shouldn't be hard, considering all we're really looking for is 'edible', I'll take you shopping next time we're in port. You can pick out all the spices and herbs and ingredients your heart desires," he said. Having a competent cook again would be a moral boost for the crew, and a relief for his stomach.

"Once I pass?" Edele wiped her hands upon her skirt as she surveyed the scene. "You seem to have faith in me, especially considering neither of us knows much."

He shrugged. "You know how to organize a kitchen, and that's a very good sign."

"I suppose." Edele hesitated, her brow furrowing, as if she were remembering something, or rather, she were trying to remember something, but there was just a haze. She shook her her head, fingers dancing at her brow.

Jerroll leaned against the wall. If a memory was tickling at her mind, he didn't want to interrupt her.

It was there, at the very edge and for a moment, Edele felt like she was reaching out for it, trying to grab it. But it shifted, darting away and she felt. Outwardly, she stumbled back and managed to catch onto a counter to keep from falling. "Sorry...sorry..." She muttered, rubbing her forehead.

"No need to apologize."

"Shaffit." The curse was uttered softly, but fervently and Edele banged her fist once on the countertop. "Why can't I remember? It's there, I know it's there, but I can't remember!"

Jerroll shrugged. "It'll come to you. Maybe when we get to port, you'll come across something that will jog your memory."

"When do we go to port." Edele asked softly, leaning against the counter as if strength had been taken from her.

"Two days, if the weather holds."

Edele nodded, then straightened. "I should get started if we're to have dinner on time." She moved over and opened the pantry, taking stock of what they had on hand.

"I'm looking forward to it." Jerroll left the kitchen with visions of delicious food dancing in his head.

Last updated on the July 9th 2008

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Master Of The Kitchen