Activity

(Okay!)

David caught his breath at the landscape of food before him.  Just around the corner, encased under a canopy of lattice-work bushes and bright green leaves, a wide table loaded with all kinds of dishes awaited him.  There were fruit pies, meat pies, small cakes, bread with golden, melted butter, roasted truffles, long strips of vegetables, shredded, juicy meat, creamy soups, crispy salads, squares of brownies, and many more savory dishes.  The table was adorned with pine needles and tiny, red berries squeezed in between the plates of food, for decoration.  Three white chairs awaited for their assigned guests to sit in them.  Her glided over to the chair at the head of the table and gracefully sat in the seat.  The little girl, who had followed David and the young woman, scooted herself into a chair on the side, directly across from the last empty chair.

David sat in the empty chair, his eyes never leaving the table.  This is all for me? He thought incredulously.

“You can eat if you want,” Her gestured to David.  “Everything you see before you is safe to eat.”

David hesitated.  Why wouldn’t it be? He wondered skeptically.  He reached for a slice of the meat pie and bit off the pointed tip.  This is actually really good! He stuffed the rest of the pie slice into his mouth and piled his plate full of other foods.

Her watched David with silent fascination.

David glanced up at the little girl across from his seat.  Her large eyes sparkled with childish enjoyment, and she licked her fork clean of cherry juice.

She beamed at David, then licked the red juice of the cherry off her lips.  “Go on,” she urged him, “You can talk to Her.  She’s just a lady, nothing to be afraid of.”

David swallowed and glanced at Her, not sure what to say.

The dazzling lady’s eyes, visible behind the bark mask, squinted and sparkled with joyous mirth.  She giggled softly and covered her mouth with her hand.  “It’s alright,” she finally said, “I’m here to help.”

David’s cautious side of his mind wondered, She seems really nice, but…what kind of help? Even enemies claim to help you, when really they’re out to rid the world of you.

(On that note, you’re up, @bama-rose!)