Annie j
Spring was a platter of trees.
It took a moment to see it, but once you did, you couldn’t see it any other way. Skeletal tree stems were set in a field of dead grass. A very few green stems stretched up above the field, and some of the twigs on the tree branches were starting to bud. There was an empty bird’s nest on one bare branch, and what might have been another inside the trunk of a different tree.
“Early spring,” Annie said. “I don’t think Florida trees ever get this naked.”
The Fosters all leaned close to look it over. “It’s… It’s meat,” Ray said.
“Teryaki,” Annie said with a sniff.
Denise tugged a branch. “It feels like jerky.”
Pet knelt to touch the grass in the field. “This is brown rice.”
Annie plucked at a green bud. “Mint?”
Tallee nodded. “The humans are meant to eat a little bit with bites of the trees. But mint can be a little strong for sylphs. So we suggest you crush a little bit of it and sniff it while you’re eating a branch.”
“What’s the nest?” Denise asked.
“Fried wonton,” Sheryl said. “There are four of them, one for each diner.” She looked from face to face. “Are there any questions?” There were none so she swept up her partner and departed.
Denise dredged her tree through the rice. Ray ate the tree straight, and took spoonfuls of rice every other bite.
Annie took a bite of mint, just to be contrary, and regretted it. Pet trusted the waitress, because Annie trusted Deliah, and tried the crushing/smelling bit. Annie tried that for her second bite.
“Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!” everyone agreed. The appetizer went quickly. The cameras were completely forgotten.
They found the two other nests hidden in forks of teriyaki branches and split them evenly.
For Summer, the trees were strips of shrimp, breaded with coconut and deep fried. They supported crowns of lettuce. The grassy field was julienned green peppers. Bushes of lime dotted the field for squeezing over the shrimp.
Pet had the idea to look in the places they’d found the nests and discovered four candied walnuts.
“So, appetizer Spring, summer for Salad, and the entrée will be Fall,” Ray guessed.
“That means Winter is Dessert!” Annie cried. “And white means sugar!”
“Or meringue,” Denise suggested.
“Or whipped cream,” Pet added.
“Or mashed potatoes,” Ray mused.
“YOU SHUT YOUR FACE-HOLE!” Annie shouted. “It’s DESSERT!”
The Fall trees were chicken parmesan. The reds and yellows of fall leaves were suggested by the marinara and cheese coverings. The thick crowns covered trees that were a lot wider than the previous versions had been.
Drifts of fallen ‘leaves’ dotted the field of angel hair pasta. And the four bird nests were deep-fried knots of spaghetti.
The family set to eating in earnest. When their conversation quieted, they could hear people at other tables.
Other diners wanted to know what it was that ‘those people’ were eating. They searched the menus and interrogated the waiters and begged the hostess.
“It’s something experimental,” Annie said softly, quoting the Portion Control staff. “And we get it because one of you is a reviewer for Triple-A.”
“I feel ever so important,” Denise giggled.
“But,” Pet revealed, “that guy at the table over by the door says that’s bull puckey because HE’S a reviewer for Triple-A.”
The hostess quieted his protests somehow, though the interested murmurs never stopped. Certain not before Winter came.
When Winter came, they realized they’d forgotten about coconut.
Chocolate trees stood in a field of shaved coconut, with drifts of nougat hanging from some of the bare branches.
The bird nests were cherry cordials.
The sylphs started to discuss running away from home. Denise said Ray had been crazy to let Deliah get away. She appreciated it, but he’d been crazy.
Ray wondered if he could talk everyone into converting to Latter Day Saints.
“Bigamy?” Annie shocked. “There’s no way any of US would ever tolerate bigamy, Ray. You’re stuck with one wife at a time.”
“Darn,” he said, eating another tree.
Delia came out as the last dish was cleared and sat down between the humans. “So?”
“Let me put it this way, Deliah,” Denise said. “If you ever murder someone in your kitchen and need a place to hide? You can come stay with us.”
“And how could I ever pay you back?” Deliah asked teasingly.
“No, no, you don’t understand. You’ll never have to cook again. Just based on THIS MEAL ALONE, I will hide you from at least three federal agencies.”
“Even aside from the incredible presentation,” Ray said, “this was the tastiest meal I’ve ever had, and I’ll even say that in front of my mother.”
“Thanks,” Deliah said softly, hands out to take each of theirs. She looked down at the sylphs. “How’d you like it?”
“I can’t move,” Pet groaned.
“I hope we’re not on Electra’s show tonight,” Annie said with a belch, “because I may not walk upright until Saturday.”
Deliah smiled. “Now that’s a compliment.”
“I suggest naps until the broadcast,” Ray groaned. “Lucky for us, our room is downhill from here.”
“We can just roll,” Denise nodded. She picked up Pet in both hands. “And thank you SO much for making everyone in the room stare at us. I felt like a movie star.”
“Oh, did people stare?” Deliah asked innocently. She stood and bowed. “See you at the show.”
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Index
122. Annie I
124. Electra H