“Hi,” Paul bounced into the kitchen scaring Sarah.

   She shrieked.

   “I’m so sorry.” Paul hopped on one of the stools in front of the kitchen island. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

   “It’s okay.” She smiled. “Did you get in trouble over the pork thing?”

   “Yes and no. Dad is so cool. He has never raised his voice to me about anything. He explains the difference between right and wrong and that’s that. Mom on the other hand, she has this vain on the side of her neck.” Paul pointed to his neck. “When that thing comes out, and it does often. I run to dad until she cools down. All dad said about dinner was what you heard him say. Mom was in a malevolent mood all night.” He watched her for a moment. “Thanks for not mentioning the carriage in front of mom. She would have wigged out?”

   “Why?”

   “She doesn’t approve of me doing anything she feels is too dangerous.”

   “You are most welcome.” She smiled. “If you don’t mind me asking, you said that cauliflower hurt you. How?”

   “Have you seen my dad get sick?” Paul asked.

   “Yes, I have.”

   “It does that to me. Nothing else I have ever eaten has done that. It just hurts really badly.”

   “Do you know what you’re going to have for dinner before the meal starts?”    

   “Most of the time.”

   “I will talk to your father. They make medicine for that that could help you. If you are going to be made to eat it, then it might help with the pain.”

   “What are you cooking?” 

   “I have a craving for a cheeseburger that won’t quit.” She answered as she rooted through the kitchen. “Vaulto said lunch is a rarely served meal around here. I wouldn’t be bothering anyone.”

   “Why didn’t you let him make it?” Paul gave her a confused look.

   “Why should I?”

   “That’s his job.”

   “I can cook.”

   “Really?” He thought for a moment. “Have you been a servant?”

   “No.” 

   “Do you have servants?”

   Sarah was still looking for the stuff she needed. Vaulto stood in the door, “may I help pretty lady?”

   ‘Right’, she thought to herself. “Vaulto, I can’t find a thing. This kitchen is huge.” 

   “What you need?”

   “Do you have a grill?”

   “I.” He disappeared.

   “To answer your question Paul, in a manner of speaking.”

   “Either you do or you don’t.”

   Vaulto returned with a griddle. He placed it on the gas stove. It stretched across two burners. He turned the gas on low. “Tell me what do, I cook.”

   “Okay.” She sat down beside of Paul, defeated. “How do you describe a servant?”

   “Vaulto.” Paul was quick to point out.

   “Okay as an occupation Vaulto is a servant. What about the man?”

   “A servant. They are one and the same.”

   She turned her attention to Vaulto. “Pat out ground beef into patties big enough to fit on these.” She had found some Meso rolls during her search. “Make the patties about an inch thick.” He set to work making her patties.

   “How many to make?”

   “Three.” She smiled.

   “So Vaulto isn’t a man with needs and his own personality? He’s a servant?” She shrugged her shoulders.

   “He’s a servant.” Paul answered. 

   The servers appeared from the kitchen with plates, placing them at the end of the table, and then left. Two cooks reappeared carrying a large silver, covered platter. They set the platter down on the end of the table. Steam rolled from under the lid. There on the tray was a whole pig with an apple in its mouth. Sarah couldn’t help the look on her face. The king roared with laughter. 

   “Have you never seen a pig?” Paul asked.

   Her reaction got a smile even from Orion.

   “My apologies,” she smiled. “When they look like that, they are usually alive eating the apple.”

   The cooks started cutting into the pig while the servers placed the plates of meat around the table starting with King James.

   Paul scoffed under his breath when they sat the plate in front of him.

   “Paul,” Orion spoke softly but with a stern tone to scold him.

   “I don’t like pork.” He frowned. He looked up from his plate of pork to see Sarah smiling at him. “They make me eat this stuff.” He protested. “They make me eat pork, and asparagus, and cauliflower. Oh, cauliflower makes me sick.” He shuttered. “Apples, I can’t stand apples.” 

   “We want him to try new things.” Floria spoke.

   “Did your parents make you eat nasty things?” Paul asked.

   Sarah smiled at him again. “No, they would encourage me to try new things but never forced me to eat them.”

   “See that’s the thing in this family. It’s inherited. Eat it! Gross!” He stuck out his tongue. 

   “Paul,” Orion again reminded him of his place.

   “Do you like pork?” Paul asked.

   “Selectively.” Sarah answered. 

   “What does that mean?”

   “I like pork chops, tenderloins, sausage, and bacon.”

   Sarah’s plate was laid before her with a huge hunk of fat on it with a tiny piece of meat. 

   “Do you like that?” Paul asked.

   “No.” Sarah replied with a blush. 

   “It’s the pecking order.” He eyed his father as he spoke.

   “Pecking order?” Sarah asked. 

   “Yeah, the higher up the nobility chain you are the better cut of meat you get.” Paul smiled.

   “Give me your plate.” Orion instructed.

   “Why?” She asked.

   He wiggled his finger at her, “give me your plate.”

   She finally handed him her plate. In return, he gave her his plate. He had a nice lean cut of meat. “I won’t eat it anyway.”

   Everyone at the table held their breath even the servers had stopped making noise.

   “Thank you.”

   To go with the meat they got mashed potatoes and peas.

   Sarah took one bite of everything. Orion hadn’t touched anything. “Are you not going to eat anything?”

   “No.”

   “No?” She questioned. 

   He inhaled deeply. “The smell is enough.” He hissed. “Need I remind you we have had this conversation?”

   “I know. And I am sure we will have it again.”

   “It isn’t worth it.”

   Sarah eyed Paul without moving her head. “It isn’t?” She questioned. “Perhaps you forgot something.”

   Orion knew exactly what she was talking about. He loved Paul more than anything in his life. He took a heavy breath before taking a bite of the mashed potatoes. “Happy?”

   “If that was the start of the healing process then yes. If that was to spite me, no.” 

   Not another word was said during the course of dinner.

   After dinner, everyone scattered. Sarah followed Paul, Orion, and Floria down the hall. She kept her distance so they wouldn’t notice her.

   They stopped in front of a door. There was a huge man standing in front of it, he opened it. Orion bent over giving Paul a hug and a kiss. He then took one step back allowing Floria to pass. She did nothing. She didn’t even look at him let alone smile. She didn’t touch him. She just shook her long black hair, stuck her nose in the air and walked right past him. The man that had opened the door quickly closed it behind her. 

   Orion stood there for a moment before leaving. It was hard to say if he wanted to break down the door or melt into a puddle.

   Sarah felt a hand on her shoulder. She slowly turned to find James standing behind her. She started to apologize but he stopped her. 

   “I don’t know why you’re here.” He stared at the floor, “can you fix my son?”

   “First, we must figure out what is wrong with him.”

     “Agreed.”