Citizen 294 Bos

For as long as Bos could remember, her family had been vegetarians. Not by choice, though, but out of simple necessity.

They had never been a wealthy family. As apple farmers, they often ended up a variety of… well, apples. Not that Bos minded, of course. She adored apples after all, the way that they crunched so deliciously in her maw (even though they sometimes had the annoying habit of getting stuck on her teeth); but apples all day, every day, wore thin.

Perhaps that was a bit hyperbolic. Obviously her family made enough to purchase other fruits and vegetables to eat as well, but it wasn’t exactly fine dining. The special occasions, such as the high holidays, where her parents splurged on pastries, fish, cheese, and most of all, honey, were splendid indeed.  Bos found herself counting down to each holiday, mouth salivating as she eagerly awaited to see what meal her father cooked up this time.

Ceres’ Harvest Festival was, by far and large, the best of all. Their town was a small farming community, heavily reliant on a good harvest for their yearly livelihoods. For this reason, there was no Elder more sacred than Ceres, no mark as blessed as his, and no holiday as enthusiastically celebrated.

As much as she adored all the festivities, it was the end of the day that she looked forward to the most. Her father bid her wait outside while he worked in the kitchen, always insisting on the utmost of secrecy so that he could surprise her with whatever he had cooked up for dinner on occasions such as this.

Vivid streaks of red, orange and yellow began to paint the sky above her, as if the very sun celebrated the festival as well. It wasn’t until her paws and nose were beginning to chill in the night air that her father finally called her back inside, eager to show off his newest creation.

“Now, I may have overcooked it a bit. Or burnt it, even,” Her father said sheepishly, smoke filtering through the door that he was holding open for her. Bos was no stranger to her father smoking up the kitchen, but it smelled… different. There was a scent that she couldn’t quite place. “It’s a bit different, but I hope you like it.”

Bos gaped at the kitchen table. On it, was a dish that consisted of slices of some substance that had a pink middle, and brown edges. It was surrounded by apples and with what looked like honey drizzled all over.

And it smelled delightful. 

“It’s ham.” At the empty look Bos gave, he elaborated further, “It comes from a boar.”

Bos gasped in shock. “You bought meat?” 

Instantly she was at the table, reaching to distribute some onto her dining plate.

“Wash your paws first!” He scolded, smacking her paws away from the food with a flick of his tail.

Deterred, but no less thrilled, Bos quickly returned to the table with clean paws and an empty belly waiting to be filled with the meal her father had so painstakingly crafted for her.

As soon as the first morsel hit her taste buds, Bos was smitten.

Instantly, she began shoving more and more into her mouth, scarcely taking the time to swallow before she was already onto the next bite. It was more delicious than anything she had ever had the pleasure to experience.

“Slow down,” Her father chided, pulling her plate away from her slightly. “You’ll choke.”

Only for her to tug it back with much more force.

A loud guffaw filled the air, “By the Elders, I’ve created a beast.”

Shaking his head dramatically, it was clear he was more bemused than frustrated by his daughter’s actions. Gingerly, he pecked at his own plate with a frown, “My cooking leaves much to be desired.”

Bos shook her head vigorously, unfortunately sending specks of food flying at her insistence.

“No! It’s delicious!” With a full mouth, however, it came out more like garbled mush.

Her father still understood, smiling warmly at her before tucking into his own meal as well.

Throughout her life, she would eventually go on to eat much finer meals than what her father cooked that night.

He had been correct. The ham was both overcooked and burnt, as well as over-salted to add insult to injury. The apples had been almost mushy, and the indulgent application of the honey nearly drowned the entire meal.

Nevertheless, no other dish could ever rival the ham her father had prepared on that autumn evening. For it was a dish crafted exclusively for Bos, infused with a special kind of love that made it unmatched throughout the entire Dome.

~ toshoca