Following My Nose...
It had been a while since those chili dogs, and my stomach was taking over. I handed off the reins to the Stable Master and made my way out again. I did manage to notice that the horse Dad was riding had made it back on its own so I needn't have worried.
I put my nose to work and almost instantly caught a whiff of meat cooking. Hoping that my stomach wouldn't make any embarrassing noises, I followed my nose around the back of the castle to where the kitchens were located.
Ah, but it smelled like heaven! And I realized that I was indeed hungry. I could smell roasting vegetables, too. Maybe I could get a little something to hold me over?
The door to the kitchens was short and of plain wood. It stood open, letting the smells make their way out to my nose. I could hear the chatter of the kitchen help and laughter from inside.
Oh, but I could practically taste what I was smelling and had to make a conscious effort to not simply barge in there. So I simply tried waiting by the door to see in anyone would make their way out so I could stop them to ask when dinner would be served. However, I was not that lucky. No one was making their way in or out. The idea of a snack was beginning to take over my thoughts and become an all-consuming mission to fulfill. I wasn't sure how much longer I could last before I had to break up that happy party in there and ask, doggone it, but the smells of the meat, the spices being used on it, the vegetables, the baking bread--it was getting to be too much. I should have walked away, gone to my rooms and had Maria fetch me a little something, but the smells had me and I couldn't tear away.
I had to do it. I poked my head in and took note of all the happy bustling and conversation going on. I was maybe feeling a little guilty for having to put the kibosh on the mood, but my stomach didn't seem to care.
"Pardon me. Hate to interrupt, but--um, could someone be so kind as to tell me when dinner is, and could I please have a sandwich of that yummy meat to tie me over in the meantime?--nothing big, just a small one." I smiled congenially.
I was so right. Everything seemed to come to a screeching halt and all eyes were on me. I was instantly sorry I had, but I couldn't leave now. A very large woman seemed to break up the awkwardness of the moment as she stepped forward and waved me in.
"Come in young'un," she invited and turned to one of the girls who stood idly by, staring. "Elsa, stop yer gawkin' and git the girl some bread!"
"Sorry, miss," she turned back to me, giving her massive shoulders a shrug. "Meat's for the dinning room." She turned back to the rest of group and bellowed "Ahright, back to work ya bunch of slackjaws!"
They all went scurrying off in all directions just as Elsa set down a fresh loaf of bread down on a table in front of me. The large woman turned back to me.
"M'name's Lola. This 'ere's my kitchen," she smiled. She glanced down at the bread and thrust her multiple chins at the loaf, indicating that it was alright for me to eat it.
"Who might you be, love?" she asked.
I suddenly felt another twinge of guilt. I realized that Lola did not know me as royalty, and when she finds out, she might just throw me out of her kitchen. On one hand, I was happy that there wasn't any bowing and scraping and "My Lady" or "Your Highness" happening. In here, for as long as I could milk it, I was just plain Tabby again--even if only for a minute. I attempted a new smile, albeit a bit weak.
"Thank you, Lola, you're very kind," I began. I removed my hat, but I still did not sit down, nor did I remove my glasses.
"My name's Tabitha. Tabby for short." I was half expecting her to recognize the name at least. Her big eyes narrowed a little, but that was all.
"Well miss Tabby," she continued in her jovial manner. "Those 'r' some interestin' specs you got. I can see clean behind me!" Then surprised me at the speed she whipped around with to snap at a few girls who had become idle.
"Git yer skinny butts a'movin'! There's trays tha' need fillin'!" The girls jumped with a squeal and hurried back to what they were supposed to be doing.
"Thank ya Sweetpea!" she intoned at me.
"Not at all," I replied and couldn't help but smile back at her. I took another glance around the kitchen, aware of the sideways looks and glances and being watched from the corner of their eyes. For once, I don't think I minded so much since it was more curiosity than anything, but I couldn't help wondering if the kitchen crew had a better idea as to who I was as opposed to Lola.
I took the seat across from Lola and still took in the enormity of the kitchen. I was thinking you could fit Gran and Grampa's whole house in here! But thinking of Gran and Grampa and smelling the food and with Lola's down-home hospitality made me a little homesick.
I mean, yesterday morning, I was just plain Tabby, and now I'm not. I was still not used to all the attention and to be honest, I kind of had my fill for the day. If there was just one place I could go to not be a princess, this would be it--the next closest thing that reminded me of home.
I sat back in the chair, refrained from reaching for the bread despite my hunger and let out a huge sigh, thinking of Gran and her cooking and the familiar smells of her kitchen. Lola must have picked up on it since she took my hand in one of her huge ones with a look of motherly concern.
"What's botherin' ya, love?"
"I guess I miss home a little," I replied. I couldn't help but think of Gran's kitchen and how the smells were similar. But then I couldn't help myself again as I "did it again". With a deep breath I launched into it:
"You remind me of my Gran. Genuine. Caring. I like that. I like you. I miss her something awful. We'd sit and have chats just like this once in a while. I could tell her anything. I'd hate to start off on the wrong foot of things, but it's not fair to you. After the day I've had--although it really wasn't a bad one--it was really fun and I really enjoyed myself and people treated me really nice for once in my life because they weren't scared of me--but it's nice to be just plain Tabby at the end of the day, even for just a few minutes [breath] At least someone around here sees me for me. But you wouldn't be using those endearing nicknames if you really knew who I was, and even if you did, I wouldn't want to change this for anything. I mean, I never meant to intrude, but my stomach sometimes takes over and I followed my nose and here I am." I finally took another breath, looking at Lola over my glasses, searching the woman's eyes for understanding and holding my breath, giving her puppy-eyes. My free hand was now over Lola's and I waited for her response, fearing that now the bowing and scraping would begin, or at least get that usual response of the blink and blank stare as one's brain was desperately trying to catch up with the rant I just poured out onto them, but I needn't have worried. To my surprise, Lola simply patted my shoulder.
"S'aright, young miss. I know who ya are," she said. I must have looked surprised as she continued.
"That is, I know you're part of The Family," she amended. This set off a buzz of whispering over the kitchen staff where I could hear an excited "I told you so!" make its way around.
"I don' know who yer Mum or yer Da' is, but I knew right off," she nodded with a bit of pride. "Now don you be worryin' about intrudin'. You young'uns are always welcome in my kitchen."
"Oh, bless you!" I said with relief and couldn't help giving her a hug for it before taking my seat again. "But how did you know? Am I so obvious?" I took the glasses off and finally reached for the bread and tore off a piece and fell to until the edge of hunger had died down.
"Fer as many years as I've been 'ere, ya jus' get a feelin' fer it," she shrugged her big shoulders.
"I'm Eric's, by the way. Just got here yesterday," I mentioned and took another piece of bread. She nodded her head and seemed about to say something else when she suddenly frowned.
"Yer not 'avin' dinner wit yer Da?" she asked.
"I don't really know. He got called away suddenly. I suppose I should see if he's back yet, but I haven't heard from him since lunch," I replied truthfully and took another piece of bread. "He had to go in a bit of a hurry, so I figured I'd find him around the Castle here somewhere when he was done with whatever it was he had to deal with." I continued on the bread. Lola was nodding as if she had heard this story countless times before.
"Well, Lass, it's possible 'e's lookin' fer ya in the dinin' room as we speak," she jerked her head in the direction of the dining room.
"Good point," I perked up at this suggestion and gathered my hat and glasses. "Thank you so much for the bread and the talk Lola. It was a real pleasure to meet you and I look forward to next time!" I gave Lola another hug before heading in the direction she had indicated for the dining room.