Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: GLUTTONY (overindulgence and overconsumption) (01/15/15)
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TITLE: For the Sake of Friendship | Previous Challenge Entry
By Milly Born
01/22/15 -
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“Bonsoir!” Marianne smiled at us while stirring in a huge pot on the stove.
Her husband, André, took our coats and urged us to take a seat at the table.
Since we moved to the French countryside almost a year ago, André had helped us maintain our fields. We felt honored to be invited for dinner; it was a sign that this gentle farming couple wanted to seal our friendship.
“Soupe au fromage,” announced Marianne as she put the casserole on the table and doled out generous portions. The hotchpot of kale, gruyere and bread didn’t resemble soup in any way, but smelled good.
I dove my fork into the steaming stew. “Mmm…this is delicious.”
Marianne beamed while André poured full-bodied red wine, a perfect complement to the hearty dish.
I savored every nourishing bite and was the last to finish eating, just as Marianne was offering second helpings. André eagerly accepted; they then looked at us, expectantly.
“Okay, just a little bit more would be wonderful, thank you.”
With a satisfied look, Marianne scooped another ladleful on our plates.
“I hope dessert will be light,” I whispered to Luke.
When Marianne placed a basket with baguette slices on the table, I groaned inwardly as I remembered that it is the French custom to serve cheese before dessert. However, the light brown paste didn’t look like cheese.
“Paté de foie gras.” André’s eyes sparkled. “From our own ducks.”
My stomach churned. I loved animals and wasn’t a big meat eater. Now I was supposed to eat the livers of birds who had suffered the cruelty of force-feeding.
“We killed three ducks for tonight’s dinner,” added Marianne. “Please, help yourself.”
Out of respect for our friends, I smeared two slices of baguette with liver paste and washed them down with wine.
Here comes dessert—I hope.
Baffled, we watched Marianne bring in an oven dish. “Roast duck.”
I stared at the pile of sizzling body parts.
“And the side dish—chestnut and potato gratin.”
Luke blew out his cheeks. “I…I’m sorry, I can’t—“
“But this is the main course,” Marianne exclaimed.
André nodded. “You must eat; c’est très bon.” He rubbed his stomach, which was surprisingly flat.
I got up my courage and selected the smallest leg.
“Only one? Mais non—you can’t walk on only one leg.” André laughed as he put a second piece on my plate. “Voilà. And here’s some vegetables.” A considerable amount of gratin landed next to the meat. Luke, too, was being served abundantly.
I contemplated the strategy of not finishing the food, but Marianne’s disappointed frown at my half-full plate gave me the strength to plow through.
Oh please, no cheese. While engaging in table talk, my fingers fidgeted with the button of my jeans to create space for my expanding abdomen.
Three huge chunks of cheese appeared on the table, mocking us as Marianne introduced them. “The blue cheese is made by my niece, this gruyere-type by our neighbor, and this soft beauty…” She cut off an extra big piece for me, “…I made myself.”
Trying to ignore the pungent odor, I dawdled, hoping that at least some of the soupe au fromage would leave my stomach before the next bite entered it.
Tall dessert glasses flaunted their creamy, meringue-topped content. “Homemade île flottante.”
Like a soldier at the end of a two-day march, focusing on swinging one leg forward just once more, I concentrated on one bite at a time. Spoon by spoon, the floating island disappeared from my glass.
“Champagne!”
Although I agreed celebration would be in order, I knew I had reached the limits of what was humanly possible. I declined the bubbles and the accompanying sweet, fried oreillettes. Thankfully, Marianne and André didn’t insist.
As we waddled to the car, Luke confessed, “I thought the soupe made a one-dish meal.”
I giggled. “Yeah, me too. Can’t imagine I’ll ever eat again.”
“Well, we persevered. And survived.”
“For the sake of friendship.”
Moaning, we lowered ourselves onto the car seats and drove home—carefully.
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On topic totally and completely and some excellent writing in this piece. Well done.
God bless~
God bless~