Butter

From LSWiki

<dawning>

The Grubb Hovel was cold and damp. Greeva, the matron of this family, stood in the kitchen where she spent most of her time endlessly toiling away preparing food for her family. Her delicious confections were known far and wide and were the pride of the Grubb Clan. She had 143 children, a relatively average litter for a goblin of her standing. A small dark-skinned youngling stood down by her apron strings, watching in amazement.

Boom-ka-chunk!, a plume of black smoke spewed upwards out of the archaic stove, "Flarg-ratten!!" Greeva exclaimed as the stove went dead. She turned a few dials, paused a moment, then gave it a swift kick. The stove coughed out another plume of black smoke as it cranked back on, returning to it's normal squealing and popping noises. "See, little one? You just have to make it work," she said to the small observer. "Now, our clan has traditions that need to be maintained so here is a lesson.... whenever we fry something first we add butter to the pan." Greeva scooped a generous amount of the creamy substance and slapped it into the pan, turning to her curious child she asked, "Now what is the first thing we need to make fried food?"

"Butter!!" the little one exclaimed with a smile.

"Very good!! I can't believe you are talking already, one so young," Greeva paused. She knew her little Butter was different from the rest of her spawn. He seemed to show an understanding that she herself had only managed to attain in her elder years. Greeva recalled how some of her clan had treated those that were seen as "different" in the past, and she felt a twinge of fear about the future of her child's life. "OK that's enough for today, get ready for bed," said Greeva, masking her fears. Little Butter scampered out of the room.

The next morning Greeva came into the kitchen to find Butter already there, smiling wildly. The smile was one of mischief and delight.... like someone with a secret to tell..... Greeva turned on the stove and heard the power hum on. It sounded clean, the pipes unobstructed, leaving no remnant of it's usual labored noises. She could not recall the last time it appeared to be in such working condition. She looked down at Butter who had not taken his eyes off his beloved mother.

"Did you do this little one?" she inquired. Butter nodded, then jumped up and down a few times unable to contain his delight.

"Over night.... while Mommy slept.... me..... Butter fixed, Butter made it work, Butter fixed for Mommy!!"

The feelings of worry returned and she spoke. "Well I am very proud of you..... Go wake up your bothers..."

Butter shined with pride and stood up very straight, puffing out his chest, in a fashion very different from the normal slumping posture of the goblin race. Smiling one last time up to his mother, Butter turned and walked out of the kitchen.

Shortly after, the whole Grubb Clan was slurping and crunching away on their breakfast. Butter sat quietly eating next to Bread the brother with whom Butter was the closest in age. Butter could hardly contain the excitement, knowing that his mother would, no doubt, tell the whole family what he had done, and that he was special. He sat and ate, and waited. His mother never said a word. Butter watched her eat, her eyes darting off in a different direction whenever he looked up to try to catch her gaze. She ate in silence and left in silence, not saying a word about Butter's deed.

"I fought you sed Mommy was gonna say sumfin' bout you?" said Bread, spraying crumbs from his overstuffed mouth. Butter did not respond. He just took his plate up to the dish bin and left.