Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Meal

     “Good morning,” a squat Quiggle greeted me as I took off my jacket and tucked it behind the coat-check desk.

      I smiled and reached for the cappuccino he had waiting for me. “How are you, Larry?”

      “Oh, just delighted to see you as always, Lena,” he had a sly smile pulling at his cheeks, “Snow puns this morning, I’m afraid.”

      I rolled my eyes. Larry, my wonderful maître d’, was known to me and all Filet’s guests as a jokester; they came for the fine dining, but they stayed for him and his puns. “I suppose we can check ‘White Christmas’ off of the out-of-our-control-but-seriously-hoping-for list,” I retorted. “Speaking of lists, where are we at?”

      Larry and I walked to the manager’s office, which was surprisingly well-lit compared to the moody orange glow that Filet boasted in its dining rooms and booths. There were two boxes: one filled to the brim with ornaments for the tree in the main entryway and one with wreaths and juniper roping. “We just have decorations, and the menu left. I have handled our socials, reached out to the Neopian Times for an article on the event, and have sent out the marketing email for the pre-Christmas dinner and option to sponsor a family’s meal at a later date,” Larry pointed to the main whiteboard with the scribbled to-do list, “You’re the head chef, as requested, the grocery order has been placed.”

      “Thank you, Larry,” I said, grabbing the box of wreaths and roping, “Would you mind grabbing the ornaments? I’d like to start decorating the dining rooms.”

      I carefully placed wreaths on the candelabras while Larry hung the juniper roping across the main entryway and mantles. “I’m having trouble thinking of the sides for the main dinner.”

      Larry looked at me from across the room, arms held above him while pinning the roping, “Lena, my dear, you always figure it out.”

     I smiled, thinking back to all the fantastic meals Larry and I had concocted. We’d always been able to come up with something, no matter the occasion. We’d already decided on the main course, but we needed side dishes. I racked my brain, trying to come up with something original. We needed something that would go well with the entrée.

      I looked at Larry, light shining from behind and making him more of a shadow amongst the glimmer of fairy lights and ornament reflections, and suddenly I was back in my early youth.

     ~ * ~

     “Gram?” a tiny uni called out to the older Neopet huddled by the fire, “Gram? I wanted to find some ornaments to decorate the tree.”

      The Neopet by the fire looked up and over at the tiny thing, and a wave of sadness washed over her. Times were very tough, and what few Neopoints she had needed to go towards making a Christmas dinner and not an ornament for the pine branches she and the uni had collected as a bouquet and deemed their Christmas tree. She remained stoic, however, to not upset the tiny uni.

      “Lena, my love,” Gram responded, “I’m afraid we don’t have any ornaments since the fire.”

      “Gram,” Lena pleaded, “Can’t we get just one?”

      Gram hoisted herself out of the chair and padded over to Lena, the tiny uni. She leaned down to give her a hug and raked her fingers through her mane, “I’ll make you a deal,” she said, “We will get our groceries to make our dinner, and if there are any leftovers, we can get an ornament.”

      The little uni whinnied, and they made their way to Neopia Central to start their holiday grocery shopping. Lena watched her grandmother as she scoured prices, looking for the most volume of food for the least expensive price. She saw many shopkeepers that day, and she was in awe of the grace and confidence her grandmother had while haggling with them, even when they turned her away. By the end of their outing, they had amassed some stew meat, carrots, leaks, green beans, stock, and potatoes. A lot of potatoes.

      “Lena, my love,” Gram said, clutching the paper bag to her chest while they walked through the snowy streets, “I’m going to show you how to make the most of a potato. We have vegetables to add to the stew, so we’re going to make two different potato dishes. Come now; we need to stop to see the Soup Faerie and have some lunch.”

      Lena skipped along after her Gram, excited for a warm meal with her and not realizing the financial requirement to eat at The Soup Kitchen. They sat down together, and the Soup Faerie smiled and sat two large bowls in front of both Neopets, “Merry Christmas, you two,” she said kindly, “Is there anything more I can do for you?”

      Gram was starting to say no when Lena chimed in, “I want an ornament for our Christmas tree!” she exclaimed, “Our Neohome burnt down in a fire, and we lost our ornaments. Now I don’t have anything to put on our tree, but Gram said maybe after we went shopping if we had any Neopoints left.”

      “I am so sorry to hear that,” the Soup Faerie responded, “I don’t have any ornaments, but I am going to sprinkle a little bit of good luck and faerie dust your way.”

      “Thank you,” Gram chuckled, happy that the kind faerie was humouring her granddaughter, “We won’t take any more of your time. Thank you for your generosity.”

      “It’s my pleasure,” the Soup Faerie responded, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more Neopets to serve.”

      “Lena,” Gram said, trying to keep a happy demeanour but knowing full well that they didn’t have the Neopoints to spare on even the smallest ornament. “Let me tell you how we’re going to make two dishes out of one ingredient.”

      Lena perked up, “That sounds like magic, Gram.”

      “It is magic, my love,” Gram whispered excitedly, “What we’re going to have for Christmas dinner is a beef stew, but we’re going to use potato skins instead of spoons!”

      Lena laughed, “Gram, we need spoons, silly. It’s stew!”

      “For most stews, yes, you do need a spoon,” Gram chuckled, “But we’re going to scrape out the potato’s inside and make a delicious mash for the next day, and using the skins as boats, we’re going to get them nice and crispy and dunk them into our stew.”

      Lena giggled, “That is so fun, Gram. Are they good?”

      “They’re delicious, my love. We can make them for Christmas dinners to come.”

      The two ate their soup, excited to begin their work on Christmas dinner together as they finished and took their bowls to the kitchen. They were making their way to the door when they heard the Soup Faerie call from behind them, “Just a minute, you two!” she started, walking quickly out of the kitchen, “I had my good friend Illusen here helping me with the soup and the increased lines with the cold and holidays,” she continued, Illusen popping up behind her, “And we wanted to help as best we could.”

     “If you don’t mind taking care of this for me,” Illusen said, placing a clumsily wrapped item into the tiny uni’s hooves, “But I think you will do better with it than I.”

      “What is it?” Lena exclaimed, excited and a little awe-struck to be in the presence of Illusen.

      “Open it, sweet one,” Illusen encouraged.

      Lena excitedly ripped the paper from the item and squealed as it became apparent: Illusen had given her an Illusen Orb Ornament.

      “For your tree,” she said, laughing as the tiny uni clutched her legs for a hug, “A new ornament.”

     ~ * ~

     “Larry, I’ve got it,” Lena said excitedly, coming out of her memories.

      “What’s that, Lena?” the Quiggle asked, hands on his hips and admiring his handiwork with the roping.

      “Potato skins,” she said, “As an option. Obviously, we’ll have a mash, but instead of putting the skins to waste, what if we crisp them up and serve them with horseradish?” Larry was smiling back at her; she knew it would work.

      “You’ve perfected it. Provided options for all, my dear!” Larry excitedly came over and gave her a hug, “We will get the holiday menu printed. Now that the restaurant is decorated, get ready for the dinner cooking marathon!”

      Lena felt like she was gliding with the giddiness she felt. She went back to her office and changed into her chef attire.

     ~ * ~

     Lena had her eyes closed and was focusing very hard on controlled breaths. On the other side of the kitchen’s doors was a completely filled dining room. This dinner was one of the most meaningful things for her, and she didn’t want her nerves to get in the way of her sincerity. Larry came up beside her and patted her arm. “My dear,” he said quietly, keeping the quiet atmosphere she was cultivating, “You don’t even need words. Your sentiment permeates.”

      Lena smiled and looked towards him. “I appreciate that, Larry; I really do,” she said with a small smile, “But what I think I need is one of your best puns.”

      Larry grinned again and racked his brain; eventually, he settled on his punchline, “Being a vegetarian at this event is one huge missed steak.”

     Lena rolled her eyes but felt the pressure ease off her shoulders, “Vegetarians are welcome at Filet, too, Larry,” she said, laughing, “They just might not understand the hype.” With that, she took one final grounding breath and walked through the doors.

     “Welcome to Filet,” she exclaimed, a smile pressed to her face. “I am the executive chef and owner of Filet, Lena Angelos.” She patiently waited for the applause to die down. “Christmastime is my favourite time of year, and it is my sincere pleasure to offer some of the most vulnerable Neopets in the area a warm meal. Moreover, I hope that the gift of fine dining is one you can cherish with me,” she paused. “Many don’t know this, but when I was very young, my house burned down in a fire in the month of Storing, ironically,” she paused, “Everything we had stored and saved was burnt to ash.”

     “However, we persevered, as I know many of you do daily. The menu tonight features some decadent cuts of meat that I hope keep you sated and happy. Additionally, the primary side of potato skins was part of my first Christmas after the fire; it is a testament to my own perseverance and a happy memory amidst what could have been a very difficult holiday.

     “All attendees will be receiving an additional meal, ready to make, for tomorrow as well. If you have little ones at home or members that couldn’t be here, please let one of the servers know. We have more care meals stocked in the back for just that occurrence,” she paused again, hearing pets sniffle and ‘thank yous’ echo throughout the dining room,

     “Additionally, all attendees will be receiving a small gift of an ornament and a dinner voucher for your family that may be used any time, as long as Filet is in business. I hope you all accept this gift from the bottom of my heart.

     “With that, Merry Christmas to all, and bon appétit!”

     The End.