"It's called Ketchup." Tessa said showing Jem the oddly shaped red bottle.
Jem looked at her quizzically, "What is it for?"
Tessa laughed, "You put it on your food to make it taste better."
"Well if it doesn't taste good in the first place, how could it possibly taste better with this on it?" He asked opening the lid and sniffing.
"That's a good question," Tessa said. "It just does."
Jem eyed the bottle doubtfully. "So if I dip my chips in this they will magically taste better?"
Tessa nodded.
"Does it have warlock powders in it?" He asked reading the label.
Tessa giggled. "No this is a completely mundane food. Try it."
Jem turned the bottle over and squeezed a little onto his plate. He dipped his finger in it and examined it. "What's in it?"
"Tomato sauce, vinegar, and some spices. I'm not really sure." Tessa answered. Jem had tried so many new foods since they'd been together, but he'd always been skeptical about ketchup. There was just something about it that he just didn't trust.
"It looks like Ichor, it has a similar texture." Jem said.
"It's not Ichor." Tessa reassured him. "It's almost the same kind of sauce they used on the pizza you tried, and you liked that."
"This looks nothing like that." Jem retorted.
Tessa sighed. "Will you just try it?"
He looked at her. "I will try this vile looking concoction, but only because it's you."
Tessa rolled her eyes. Jem could be so picky about his food, but she could hardly blame him. Food was much simpler a hundred years ago, it was fresh and not processed like it was today. She watched as Jem picked up one of the chips off his plate and carefully dipped the end of it in the puddle of ketchup. He brought it first to his nose and smelled it.
"It doesn't smell like any tomato I've ever eaten." He said.
"Try it." Tessa ordered.
Jem did as she asked taking a small bite of the chip with the ketchup on it. He chewed it thoughtfully then made a face. "No," He said putting it down on his plate. "Just no."
"So you don't like ketchup." Tessa said grinning at him.
He shook his head. "No, I will never eat this vile concoction again."
Tessa picked up the chip he'd put down on his plate and scraped up the last of the ketchup. She took a big bite. "So, would you kiss me if I tasted like ketchup?" She asked.
He grinned at her, "Yes I would kiss you if you tasted like the foulest Ichor imaginable." He thought for a moment, "However, I do think Will would like this stuff. He'd eat anything."
"Except the gruel at Starkweather's." Tessa giggled.
"Well…" Jem said thoughtfully. "That stuff was pretty bad, kind of like…how do you say it? Nuclear waste?"
He took another sip of his drink. "However I do like this ginger ale you got me. It's not half bad, however I do prefer tea over this."
"Well, the next thing we'll try is mustard." Tessa said.
"Mustard?" Jem asked.
"Yes it's a yellow sauce people put on meat." Tessa explained.
Jem shook his head. "Sorry Tess, I'll take my food plain thank you."
Tessa pouted playfully. "You're no fun."
Jem raised an eyebrow, "Yes I am, just not with my food. Give me Kedgeree and bangers any day."
He put up a finger. "WITHOUT ketchup."
Tessa laughed, "Do you know some people put it on eggs?"
Jem looked horrified. "I am so glad Henry didn't hear you say that, he'd turn over in his grave."