She Is But a Child
Chapter Twenty-one
A Kitchen God…
Spock was awesome in the kitchen. His mother had taught him well, really she had taught him to be self-sufficient. He excelled in all the domestic skills necessary for survival. But as his mother had said, 'You are a god in the kitchen.'
He planned a four-course meal. They would start with soup, then go on to a salad of bitter greens, a main course of a tofu stir-fry and then desert. He did not have the authentic vegetables of his home world, but he knew what substitutes worked best. So, eggplant would be substituted for yumur kastik, Terran's bitter greens substituted for Vulcan's and fresh fruit would serve as a desert.
He only had one set of dishes, one set of silverware, no candle sticks or stemware, for his Vulcan sense did not allow for clutter or waste, and basics were the essence of his living space.
His one indulgence was a table cloth his mother had given him.
"Perhaps some time in the future you will want to have someone special over to eat," were her words as she handed it to him to pack.
Well, this occasion fit that description. All was in readiness and then the door chimed. Was that his breath that caught in his throat. We identify his feeling of …apprehension. He opened the door and standing there, with a beverage bag was his dinner guest.
With a smile and doing her best Spock with the flowers imitation, she said, "I've bought you some non-alcohol beverage for our consumption this evening."
Spock nodded, his lips were slightly upturned as he stepped aside and directed her toward the dining area.
"Thank you, Sir," was his polite response.
He took the bottle from her hand and placed it on the table. He pulled out her chair, she seated herself and he pushed her to the table. He then opened the bottle and poured their drinks. He nodded and he excused himself and brought out a tray filled with covered dishes and a small tray with two hot refresher towels.
He sat down and then said, "My mother taught me to cook all of these dishes. He then gave descriptions as he uncovered each dish and then, thoroughly understanding the significance of the act, he helped Nyota's plate and placed it before her.
It was true that Spock's mother taught him to be self-sufficient. Even though he was bonded at seven. What would come of that was extremely uncertain. The girl he had been bonded to had proved to be unstable. The bond had been terminated. In his mother's heart of hearts her son's future looked so very dark until he left Vulcan for Terra. Her hope was that he would find a degree of happiness at a place where such was allowed-her home planet.
They reviewed all of Spock's ideas about the holo-vid. Nyota had the resources in the wings to record a vid that would explain its origins and technique. Spock's demonstration of the basic moves, and his and Nyota's display of Vul'U'Sa's defensive excellence would also be included. The production would begin the following week.
After dinner and and the discussion, Spock mentioned the lateness of the hour and insisted upon walking Nyota to her building. It had been a most rewarding evening in many ways. The air was cool and because the wind was blowing eastward, they could smell the sea. In the distance they heard the cry of a lone sea gull, unusual because the hour was late. But perhaps he was a renegade, going against the norm, how inviting that thought was. His only comment to Nyota was,
"That gull is marching to the beat of a different drummer."
She replied,
"He is determined to make his own path, to do it his way because it is important to him. His actions are his own reward."
Spock replied, "Fascinating."
As they reached her living quarters, Spock's resolve almost gave way to the beauty of the stars, the beauty before his eyes, and the ache in his heart.
He thought, 'How extraordinary,' But his lips formed these words,
"Good night Lieutenant, and I thank you for a memorable evening."
Her summation of the evening events were, "You are most welcome, but I only contributed the beverage. I must let you know, you are a god in the kitchen."
Spock's return was, "You are echoing my mother's words. She taught me everything I know. So in truth I must give her the credit. Perhaps one day you two will meet."
"Yes, perhaps," Nyota replied. "Good night Spock."