Chapter Thirty-Three: French Toast

Day Nine

Tuesday morning

Saja blinked open her eyes to find an orange-masked turtle grinning at her across the short table from his seat in a worn, padded chair. Whoa.

The turtle turned his head to his left and called out, "Leo! She's awake!"

A muffled reply came from the other room, but the forgnathu sitting on the table was off, and Saja was too sleepy to try to pick out words from the language she had just barely begun learning.

With a yawn and a stretch, she sat up, reluctantly shoving the blankets aside. Well, I feel better than yesterday. Having a passenger is rough.

She glanced around the turtles' home, trying to evaluate what time of day it might be, and therefore how long she'd been asleep. I'm guessing morning. So it's been… two days and a bit more since I brought Raph back. So I'll have to leave… tomorrow or the day after. Hopefully they won't mind if I come back here once in a while. It's a safe place… and they might count me as a friend—or at least as an acquaintance. Although it would be awkward for them, having me sleep for a day or two on their couch, and eat their food… Saja yawned again. I'll think about it, and maybe ask them if they mind before I have to go. Even if they don't mind, I won't come too much; I don't want to take advantage of them.

It took her a second to realize when Mikey asked her a question; she blinked up at the now-standing, but still grinning, turtle. He chuckled, then mimed eating from an imaginary plate in one hand, then pointed at her.

Am I hungry? Yes, yes I am. She nodded.

Mikey's grin broadened. He stepped around the short table—coffee table, they had called it; but wasn't coffee a drink?—and reached a hand down.

Saja stared dumbly at it for an embarrassing moment before realizing that he was offering her a hand up. She took it; he chuckled a little at her face, then gestured toward the kitchen with a bow.

Saja started toward the kitchen, then remembered the forgnathu, so they wouldn't have to continue with miming for communication. She turned, but Mikey realized what she wanted, scooped it up, and handed it over, complete with earbud.

"Thank you," Saja mumbled—in Jior, without realizing it—as she put it on and stuck the one earbud in. I'd probably leave one out, even if both were available, since I am trying to learn their tongue.

"Can you hear me now?" Mikey skipped ahead of her into the kitchen. "So, have a seat. What do you want for breakfast?" He turned and stood, hands on hips, between the table and the counter.

Well, that answers the time question. Saja rested a hand on the back of a chair, but didn't sit down."You don't have to make me anything. I'll just have leftovers, or a piece of fruit—something nobody else wants." They must have already eaten.

Mikey snorted. "Not make you anything? I, Hamato Michelangelo, am the king of breakfast foods! Besides, there aren't really any leftovers. And, Casey got groceries for us last night, so I actually have ingredients to work with."

Saja tugged at the hem of her wrinkled-but-still-elegant sleeve. "But I can't ask you to do things for me-"

"Of course you can! You saved my big brother from the crazy animals that made him go to sleep!" The turtle was practically waving his arms now.

Uh oh. I've upset one of my hosts. Saja started to bring her hands together to bow an apology. Be graceful like Lady Lamaki.

Mikey grabbed one of her hands and pulled it away from the other one, not harshly. "Oh, don't do that. Sorry," he added.

Saja stood frozen in place. What do I do?

Mikey took a deep breath. "It's okay, Mikey," he muttered fast to himself, "she's not from here, and people have been mean to her." He turned back to her. "I'm going to make you breakfast because one, you're a guest," he said more slowly, counting on his fingers, "Two, you saved Raph. Three, Leo told me to. Four, I love making food for people and having them like it. Five, stop assuming you're annoying and in the way, 'cause you're not. Six, what do you like to eat for breakfast? You can describe something and I'll try my best to make the earth version of it."

Alright, so Don's brother Mikey really appreciates me fetching Raph, and wants me to let him make me food. I'd better watch what I do around him, so I don't upset him again. Having made this mental note, Saja thought for a moment. "Well… I haven't had a regular dawnmeal in a long time. I don't even know what I like anymore; I just eat what I have. Perhaps… you could make me a typical dawnmeal that you like? I do like to try new things." Please don't be upset.

Mikey pondered this for a moment after the forgnathu had churned out a translation. He clapped his hands together. "Okay, I can work with that! Y'know, you seem like a French toast kinda person. Have a seat. How hungry are you? Do you want four slices, or six, or maybe four and some sausage?"

"She might need the bathroom, Mikey," Don said mildly as he entered; Saja started. "Besides, from what I've seen, she doesn't eat piles of food like you and Raph. Think April, not Raph right after a workout. Morning, Saja," he added with a yawn and a wave as he moved toward a black machine and refilled the mug in his hand with that black drink. Coffee, Saja recalled. "Good morning, Don," she said carefully in English.

Don smiled. "Well done. You're picking it up fast. Is language-learning a Jior ability too?" He tossed a few things in his drink and gave it a stir without even looking at it.

The girl shook her head. "No, I don't think so…. Well, I don't know. How fast do your people learn?" she said, switching back to Jior.

Don shrugged. "It depends on the person and how much you work at it, but it usually takes years to become fluent. It's easier for kids, though."

"Oh. Then yes, I think so." Saja blushed a little.

"Nothing to be ashamed of, Saja," Don said, amusement tinting his voice.

Saja looked down at her lap and digested this. My new friend is… jealous of one of my skills? That's a new feeling.

As Mikey busied himself with food preparation—it seemed to involve eggs and milk at least—and loud, cheery humming, Don leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee. "Although it sounds like that device Raph brought back served you both well," he said, a hint of jealousy in his voice. "I looked at it a bit more while you were sleeping yesterday, and managed to get the cover off, but it's a whole different system, and it would take me a while to learn."

Saja smiled. He certainly loves technology. I've come a long way from my terror of technology, but I don't think I'll be like him anytime soon. "You will have all the time you need once I leave."

"Well, you won't—I mean-" Don frowned, paused, then said, "You can take it with you when you leave. You have an actual need for it, with all the places you go to—I'm just curious as to how it works, and if it can help me improve my own translator." He stared into his coffee. "I mean, I haven't figured out the power source yet, so I don't know how long it'll last, but it'll be useful to you until then. Besides, I can look at it whenever you come to visit us."

Why do I sense he's choosing his words carefully, and perhaps hiding something from me? Saja regarded him for a moment, then looked away. No, my mind is playing tricks on me.

"Anyway," Don said, peeling himself off the counter and meandering out of the kitchen, "you've got a couple minutes before Mikey's done, if you need the bathroom in the meantime. Oh, and," he paused, now in the doorway, "I was thinking later, if you don't need more sleep, that we could do an English lesson, if you're interested."

I must have imagined it. "Yes," Saja said softly, "if you have time."

Rubbing a thumb on his mug, Don smiled. "Let's plan on it, then."

Half a sunband later found Saja's tummy full and happy. The French toast had been amazing, and the small puddle of sweet golden sauce on top unexpected but delicious. Thankfully she'd thought to test it before Mikey had poured half the bottle and drenched the food in overpowering sweetness. Mikey's friendly chatter had accompanied the good food; he'd plopped down across from her and just started talking. He didn't always seem to need a reply, which was fortunate, since much of what he said made little sense. But he was cheery and fun to listen to. It's much nicer than eating alone as always.

At some point, a little after Saja had finished eating—and assured him she was full—Mikey jumped up and started washing both her plate and the dishes that were dirty. He didn't stop talking long enough for Saja to object to him cleaning up after her. Afterward, refilled juice cup in hand, the girl followed her companion into the living room. Once settled and that particular train of thought more or less complete, Mikey jumped up again. "Hang on a sec!" He dashed off down a hallway.

He's definitely the youngest.

Mikey reappeared, only to careen through the room and disappear upstairs. Leo padded into the room from the hallway. "Good morning, Saja. Did you sleep well?"

Apparently I'm talking to Don's older brother now… he's not unfriendly, but he's a bit… intimidating… compared to Don's little brother. Saja nodded. "Yes, thank you. I feel much better today."

Leo rested one hand on the back of the chair to Saja's right, and the other on his belt. "That's good to hear. We really appreciate you rescuing Raph for us."

"Oh, well-" Saja looked down at her lap. She could feel her cheeks blushing. "Your brother was kind to me, and I was in a position to help."

"Who gave Mikey caffeine?" came a loud grumble from the stairs: Raph, descending slowly, but himself looking more alive than yesterday. Behind him trailed Casey, now wearing a red shirt, black hooded jacket, and blue pants that were apparently normal for this world, and Taevon. It's still startling to see a fellow Jior.

Mikey had already zipped by; now he reappeared from the other end of the room behind Don. "Mikey made Saja French toast—he probably drank some maple syrup," Don said.

Saja looked at the various approaching turtles, human, and Jior. Why are they all converging? Are they angry with me? No one looked angry—in fact, if anything, their faces held hints of excitement as they settled onto and around the furniture. Casey and Taevon stood across the coffee table, Raph dropped onto the chair that Leo stood behind, Don settled onto the chair on the left, mug still in hand, and Mikey hopped onto the arm of the couch to Saja's right, his feet on the seat. I wish I knew their culture better… but at the moment, I'd like to be unseen. Saja's right hand found the blanket and scrunched a fistful.

"Whoa, it's okay, Saja," Don said, leaning forward in his seat. "It's nothing bad. We just have something to tell you."

What could they possibly have to tell me?

Act brave like the great Parvoss.

"Say it, then."