Fruit Salad
"The two of you have been on duty for almost
eight hours now without even a good breakfast." hinted Phlox sometime after
his return from the mess hall.
"Vulcans can ..." began T'Pol.
"Have a decent meal like everyone else." finished
Tucker, leaving his station and smiling at the doctor.
She arched an eyebrow at him as she left the
helm station.
"Everything will be fine until you get back."
Phlox assured her.
"Very well. You have the bridge until our
return." said T'Pol, joining Trip at the lift.
"Was that so bad?"
"I would have a meal before hunger affected
my judgment."
"Oh, I have no doubts there, but why miss
a perfectly good meal? Hell, we could even cook something."
"I imagine you would want to char or broil
a large slab of meat."
"Well, as tempting as that may sound, I think
I might like to make some pancakes or French toast or something. We have
missed breakfast two days in a row after all."
"I don't like human breakfast foods. The smell
is unpleasant."
"Fine. Then maybe we could toss a fresh salad
or bake a potato."
"A fruit salad then. Would that be acceptable?"
asked Tucker. He was beginning to lose patience. T'Pol had found the idea
of baking a potato unacceptable and the lettuce was starting to wilt.
"Fruit from earth?"
"Yes, of course fruit from earth."
"In my experience edible fruits are usually
agreeable to eat, regardless of their point of origin."
"Then why'd you ask?"
"I don't have a great deal of experience with
the fruits found on your planet."
Trip grinned and said, "This is going to be
fun then."
When he had collected some fine specimens
from the storage units, Trip lined them up on the counter next to a large
bowl and a knife.
He held up a bright red apple and said, "This
is an apple."
Commander Tucker was about to expound upon
the virtues of the red delicious when T'Pol said, "I know the names of
the fruits. I simply have not ingested them before."
For a moment Trip thought her lips twitched
as though she wanted smile, or even laugh. Tucker sighed heavily and shook
his head as he put the apple down.
"You can really take the fun out of anything."
"I am sorry, commander."
"Trip. It's Trip." he told her as he began
to peel the apple.
"If there is another knife, I would be quite
willing to help you."
"Knock yourself out." he said, pointing to
a drawer that held the utensils.
"With a knife? That would undoubtedly be very
painful."
"It's just a simple, human expression, T'Pol."
She took a knife from the drawer and picked
up a green apple from the counter.
Holding it slightly aloft, she said, "This
is also an apple."
"Sure is." agreed Trip, who was concentrating
intently on removing the apple's peel in one piece. "It's an art." he told
T'Pol as she began peeling the fruit in a more methodical fashion.
"I hardly think this is an art form."
"Try to remove the skin of the apple in one
piece." he instructed her.
She furrowed her brow and said, "Fine. I will."
Three apples, two pears, and a very unfortunate
peach later T'Pol had yet to remove a peel as a single piece. Commander
Tucker could not help but to look just a little smug.
"I told you it was an art."
"How can you do it so easily then?" she questioned,
looking at the whole peel from his first apple.
"Practice, of course." Trip told her. "Ever
since I was a boy." he added.
"Indeed."
"Ready to eat then?" he asked, looking at
the rather gooey mixture in the bowl. It wasn't the best looking fruit
salad ever, but it had been fun to make.
"Of course, Trip."
"You can carry the bowl while I get us some
plates and ... spoons. Find us a nice table near a window, would you?"
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Note: Without humor Star Trek is just some kind of bizzaro documentary.