Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Tuck Everlasting. Like I said before, it's created by Natalie Babbit.
Never Again
Chapter 3 – Breakfast
Winnie carefully placed cream colored linen tablecloths on the table along with dinner plates, forks, spoons, knives, glasses and napkins. When she was finally finished with her task, Martha came bustling in holding four large oval plates with her hands and arms filled with hot mouth-drooling food.
"Here, let me help," Winnie said, taking one plate of bacon and another plate of flapjacks with her hands.
"Thank you, dear," Martha smiled and placed the two plates; one with omelets and sausages on the table. "Let me get the syrup and butter. And you go fetch your ma and da."
Winnie nodded and went to search for her parents. A minute later, she found them sitting in the patio not talking to each other. Winnie looked at her father, already dressed in a brown suit, his brows knitted together as he read the daily newspaper. And her mother, who was gazing about their lush green garden and drinking her morning tea. The girl cleared her throat to catch their attention, and the married couple turned to look at her.
"Breakfast is ready." Their daughter said quietly then with a blink of an eye she was gone.
"I'll have milk, please." Winnie said to Martha.
"Coffee, black." Mr. Foster said with a nod.
"Tomato juice, thank you." Mrs. Foster eyed their breakfast with disgust as always. Obviously, she has not taken a one bit liking to their new system of food serving for the past six years. Ever since Winnie's disappearance they had done everything to please their daughter. She was in shocked when her daughter of all people had chosen to eat such, such absurd food! All she could do was blame those horrid people who had kidnapped and brainwashed her poor Winnie. The woman sighed in dismay and clasped her hands together. "Let us say grace." They closed their eyes and silently muttered their payers while Martha poured in their drinks, making slight swishing sounds as they hit the glass. Finishing, father and daughter instantly grabbed their forks and filled their plates with as much food they can eat. Meanwhile, Mrs. Foster only took a small piece of flapjack. Soon enough, Winnie and Mr. Foster was patting their bellies, full as they can be, satisfaction on their faces.
Mr. Foster smiled at his daughter, "Winnie, would you like to accompany me to town today? And Clark will be there as well."
The smile on Winnie's face turned into a scowl, "No thank you. I have better things to do than see that pig."
"Winifred! You were not raised to talk about people in such manner! I want you to go to town with your father and apologize!" Mrs. Foster exclaimed in aghast.
"I've called him other things," Winnie muttered silently, but it was clear as day.
"Jon, please, I beg you, lecture your daughter! At least she listens to you!"
"Willa…" Mr. Foster said her nickname rather warningly when she stood up from her chair. They could see that tears started to form from the corners of her pale blue eyes. But his wife stomped out of the dining room, and into their bedroom, the door slamming shut with a sickening thud.
"Well, young lady, what do you have to say for yourself?" Winnie's father demanded softly.
"I'm sorry, father. But Clark is a pig. And if mother thought he was a gentleman, she thought wrong," Winnie said looking at her father.
"I know, child. I know. But please, ever since you got kidnapped, everything has changed. Your mother has become more—"
"Da, it has been six years past! Can't she just let it go?" Winnie cut in, her cheeks flaming red.
"She can't," he paused, "Have you?" That question made Winnie close her mouth. Did she ever let it go? It appears she hasn't. She never has.
"Honey, I don't know how tough the ordeals your going through right now. Since you always look so depressed, and that is not a good thing, by the way. But don't always dump your anger or any other painful emotion on someone else. Especially your mother, you know how she could be. Do you understand?"
"I guess…"
"Good. Since you don't want to go to town, what are you going to do with your day?"
"Oh, you know, I'm going to the—"
"Wood." He finished for her. "Winnie, is the Wood that important to you?"
"Yes," she sighed. Her father made an 'hmmm' sound suddenly, and Winnie turned to face him. "What are you thinking about, Da?"
He smiled whenever he called her 'Da', "Oh, nothing. But I guess I'll have to turn down what the deal the mayor had made..."
Winnie stared at him with gleaming deep ocean blue eyes, "Da, what deal?"
Mr. Foster grabbed the napkin on his lap and wiped his chin then stood up from his chair.
"Da!"
He avoided her burning gaze and said, "I'll tell you when I get back." He kissed her cheek quickly and then grabbed his hat in the living room before he headed for the door.
Author's Note: Another edited chapter! I hope you guys like it! Hey, it's sure better than the old, short, crappy chapter I had before! Chapter 4 soon!
- polarisX11 -
