Chapter 7: Food and Drinks
Jake
Each of us decided to help Marianne out. Marianne placed in the first burrito into the microwave, and we all decided to let her have that one. Cassie got out the silverware, cleaning some of them by the sink, and then drying them off with a small hand towel. Rachel and I helped to clear off the table. Ax wanted more than one burrito, and the rest of us were debating on how many he was allowed to have.
Andalites don't have mouths like humans do. They run along the grass, and absorb the nutrients with their hooves. And Ax in human form can be pretty dangerous. We were never let that boy around chocolate. His most favorite snack would be cinnamon buns. As a matter of fact, he was asking, "Marianne, do you have any cinnamon buns? Buns-zuh?" "Nope, but there's popcorn, pretzels, chips, cookies… Maybe some ice cream…" Marianne informed. "Ax, you can only have some of those," Cassie told him gently. "Or else there won't be enough for all of us. So we have to share." "I understand. Unnnnderrrrrrstannnnd-duh. Hm, I like the 'D' and 'N' sounds," Ax said. "Now, understand Ax, unnnnnderrrrrstannnnd-duh Ax," Rachel said, rolling her eyes. "You can only have three burritos and that's it." "Yes, I know," he said calmly.
Marianne helped Cassie set the table. Five sets of knives and forks, with five paper plates. Marco found where the cupboard in which the medium and large sized cups were. I took a look in the fridge to see if there was anything to drink besides tap water. "We've got juice, milk, tea…" I called over the low hum of the microwave. "And there's tap water too." "Tea for me, I guess," Marianne said. "Tea? TEEEEE?" Ax quirked. "Okay," I said, grabbing the tannish drink container filled with the homemade tea, and setting it onto the wooden cutting board. "What kind of juice?" Cassie asked me, peering over my shoulder to look in the fridge. "Hm, orange tangerine," I confirmed, pulling the plastic container filled with the yellow orange liquid. "Okay, I'll have some of that," Cassie said. "No soda?" Marco pondered, coming back into the kitchen. "Hey, Marianne," I called to her. "Are your folks health nuts or something?" "No, we just don't have any soda at this time. Sorry man," Marianne said to Marco and me. "I'll have some of the orange juice stuff," Rachel called from the dining area.
Marianne decided to help me with the drinks. "Okay, tea for Ax and me." "I guess I'll have some tea too," I sighed. It was really too bad that there wasn't any Coke or Pepsi. "No wait," Rachel called from the dining area. "There's a big bottle of Diet Pepsi here on the table!" "Good enough for me," I said, quickly changing my decision. "That's actually what my dad usually has at dinnertime," Marianne said for all of us to know, and opened the freezer. She pulled out one of the white ice trays.
"I'll have some of that too," Marco said. "Okie doke," Marianne chimed, putting two ice cubes into a couple of the glasses. As soon as she was done, she walked off to get the big two liter bottle of Diet Pepsi, I guess. I filled two cups with some tea, and three more with some juice. I was trying to remember what everyone wanted. Ax and Marianne: Tea. Marco and me: Diet Pepsi. Cassie and Rachel: Orange-Tangerine Juice…
Beeeeep! The first two minutes of Marianne's burrito was done. I opened the little door, turned the plate so it was horizontal, and set the timer for one minute as Marco and Marianne had decided on. "Oh wait, we need an extra chair," I head Marianne say. "I'll get it." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her walk past me down the hall. There were two ways into the kitchen. One from the hall, and the other from where the dining area. I say area because the dining room and living room were one big room. It was just like that at my house.
I had finished with all of the drinks by the time Marianne came back. It was sort of a bigger chair than the other four, which rotated and were on wheels. Comfortable enough for most of us to sit in. "Oh look, a throne," Marco joked, looking at the big chair, and pretended to get up. "That would be for me." Most of us laughed as Rachel tried to take a swing at him. "Oh, so you want to be queen of the Animorphs, is that right Xena?" "Marco. Shut up." "I should have seen that coming," Marco said furthermore. Rachel tried to hit him again. Marianne and Cassie shook their heads in amusement, laughing. I just grinned, rolling my eyes. No matter where we were, it was good to know Marco was being Marco, and Rachel was being Rachel. "Behave kids, or else there's no dessert," Marianne joked, causing most of us to giggle some more. Ax was the only one not laughing. It's hard to understand Andalite humor.
Beeeeep! Marianne's burrito was done. I was still standing. "I'll put in Ax's burritos," I offered, since I was still standing. The rest were about to sit down. Ax decided to sit in the big chair. "Bore-reet-toes," Ax said, trying to sound out the word.