Masquerade of Madness Adjustments: Part Three

Meat, Creed thought, in Casalynn there was no meat, just supplements, and vegetables for nutrition. He again asked, "What is it?"

"A protein," Gin replied this time.

"Cow," Sue added, trying to be more specific.

Creed had no idea what cow meant. He knew about mac and cheese, though. Casalyians bring out the Gormilkshi, a basic goat with four horns and six utters for milk. He gulped hard. Could a cow be one of the Humanoid animals?

Gin stopped eating. Looking up, he merely said, "Animal."

Creed's face went a shade of light green. "I can't eat that!" he spoke, alarmed.

Gin nodded. "Then eat your mac and cheese and broccoli."

Creed began eating again. He was enthralled with the flavor of the broccoli. "I love this!" he exclaimed, as he delightedly chomped it down.

Sue stopped eating and turned her head down. "So, you are a vegetarian," she announced, somewhat dismayed.

Creed only replied, "This is so good."

She threw him a horrified look. "But that's broccoli!"

Gin smiled at her. "You should take some tips from Creed."

"But, Dad . . ." Sue just let the argument trail off. She knew this was one she would lose.

Spike contentedly raised her head, revealing her food-stained face. "Mas- Creed, can I have the brown stuff if you're not eating it?"

He nodded his head. "Go ahead."

"Do others of your race eat meat?" Sue asked.

"You mean monsters? No! Not even the ones that can't talk. We rely on supplements for nutrition."

Sue freaked out. "Then what do you eat?"

"Bread, noodles, some vegetables, but only the ones that could be altered to grow on metal."

Gin checked the clock, announcing, "It is already 9:30 p.m. Time for bed, everyone. I'll clean up."

Creed stood up, pushing his chair back. He looked down at Spike and the food mess encompassing her. Gin has his work cut out with the cleanup, he thought. "See you in the morning, Spike."

"Yes, Mas- Creed." Spike smiled happily. Creed started down the hall with Sue right in front of him. She stopped at the bathroom and turned back to Creed. "If there is anything you need, I am right across the hall from you."

"Thank you." Creed walked passed her and went into his room. Sue grabbed her clothes from her room and went to take a shower. She screamed when she stepped into the shower, immediately being deluged with cold water – Creed had used all the hot water.

Even in the kitchen, Gin could hear her screaming. He laughed, almost choking.

Spike looked at him. Tilting her head to the side, she questioned, "Is something wrong?"

"No, it's like raising another child," he said, cleaning a plate.

Spike had no clue as to the meaning of his comment and didn't care either. She disappeared into her dimension.

While Gin hummed and cleaned dishes, Sue finished taking her shower. She was pissed. Sue flung open the door to Creed's room, only to see him fast asleep. She smiled, forgiving him, and went to her room.

Morning came too soon for Creed. Some annoying chirping birds woke him. He never had this problem with Casalynn; maybe he should have stayed there. Just a few more hours of sleep would feel so good . . . who was he kidding. He got up and started dressing. A white tunic would do and his black pair of jeans, then his armor. He took a quick look in the mirror and guessed he was presentable.

He made his way to the kitchen, where he found Sue, still in her night clothes of oversized shirt and shorts. Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders. She did not acknowledge him.

Across the room, Gin sat in the window light at the table, reading the newspaper. He looked over at Creed. "Good morning. A bit early, aren't you?"

"Is there school today?"

"No, this is Sunday. The school runs from Monday to Friday. Isn't that right, Sue?"

Sue nodded sleepily. She was not ready to get into any thought-provoking conversations yet. She casually pushed the hair back from her face, revealing her makeup-free smooth skin and very rose cheeks.

"What would you like for breakfast?" Gin asked Creed.

"Eggs-in-a-box," Creed replied, momentarily caught up in Sue’s appearance.

Gin raised an eyebrow.

Embarrassed by the look, Creed quickly changed his mind. "Whatever she has is good enough." He pointed at Spike, whose tongue was firmly planted in a bowl.

Gin left the table as Creed sat down. He placed a bowl of oatmeal in front of Creed.

Creed studied it with intent. After last night, he was not entirely trusting with the Humans where food was concerned.

Gin looked at him, and then spoke as if reading Creed's thoughts, "It has no meat."

"Okay, thanks. But I'm still wondering what it is?"

"Oatmeal," Sue said tiredly.

Creed slowly stirred the oatmeal around in the bowl; it stuck to his plastic spoon. He removed the spoon and looked at it intently. He took his finger and tipped his spoon back gently, trying to exam it. In his examination, he thrust the top part of the spoon forward. The oatmeal flew from the spoon and ended up on the other side of the table on the wall

Amazed, Creed yelled out, "Wow! Are you sure this is not a weapon?"

"No, it is food," Gin said, paying no attention to Creed's actions. He took a quick sip of his coffee without looking up.

Now Creed flung it on purpose. It hit the same wall, and he laughed out loud, childishly.

Sue snapped out of her morning grogginess when he repeated it a third time. "Hey, don't play with your food, eat it," she yelled at him.

Creed quickly jammed it in his mouth. Sticky, but edible, he thought.

"Totally immature," She mocked, referring to Creed's actions with the oatmeal and intent that he should take care of the mess.

He looked over at the wall, shaking his head. "I am not cleaning it up," he said as if reading her mind.

"Well, neither am I!"

"You're not a morning person, are you?" Spike said casually as she licked the oatmeal off the wall, then licked her fingers. "This stuff is good."

"She's weird!" Sue glanced across the table at Creed, maybe looking for agreement, maybe letting her gaze last a little too long.

Gin placed a hot cup of coffee in front of Sue, and she greedily sipped it down. She ran to her room and quickly dressed, putting her hair in her trademark ponytail. The silver glove rested tighter than usual against her skin.

"Good morning!" the glove called out.

"Err – hello," Sue responded timidly, growing goosebumps.

Crimson came out of the glove, again as mist. "Is the one in there with your dad like me?" Her voice sounded very sincere.

"I don't know."

"Okay." Crimson sounded disappointed. "Remember, I will only help the one who wears me."

Sue felt as if her heart were going to burst through her chest. This will take some getting used to, she thought. Very unnerved, she made her way to the living room. "Let's go, Creed."

"Where are we going?" He tried to recall any plans they had made but could not.

Gin looked at him. "Sightseeing, since tomorrow you have school."

Creed jumped to his feet, pushing aside the unfinished bowl of oatmeal. Spike looked expectantly at Gin, who fell for her puppy eyes. "Here." He urged the bowl toward her. With delight, she finished Creed's breakfast. Gin went back to his newspaper.

As Sue and Creed left the house, he called back to Spike, "Be good now!"

"I will as long as he feeds me!" Spike replied.

Gin choked on his coffee.