Breakfast

It was her again.

The girl from my dreams last night was here again. I immediately jumped out of the bed to turn my lights on but I was shocked when I turned around and saw my door open.

“Chari…” a familiar voice said. “I couldn’t sleep in my room. May I sleep with you tonight? I think there’s a ghost under my bed.”

I let Paul in before I shut the door quietly. When I was about to go back to my bed, Paul was already sleeping. He brought his teddy bear and blanket. I just managed to squeeze myself in a small space beside Paul and tried to sleep again.

Maybe the voice I heard earlier wasn’t of that little girl. Maybe I was just half-asleep and that was Paul who was calling me.

The loud crow of the rooster outside woke me up. It’s already daytime and Paul was still sleeping soundly. I carefully stood up to get ready for breakfast. I was assigned kitchen duty today. We would be preparing feasts because it’s adoption day today and the children must eat well. The parents would also roam the kitchen later to see what their future child was eating here in the orphanage and to know the kinds of food being served.

I was the earliest in the kitchen so I started by chopping up carrots and onions for the side dish. The main dish would be breakfast steak with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables on the side, matched with a glass of fresh milk for each of the children. After I chopped the vegetables, I peeled the potatoes and set them up for boiling. I placed the potatoes in a pot of boiling water and sprinkled some salt. While the potatoes were boiling, I took the rib-eyes out of the fridge and seasoned them with salt and pepper. Then, Stephany came in to help. She’s also an orphan here and we’re about the same age. Stephany heated up two cast iron pans and oiled them generously. When the pans were hot enough, she carefully put the steaks in and let them sear.

More children came in to help us. Some were already sautéing the vegetables while some were washing the knives and chopping boards that we used. We asked the younger children to mash the potatoes because we thought that it would be an easy task for them while we finished cooking. After all of the dishes were nicely seasoned and cooked, I did the plating. I placed one scoop of mashed potatoes on each of the plates. Then, each plate would have one piece of steak and a spoonful of sautéed vegetables.

The younger ones were tasked to set the table while we waited for the other orphans to arrive.

I was assigned to lead the prayer.

“Bless us, Oh Lord,” I said. My hands were clasped together while I bowed my head and closed my eyes. “And these Thy gifts which we were about to receive from Thy bounty through Christ, Our Lord, Amen”

It was a short prayer that I learned from my parents. They would always ask me to bless the food first before we start eating. It was sad that now, I would still be asked to lead the prayer before meals but the people who taught me how to pray were already gone and weren’t able to eat the food that I prepared. They died so early and I was young. I never got to prepare food for them. Even just a simple scrambled egg and waffles.

Paul sat next to me and then we started eating.

“This tastes so good!” Paul exclaimed.

“I’m glad you liked it.” I replied and then I smiled.

The other kids seemed to love the breakfast that we prepared. The steak was tender and the mashed potatoes were well seasoned. The vegetables weren’t overcooked and soggy. Overall, it was a pleasant breakfast.

When all of us were already done with our food, those who were assigned kitchen duty on Fridays proceeded to wash the dishes and clean the table while the others started preparing themselves for the event later this afternoon. Suddenly, I felt nervous. I’m sure that nobody would pick me but what if Paul would be chosen later? We were told that there would be at least fifteen couples to come here for the event. I fear that one of the fifteen kids that would be picked could be Paul. Then, I would lose my one and only friend.

“Hi, Chari!” Paul said while I was drying the plates. “Can we play?” he asked.

“I’m busy today, Paul.” I said. “We could play tomorrow.”

“Ok.” he replied “I’ll just help you with your tasks.”

He then proceeded to grab a plate and a towel and helped me.

“Mrs. Mayers told us that we should use more soap and shampoo our hair twice while we take a bath later so that we’d have new parents.” Paul said while placing the dried plate on the rack. “She also said that we must wear our best clothes.”

“That’s nice.” I replied

“But Chari,” he said, “would they really smell each one of us?”

I laughed at his innocence. Paul’s just really a sweet kid.

“Of course they will!” I replied “The most fragrant kid would be the best kid this afternoon so if I were you, I’d hurry now to the showers so that I could take a long and nice bath.”

“But what if one of us would be picked later?” He asked. The smile on my face immediately left. “I don’t want you to leave me here.”

“What if you’re the one who would be chosen?”

“Then I’d beg for them to take you as well.”

That put a slight spark of hope in my eyes. Paul was firm and sure with his answer. I hope Mrs. Mayers would agree to that but in my three years of stay in this orphanage, I’ve never seen that happen.

Paul and I finished drying up the plates so we headed straight to the bathrooms. He went into the boys’ shower room and I headed towards the girls’. I kept on thinking about what he said. Could it be possible?

I sighed.

I remembered that even if Mrs. Mayers agreed on that request, I don’t think any couple would want me as their child. Especially now that I’m full of scratches and scars all over my body. They’d think that I am mischievous.

Half an hour later, I finished taking a bath. I made sure that I smelled good and my entire body was clean. I put on my favorite dress and then finally, I started combing my hair again.