I started scrubbing at the pots and pans piled high in the sink with an air of futility, but I knew it would not be permanent. Indeed, a few minutes in, Cook bounced over to me. “You wanna help me out with the pastry?” I smiled at him, knowing that I could get away with it now. “Are you sure I won’t burn it?” I mocked. He tutted, “Obviously you enjoy washing up.” I protested loudly as I knew he would want me to, and followed him over to the pastry dishes sat on the counter.
Cook set about showing me how to glaze his perfect pastry base, and bustled off, leaving me to get on with it alone. “Stuck you with pastry glazing, did he? Although I guess that is better than scrubbing pots. We’ll make a chef out of you yet!” I aimed a glob of egg glazing at the voice before peeking round to look at the mischievous face of my best friend Hikaro. I was just in time to see him wiping a blob of egg out of his hair, and only just managed to duck beneath the flour missile he lobbed at me. Checking round, I saw it hit Cook square in the back and immediately whipped back to my glazing before he came over.
“Hikaro, what a waste of flour! I thought better of you. Obviously you are out of tasks though, hmm? But I am sure I can find something for you to occupy yourself with.” I laughed as Cook thrust a mop and bucket at Hikaro – who contented himself with grumbling quietly rather than risk the wrath of Cook – but stopped when he inspected my work. “You are laying this glaze too thick, Shii. Let me show you again.” I moved to the side to watch him glaze the pastry again, and pulled a face at Hikaro, who was laughing uncontrollably. He had to support himself on the mop, he was laughing so hard.
An hour later, the meal was set on the table. I ran around filling water glasses for the five hundred and forty seven Al Bhed that lived here, helped by two others, as Hikaro, Chef and one other Al Bhed brought the food dishes through. Finally, Chef was content, and he rang the bell summoning everyone to dinner. At mealtimes, the Hall was packed full of all the Al Bhed, laughing and talking together loudly. We were a loud people; that was just the way we lived. So when you push over five hundred of us into the same room, the din is unbelievably loud.
“So, you like the pastry? I glazed it,” I joked with Mika, who was sat across from me. “No, actually, I was about to say. It’s a bit…eggy,” he laughed. I stuck my tongue out at him, and then the talk turned to the usual topic. “I could do with a hand when you’ve got a minute, Shii. That worker droid that went rogue last month is still acting up every time I charge it up. You got any clue what the problem could be?” I chewed my piece of pie thoughtfully. “You checked the rotary fan belt? If anything gets stuck to that then the whole system goes into meltdown; one naïve guy lost his arm like that.” Mika shook his head. “I’ll check it out after dinner if you want?” He nodded gratefully.
“While you’re giving out mechanical advice, I’ve got a problem.” This shout came from Neki; a thirty seven year old man sat four or five people down from me. This was normal for dinnertime – one person would have a specific problem with a machina and would ask me about it, and before long everyone would be crying out their own problems. I dished out the advice to those I could help; those I couldn’t, I promised to have a look at it when I got a moment.
“With all these people fighting for your attention, I never get to spend time with you,” Hikaro said quietly as we were all leaving the Hall. “Aww, is someone feeling left out?” I teased. He visibly fought down a blush and shrugged. “Well, how about I come see you after work? I mean, after my work after work. A coupla people need a hand with some machina…” I had noted his slightly upset undertone, and wanted to make it up to him. “There’s always a coupla people.” Hikaro’s voice was weak, and then he was swallowed into the crowd. I watched his bright, red hair fade away down one corridor, and then threaded my way in the opposite direction, headed for the Garage.
