"I really should have been better prepared."
Jack bitterly laments at the situation he is currently in.
Standing in front of a pile of ingredients that he had gathered earlier, he never thought that he might miss the most crucial thing he will need…
“Oil… cooking oil!” Jack yells at no one in particular.
“Jess…” he sighs, “when I told you to not forget the oil, why of all things you brought this!”
He shows his companion a tin can bottle with a spout.
“What is this?” he asks.
“I-It’s oil?” Jess hesitantly answers.
“Yes, I know it is oil. But do you know what kind?” He stresses his voice on the word kind.
“It’s motor oil!” Jess answers again smiling innocently.
Jack’s fuse is just about to blow.
“For a genius technician, you surely are an idiot when it comes to cooking. How are we supposed to fry our meat now that we got no oil?” Jack glares at Jess.
Jess holds his hands up as if in surrender and expressing that he does not know.
Jack sighs again, and holds touches his temple with his right hand.
“You’re giving me a headache. Now I got to figure out what I’ll be cooking. I was planning on cooking steak for us here, but since you decided to be a genius and bring motor oil, I am at a loss as to what to do.”
Jack looks over at the ingredients. He is still frustrated at the turn of events. He was really looking forward to eating a nice, juicy beef steak out in the woods before they set out. Now, he needs to figure out what he can make with the available ingredients.
“Well, we can’t make a good steak without oil… guess it will be a soup dish.”
Jack checks their water supply and takes note that they don’t have enough water to use.
“Jess, go over to the river and get us some water.”
“It’s really far, you know…” Jess reasons out.
One sharp look from Jack, and Jess goes to fetch some water.
Jack lets out another sigh, and looks around the area for some useable vegetables. He is sure he will be able to find something to use.
A few, long minutes of searching and he finds a potato plant. He digs for it and an idea hits him.
“Aha! I’ll use you.”
He takes a couple more potatoes and heads back to their camp site.
“Boiled beef with potatoes…” Jack mumbles to himself. “It surely does not sound so appetizing. I’ll have to use some of my cooking skills to pull this off and survive. I hope Jess returns with water… as in fresh water. If he brings back sea water, I’ll strangle him!”
To his relief, Jess got some fresh water.
Jack begins to boil the slabs of beef meat. He is unsure of the results. After all, the meats were originally prepared to be steaks.
After a couple of waiting minutes, the food was done. It does not look very appetizing. The soup is a bit brown from the soy sauce that was placed on the meat.
Jess remained silent the entire time while Jack was busy cooking, and he is in no position to complain now that Jack has somehow salvaged the meal.
Slowly, Jess tastes the food.
“Well?” Jack asks.
Jess’ eyes grow wide.
“It’s amazing!” Jess said after swallowing a mouthful. “It’s very delicious.”
Jack begins to eat as well.
“This could have been steak…” he mumbles to himself. “Well, good job, Jack! At least you made another exquisite meal.”
"Next time, I'll prepare the ingredients myself."
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Response to Becky's Writers' Block Busters, Session Thirteen
prompt used: "I really should have been better prepared."
