Peanut Butter
Midnight Rose 1990
Laughter rippled through the Galley; the large rectangular cave that served as the kitchen and dinning hall for the Tunnel community, as Catherine and Vincent entered one evening. They were there to make Father a pot of tea and found a group of tunnel urchins sitting at one of the long rows of tables. The youngsters were enjoying a midnight snack of crackers and peanut butter.
On the table sat Mouse’s pet raccoon, Arthur, the target of the merriment. The varmint had been given a cracker loaded with a blob of peanut butter and now was trying to dislodge the sticky treat from the roof of its mouth. Arthur’s tongue was working overtime and its helpless bandit expression was comical.
“Catherine! Vincent! Come have some peanut butter and crackers,” Jamie offered, gesturing for the couple to join them.
“I’d love some,” Catherine readily accepted. She took a seat on one of the picnic benches. Jeffery passed her the box of crisps and the jar of peanut butter with a knife stuck upright in the goo. Samantha poured Catherine a cup of water.
“You too, Vincent,” Mouse chimed.
Vincent shook his bushy head. “No, thank you. I will pass.”
“Why not? It is great this way!” Samantha said popping another finger-licking morsel in her mouth.
The tall golden man picked up the suffering raccoon by the scruff of the neck and placed the varmint on the table in front of him as he sat down, straddling the bench next to Catherine. A smile was in his gravel voice. “ I side with Arthur’s position…Peanut butter is no fun stuck to the roof of your mouth.”
“Doesn’t stick to mine,” countered Geoffrey before he washed down his pasted mouth with water.
Vincent unwound the raccoon from his leash and offered poor Arthur his cup.
“Peanut butter does not stick to the roof of your mouth, Geoffrey, because your palette is smooth.” The leonine man explained. “Like Arthur, the roof of my mouth has deep ridges and it is very hard to dislodge sticky substances from it.” Vincent chuckled as he rustled the top of the raccoon’s head. “This is why it is so much fun to watch poor Arthur.”
Mouse flashed an impish grin. “Then we laugh at Vincent! Watch Vincent tongue!” The tinker demonstrated Arthur’s tongue technique making everyone laugh.