Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 18th November 2011

Characters: Calla, Qorri
Description: Qorri gives Calla orders and things don't go as planned.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 11 of Turn 6

Calla stood in the middle of the kitchen, not sure what he should be doing next. He had taken out the trash when asked, and now the trash cans were empty. He waited for someone to tell him what to do.

"Calla, what are you doing?" Qorri said offhandedly as she came inside the kitchens. The headwoman gave a quick glance around the room, ensuring everything was in place.

"W-wa-waiting" he stuttered, giving her the expression of an eager puppy.

"Are you not going to get the breadpans down?" she asked, pointing.

"Pans?" Calla turned to look at the direction of the pointing."Down," he repeated and nodded, always eager to do as he was told to.

"Go on," she waited for him to start the task.

Calla reached to take the breadpans easily. After all his handicap was mental kind, his body was young and strong. After getting the pans down, he turned to the Headwoman with question in his eyes. What was he supposed to do with them now?

"Take them to the bakers so they can fill them and stick them in the ovens. We'll need bread for evening meal." She used an encouraging tone.

Calla walked over to the bakers and gave them the pans. "Mo-more?" he asked, meaning if he should fetch more pans.

"Yes please, Calla." She nodded as she began to get out some of the knives they'd need to chop vegetables.

Always happy to be helpful, Calla hummed rather discordantly when he went to fetch more pans for the bakers. He really enjoyed his work in his rather simple minded way.

Qorri arranged her cutlery. Reaching for the washed vegetables, she began to chop them into fine bits. The fine bits went into a container, ready to put them into the stew when it was time.

Calla wasn't really paying attention where he was going and bumped against one of the cooks. The cook was carrying a milk pitcher. There was a crash and pans and milk was spilled onto the floor. The cook cursed and Calla just stood there, dumbfounded. He had no idea what to do next and his attempt to stammer an apology got stuck to his tongue. "Who lets these sharding dimglows work in the kitchen? They are nothing but trouble!" the angry cook yelled and Calla's lips started to tremble.

Qorri heard it and came through. This was not the Headwoman's friend who she often played dragonpoker with during the evenings. This was some new person from one of the Halls that had come. She had half a mind to give the idiot to Jylanya. "Shut it. I will not have anyone speaking in such a way in my kitchens. Now, apologize."

"Me?" the cook sounded incredulous. "He's the one who bumped into me!"

Calla was trying to apologize, but his stutter had gotten worse and he only got out: "So-so-sor."

"Right, and in a kitchen that happens. So many of us moving at the same time. He didn't mean it and he doesn't deserve to be insulted. Calla works harder than many of the rest of them." Qorri moved forward, getting in the man's face. "If you want to stay here, you will think about what you say before you say it."

"Yes, ma'am," the man swallowed. But the sidelong glance towards Calla was full of hate.

"And don't think I don't know what happens in my kitchens. I might not have one of those firelizards, but I have plenty of eyes." Qorri's tone was low before she moved off to put her hand on Calla's arm. "Can you
clean up, Calla? It's okay."

Calla nodded. Cleanin up, now that was something he could do.

Last updated on the January 2nd 2012

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Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk