with a laugh. “The humans have mastered the magic of fat, sugar, and salt. That’s something that even the best of the Upperworlders simply neglect.”
“Actually, I’ve only ever eaten at Upperworld restaurants.” he said, almost embarrassed now of something he could have been proud of in another situation. He instantly saw the surprise on their faces; it seemed that this was not an abnormal practice for them. He had heard rumors of the very different food humans ate. The food of Upperworlders consisted of many exotic things, which were easily exchanged through magic, and were nourishing to the mind, and the body. Although he had always been intrigued by the differences in culture, his mother had always been very strict about staying away from the humans.
“So, you’ve never had…like a burger?” asked the shorter of the girls, a mix of surprise and pity on her face.
“No, I haven’t.” he replied, amused at their mock-horror.
“Well, we’ll just have to fix that right now.” said the other girl in a tone that was not to be argued with. They reached the restaurant, and to his surprise, passed the door. The first of the girls approached a line of cars that snaked around the side of the building. Although he had never eaten at a human restaurant, he was relatively familiar with the idea of a drive through, and this action confused him.
“Isn’t this the-” he began, a quizzical look on his face.
“Yeah, it’s the drive through.” began the shorter girl with a sigh, “It’s something she likes to do. Almost every time. We walk through, and usually, they serve us anyway.” she finished. The look on her face was wrought with disapproval, but there were clear undertones of enjoyment that had been suppressed. He wondered if she always thought she had to act so non-condoning.
“Why live by pointless rules that other people lay down?” she asked, with genuine belief in her words. After this, he was silent, afraid to ask any more questions. They waited in line behind the other cars, and more approached them from behind. He was now self-conscious, glancing at the drivers of the cars and wincing at the attention being drawn to them. They inched slowly toward the window, watching colorful bags and cups being handed through it to people in the cars ahead.
They reached the window, and the taller girl ordered for herself and her friend. She ordered a salad and fries for each of them, a strange combination for what he knew of human food. No stranger than walking through the drive through, he supposed. She turned to him next, her dark eyes catching the strange light from the window.
“You want a burger, then right?” she asked.
“Sure, I guess.” he said, with his hands in his pockets.
“Alright, so he’ll have a burger and fries.” she conveyed to the girl on the other side of the strange wall. “Oh, and a coke.” she added. They waited to approach the next window, as instructed. When they reached it, the girl handed the cashier a ten dollar bill before he could say anything to object. She handed the food through the window with no great courtesy, closing it promptly afterward.
“I could have paid for my food.” he said more defensively than he had intended.
“No way.” she said, “I’m totally buying you your first human meal. Stick with us, and it won’t be your last.” she said. Her voice held a likeable charm to it, and a sincerity that convinced him that he probably would stick with them. They crossed the old parking lot again, bright with mid-morning sunlight. Sitting down at a
“Actually, I’ve only ever eaten at Upperworld restaurants.” he said, almost embarrassed now of something he could have been proud of in another situation. He instantly saw the surprise on their faces; it seemed that this was not an abnormal practice for them. He had heard rumors of the very different food humans ate. The food of Upperworlders consisted of many exotic things, which were easily exchanged through magic, and were nourishing to the mind, and the body. Although he had always been intrigued by the differences in culture, his mother had always been very strict about staying away from the humans.
“So, you’ve never had…like a burger?” asked the shorter of the girls, a mix of surprise and pity on her face.
“No, I haven’t.” he replied, amused at their mock-horror.
“Well, we’ll just have to fix that right now.” said the other girl in a tone that was not to be argued with. They reached the restaurant, and to his surprise, passed the door. The first of the girls approached a line of cars that snaked around the side of the building. Although he had never eaten at a human restaurant, he was relatively familiar with the idea of a drive through, and this action confused him.
“Isn’t this the-” he began, a quizzical look on his face.
“Yeah, it’s the drive through.” began the shorter girl with a sigh, “It’s something she likes to do. Almost every time. We walk through, and usually, they serve us anyway.” she finished. The look on her face was wrought with disapproval, but there were clear undertones of enjoyment that had been suppressed. He wondered if she always thought she had to act so non-condoning.
“Why live by pointless rules that other people lay down?” she asked, with genuine belief in her words. After this, he was silent, afraid to ask any more questions. They waited in line behind the other cars, and more approached them from behind. He was now self-conscious, glancing at the drivers of the cars and wincing at the attention being drawn to them. They inched slowly toward the window, watching colorful bags and cups being handed through it to people in the cars ahead.
They reached the window, and the taller girl ordered for herself and her friend. She ordered a salad and fries for each of them, a strange combination for what he knew of human food. No stranger than walking through the drive through, he supposed. She turned to him next, her dark eyes catching the strange light from the window.
“You want a burger, then right?” she asked.
“Sure, I guess.” he said, with his hands in his pockets.
“Alright, so he’ll have a burger and fries.” she conveyed to the girl on the other side of the strange wall. “Oh, and a coke.” she added. They waited to approach the next window, as instructed. When they reached it, the girl handed the cashier a ten dollar bill before he could say anything to object. She handed the food through the window with no great courtesy, closing it promptly afterward.
“I could have paid for my food.” he said more defensively than he had intended.
“No way.” she said, “I’m totally buying you your first human meal. Stick with us, and it won’t be your last.” she said. Her voice held a likeable charm to it, and a sincerity that convinced him that he probably would stick with them. They crossed the old parking lot again, bright with mid-morning sunlight. Sitting down at a
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