Page 3 of The Curious Incident of the Great Cookie Snackcident of 979
Each time they met up, they’d have some guesses, either a confection Abi’s mother had sent on a previous day, or somewild conglomeration they’d thought up. Abi was beginning to anticipate her friend’s guesses and would spend her ride into work thinking about what Senka might say.
“I haven’t the foggiest, but it’s sure to be good ..." Abi would answer, smiling at how Senka’s wisps would wave faster in their excitement.
Almost a month to the day after Abi’s promotion, the pair sat on their usual rock by the lake, finishing their mid-shift meal.
“Have you ever thought about how we call it lunch, but really, for anyone else this would be supper ... Or a late-night snack?” Senka mused, a curl of shadow wafting off their arm to stroke their chin in thought.
“You know ... I hadn’t really,” Abi said, her spoon of soup halfway to her mouth, head cocked to the side. “... But for us, it’s still lunch. I go home and eat supper after we are done, don’t you?”
A dark glow, like the light of lunula but deeper in color, pulsed out of Senka’s face.
Is that how they blush?Abi wondered.
It was adorable, though Abi couldn’t imagine what they’d have to blush about, nor did she have any intention of making her friend uncomfortable. Raising her water bottle to her mouth, she looked away, hoping that giving her friend some privacy would help with any embarrassment.
“Actually,” Senka began, their tendrils curling up on themselves in a way that felt agitated, “I don’t need to eat this much ... or this often.”
“Why in the Lady’s name have you been eating so much every day, then? Is it bad for you?” Abi worried.
“No, no,” Senka answered, waving the hand holding their sandwich, a complex concoction that involved flavored aiolis and other ingredients Abi could scarcely pronounce. “Wecan, we just don’tneedto, so, we often don’t. We only eat once a weekor so. Eating this much doesn’t hurt me, I just convert it and it floats away anyway.”
“Is—is that why you are so obsessed with my mum’s sweets?” Abi asked, realization dawning. “Because you don’t eat that often?”
Senka nodded, the wisps of their hair waving in slow motion around their head. “Exactly, and for most of us, I suppose, eating is a bit of a chore. I’ve always loved it, but I haven’t had many opportunities to eat regularly. Not to mention, I’ve never had anything like what your Mum makes. It tastes amazing. Most of our food tends to be pretty bland, or heavily feature lunula.”
“Lunula—on purpose?” Abi burst out, already imagining the grassy taste of the stuff on her tongue. She took some every day, and there was a certain amount of it in most of their food and water, she supposed, but the idea of addingmorewas honestly a little sick-making.
Senka laughed, the warm tones of their joy echoing around their alcove to ripple across the water. “Yes, on purpose, to show our dedication. And what’s worse is that cooking kills the magic ... so there really isn’t anypoint.”
Abi looked on in horror. “No wonder you like cookies so deuced much ..." Abi sympathized, reaching to pat her friend on the shoulder.
As they often did, Senka’s wisps reached for Abi’s hand, wrapping around it, twining into her fingers, and giving just the slightesttugto settle it on their shoulder. The corner of her mouth quirked up; Abi loved knowing, from that small reaction, that her friend welcomed her touches and comfort.
They sat in silence for a few moments, chewing along until Abi noticed Senka shifting uncomfortably. “Are you all right?” she asked.
“I’m grand, I just wasn’t as friendly with my previous partner. As kids, shades don’t really get to have much interaction withother kids in the village, so I suppose I have a lot of questions about other people ..." they trailed off.
Schooling her features so that they looked open and curious, Abi removed her hand and turned to give her friend her full attention. “Ach so, what sorts? I’m happy to answer any questions you’ve got.”
“Well, the one I was thinking of just now is—see, the problem is, I’m not sure if it’s rude or not,” Senka said, screwing their mouth to the side, reluctant to answer. It was difficult to discern their features since it was all so dark, but Abi had learned to use the reflection of the lunula to see them better.
“It’s all right if it would normally be rude,” Abi reassured. “Since you’ve told me, I know you don’t mean to be, you’re just curious. Go on, then.”
“All right ...” Senka started, their normally smooth voice shaky and uncertain. “What does it feel like to take a poop? You all eat so much, which I think means you also spend a lot of time pooping.”
Abi was so surprised by the question that she had to actively stop herself from laughing. She had the feeling that if she laughed at Senka now, it would hurt their feelings and damage the friendship they started. Abi twisted her mouth to the side, trying to figure out a good description.
“Well, there is first a feeling of pressure, like something is pushing inside of you, and then there’s the moment where you are actually going, where I suppose it feels kind of like tightening your stomach muscles. After that, there’s a feeling of release ...” she said.
Abi turned her head away to hide her blush, it was really a basic bodily function, and she had no reason to be embarrassed about it, except for the fact that apparently, she wassupposedto be embarrassed about it. She knew, from Senka's earnest nature, they hadn’t asked to make her feel uncomfortable. They’d simplybeen curious and wanted to know. Abi lifted her water bottle to take a drink, wondering what their next question would be.
“It almost kind of sounds like ejaculating ...” Senka observed.
Abi watched her water spurt from her mouth in surprise. It burst from her lips, quite out of her control, and arced through the air. Petrified, time slowed as she watched it follow its parabolic path to completion and splash down.
Into the Lady’s lake.
She gasped in horror, immediately looking around to see if anyone else was near or had noticed. They seemed to be alone. She blushed furiously and could feel the sting of tears at the corner of her eyes. Not only had she just laughed at Senka’s simple observation, but she had just spit into the Lady’s lake.