So I got as far as I had planned. So, dang it, I have no idea what happens after this part. I'm going to have to some more planning before I add another part. Good news is I got as far as I planned. I'm on a roll. Enjoy Part 13.
The Forgotten World Part 12
Zoe spent the time before dinner studying the paintings on the wall. Jacob had told her that they weren't anything special but just him and Leah getting into paint when they were little kids and spreading it all over the place. Zoe didn't care, she found them fascinating. She also spent a lot of time just looking out the window and watching the beauty she had always watched from a different point of view.
It was just a little bit later when Ruth came in and told them that dinner was ready. They went downstairs to the main area that Zoe and Rocky had been introduced to the Humilis Tribe. Everyone greeted Zoe by telling her their name and welcoming her into the tribe. The woman serving the food gave Zoe two bowls, one for her and one for her “blue-haired friend.” Jacob explained that the food they were served was called Stew. It had vegetables, meats, and all other sorts of things combined into one bowl. He assured her that it tasted better then the jerky. He then proceeded to remove the meat pieces from Rocky's bowl into his and his sister's bowl.
Zoe couldn't wait to dig in but she noticed that nobody else was eating. She turned to Jacob and asked, “What is everyone waiting for?”
“A prayer. A prayer is where we thank God for all the blessings he sends us,” he said.
Just as he finished Sarah got up and tilted her head towards the ground in a humble position, she then proceeded to fold her arms. Zoe watched as the rest of the tribe followed her example and did the same. She also did the same. Sarah proceeded to give the prayer that Jacob had been talking about. As they finished everyone started eating. “Zoe,” Ruth said coming over. “Rocky just finished his surgery. My husband just brought him up to our room. Would you like to bring him his stew and give him some company.”
Zoe didn't even hesitate as she bounded up the stairs and into the room. Rocky sat on one of the mats with the leg that had been hurt bounded in cream-colored cloth that looked like it had been wrapped around a white stone.
“We're having stew,” Zoe said handing him his bowl. “It's vegetables and broth. Jacob took all the meat out of yours.”
“Is it good?” Rocky asked.
“I don't know. I haven't tasted it yet,” Zoe said. She put her spoon in the stew and took a bite. It reminded her of pottage except better tasting and she had to chew. It was very good. She didn't realize how good food could be.
Rocky did the same and seemed equally satisfied.
“How was the surgery?” Zoe asked.
“Painful. And Dr. John was such a jerk. The entire time during the surgery he talked about how I was such a baby and how he'd had little girls in there braver then me. He said I should have never left the Glass World and how I wasn't going to survive five seconds down here. I told him that I didn't chose to come down here and it just so happened that I wasn't used to being in such a Barbaric place. That didn't really shut him up but I stopped listening at that point,” Rocky said. “Zoe?”
“I'm listening,” she said.
“Why don't you get offended?” he said.
“It's not really all that offensive. I met Dr. John, he did seem like he could be a little mean. I wouldn't use-”
“No, I mean when my friends and I insulted you and did other things to you,” he said looking down.
“Oh. Well, the main reason is because I know who I am. The things you did didn't bother me because they were mostly true and I knew it and chose to remain the way I was. You called me different and it was true. I am different,” she said. “I'm not saying I wasn't hurt by what you said. It did hurt a little but I'm confident in myself enough that I didn't let it really get me down.”
“Why didn't you ever fight back?” Rocky said.
“I didn't think it was worth fighting over. You have to chose your battles and the one with your friends and you wasn't one that I wanted to fight. It was much easier to forgive and move on,” she said. “Besides your friends and you aren't bad people.”
Rocky stared at her.
“Does that surprise you?” she said.
He shook his head. “Not really. I wanted to thank you for saving my life.”
“If it wasn't for me you wouldn't have broken your ankle,” Zoe said.
“If it wasn't for you, I would have never been able to activate my shoe. I'd be dead right now. When I started to fall I went into shock. I froze. I couldn't have done anything for myself. Because of you all I got was a broken ankle,” he said.
“I-”
“You know what it's like when the girl who you spent so much time making fun of both to her face and behind her back tries so hard to save your life, even risking her own life. Why didn't you just let me fall? You don't even like me,” he said.
“Just because you can be a bit mean at times doesn't mean that you don't deserve to live,” she said.
“Before I fell, you tried to warn me that the glass was broken. I'm sorry for not listening,” he said.
“I should have reported that glass right away but I thought it was interesting.”
Rocky laughed. “You're a saint, Zoe, you know that? Always have been.”
Zoe smiled. “So I guess this means we can be friends?”
“Who wouldn't want to be friends with you?”
Zoe smiled and then leaned over to give Rocky a hug.
The Forgotten World Part 14
Index
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