Eating the Apple Pie....

"Okay now here you go" she said...laying out the cutlery and crockery before little Jenny.. "Do you see the difference between this fork and that?? Can you tell me why??".. without giving her time to respond she continued, "it is for the different foods that you will eat"..pointing to each she started "this is the salad fork.. this dinner fork and this one is the dessert fork.. that knife is the dinner knife and the two spoons are the tea spoon and soup spoon... remember no clanking of the cuttlery.. and no slurping noises...no elbows on the table... and chew with your mouth closed"..

it was her grooming session before the big dinner the British family next door was hosting... Jenny's mom wanted to impress their hosts and show that they too possess enough class and culture and are good enough as anybody else in the upper class neighbourhood they had just moved into...

Jenny's sky blue dress was all ready...her hair was combed into a neat pony and held by a pretty bow...her mom took great care and pride in dressing her up as a proper little girl... she herself was dressed in a Lilac dress running up to half way her toned and waxed legs... it was a formal dinner and she didn't want to look out of place... after all it was looks that mattered most... to look proper and well presented... she didn't spare her husband too, who was now grudgingly stepping into his freshly dry-cleaned black suit...

The hosts, Mr and Mrs Taylor wore a warm smile and pleasant look and welcomed Jenny and her parents... the gathering held around 50 guests... all living next to each other... the dinner was just an excuse for the Taylor's to show off their wealth and the other reason for holding it that day was to announce that they would be moving away shortly... ofcourse to a bigger and better place...far more swanky than at present...

all her ettiquette lessons clashed in her head..but she was mindful that her cutlery didn't clash... she sat quietly and ate what was served to her... the Taylor's had arranged for butler service too... the food was accompanied with fine wine...

Jenny had successfully sailed through the dinner... her mom's approving face smiling down at her stood proof of the fact.... it was now time for the desserts... her most anticipated moment as the dinner had been a boring affair for the little child...

dessert was served... it was apple pie.. topped with cream... a delicacy that anyone would find hard to resist....

she didn't attack her plate... but rather approached it with pure childish excitement.. and in no less that two minutes it had vanished down her throat.... her hand quickly shot up asking for one more....all her etiquette lessons forgotten..

some stared at the little girl...some amused and some appalled... she was simply enjoying her pie... her mother was too embarrassed to react...all she could do was to look into her plate and timidly fork pieces of her pie and nibble at it...

dinner was officially done... all guests thanked the hosts and left... Jenny was quiet as she knew that her mother was not happy... they said their "good byes" to the host who had made their announcement..

as she waked back home.. her mother stayed silent... finally on reaching their doorstep she spoke to her mom... " i am sorry mommy... the pie was so delicious... after all they had invited us for dinner... and dinners are meant for eating... and i only ate what i liked a lot.... sorry for embarassing you"...

Realising the folly she had committed, she looked at the child with remorse showing on her well made up face... she got down on her knees and hugged the child... and gently whispered "I am sorry baby" and kissed the child...

Jenny's dad finally managed to find the keys after fumbling through his wife's purse...he unlocked the door and the happy family walked in to their home sweet home...