Slowly coming to his senses, Geff looked around knowing he was expected back inside with the eggs and not
having a clue what to make of the vision he had. Maybe a wandering mage was toying with him.
Geff found the basket, eggs intact, on a bench near by. He recalled that he set it down while moping over this
"lame" storyline.
Geff grabbed the eggs and headed inside, Mother was surely preparing a nice meal tonight, it was Geff's
birthday after all.
Geff got to the door of the small cottage and went inside. He found his mother at the stove making a roast
with vegetables, a feast indeed. He set the eggs down and leaned over to kiss his mother. He reached into his
pockets and pulled out his wages and set them on the table. His mother smiled and told him to clean up, dinner
will be done soon.
Obeying, he grabbed the pail and wash cloth and went back outside. He fetched the water and emptied it into
the pail then carried the pail to the garden and used the wet cloth to wipe down his face arms and legs. He
then dunked his head into the pail to remove some of the oils in his hair and then watered the plants in the
garden.
He went back to the well, refilled the bucket and brought it in so they could have water with supper. Geff
called for his siblings to prepare for dinner. He had a strange place in the family being the eldest son in a
fatherless home. Pa passed away when Geff was only 10, so he took on some paternal roles as well as brotherly
roles with his siblings and helped his mother where he could, like money for instance.
Between the four kids and working herself, Mother didn't have time to find a suitor. Geff did what he could
but some roles he couldn't fill and there was only one of him to go around. Times will get better soon though,
Marius, Geff's younger brother will be turning 14 this year and as puberty takes full force he will be able to
help more around the house and take some weight of both Mother and Geff. Also, Elise is 18 and just needs to
pick a suitor. Then there will be one less mouth to feed, as she would surely live with her husband.
Mildred is 12 and has a lot of growing up to do in the next 6 years but she is adorable. Geff smiled
recalling, the last mishap she caused and the sad face she gave him. She gets away with murder.
The cottage only has two bedrooms, while Pa was still alive, they had been saving up and were preparing to
move but pa was robbed and killed in the process. An apprentice mage somewhere bungled a spell and he was half
petrified, thankfully he only suffered for a few seconds before dying. His middle half, head hands and legs
excluded. His chest and arms turned to stone and his head was attached to the chunk of rock that was his body,
when the blood in his brain ran out of oxygen, he died. Even will all their savings, mother couldn't afford
the de-petrification and the resurrection and we had to let him go.
Anyway, after he passed, plans of upgrading halted as Mother couldn't support a larger house by herself, and
the rooms were divided boys and girls. Girls got the master bedroom as there were more of them and it was
larger.
Geff set the table as the final call went out signaling that dinner was ready and everyone should gather. All
came and sat down, they bowed their heads waiting for Geff to say the prayer, which as the head of the
household, was his duty.
"Divines, (being non denominational pagans as there were simply too many gods, goddesses, demon lords and
godlike creatures to call by name) we ask that you accept our thanks for the blessing of this meal. We ask
that you continue to offer your blessings, guidance and protections through the coming season."
It is at this point that Geff usually would stop and allow the table to eat but he felt compelled to continue.
"Please bless this farm and all that grows here, bless this house, and all who dwell here. Bless this table
and all who eat here."
Geff felt something welling up inside him, he wasn't doing it right and the pressure was becoming unbearable.
His voice became louder practically beginning to scream
"NO, forget all that! This food! Bless this food to our bodies! Let it nourish and satisfy us. Let it sustain
us. Let it make us grow strong and stay healthy, and let it be enough to make us all feel full."
Geff felt the pressure fall away from him, somehow released. With a sigh of relief he concluded the prayer.
"In thanks, we pray."
Around the table in unison his family returned "In thanks we pray." though they sounded a little nervous by
Geff's outburst.
Geff kept his eyes closed for a moment, unsure of what happened, he began to stand to serve the main dish,
again part of his role as man of the house.
When he opened his eyes he froze in the middle of standing up, the food was all glowing, the carrots,
potatoes, meat, biscuits. Everything had a strange glimmer to it, like his aura before it exploded, after it
went from red to white to brilliant.
"Is everything all right honey?", mother was inquiring as everyone was waiting on Geff to eat and watching the
look of confused wonderment on his face.
"Mom, the food, I blessed it.", was all Geff could mutter in response.
"Yes you did dear, and it was a beautiful blessing. Would you like me to get the meat for you, for your
birthday?"
"That'd be great Mom" Geff sat back down not sure what to do, then his stomach growled and answered for him.
I guess we will find out together, Geff thought to himself, too hunger to deny himself even a single bite and
looking at his family, he knew they all felt the same.
*************************************************************************************************************
The meat was a small cut and being divided 5 ways, there was no meat left for any to have seconds. The same
was true of the vegetables and the bread which was all dished out to plates.
Looking at his plate the food still emanated an aura of its own which wasn't there before his prayer.
"Ohhh, Mom, Wow!", Marius had been the first to try it. "Mom, this is delicious!" was all he got out before
shoving another bite into his mouth with extra vigor.
The girls were now cooing in agreement with full mouths, apparently in oral ecstasy.
Mother took a bite and herself was surprised at the richness of flavor and began digging in like the others.
With his entire family focused on eating none noticed Geff poking cautiously. Upon taking a bite he quickly
joined his family in gorging.
Bite after bite, after bite, was shoveled into his mouth, barely chewed, swallowed. Despite the ferocity with
which he attacked his meal it seemed to barely be dented. Each bite he took seemed more flavorful and filling.
Geff began to feel a strange sensation when his plate was half empty. It was a new sensation that he didn't
recognize. In the very back of his mind, Jeff had to step up to explain that Geff was starting to feel full.
Geff hadnt felt this way since early childhood and continued to shovel food into his mouth, enjoying the
feeling. As the last bite of food was finally devoured Geff was stuffed and satisfied. Looking around he wasnt
the only one. everyone at the table looked happy, full, and content. There wasn't a bite left and between the
five of them, none could eat it if there was.
Mildred stood up and started collecting the plates, Marius joined her and they grabbed the water bucket and
headed out to the well to do the dishes.
Mother looked at Geff and smiled, "Happy Birthday Geff."
Geff smiled back at his dear hardworking mother, "Thank you Mom, I love you."
As the food began to get digested, his stomach took over blood flow to send the nourishment throughout his
body and Geff was suddenly very tired, the same was happening to his mother and sister too.
"My birthday dinner was delicious but I think Im going to go to bed early tonight."
With that Geff went to his room, removed his shirt, and collapsed into bed. He heard his mother and sister do
the same, and they were followed by his youngest siblings a moment later after the dishes were put away.
The entire house fell away, deep into dreamland within moments.
*************************************************************************************************************
The next morning Geff awoke with a start, he wasn't hungry or tired like normal. He felt great. He grabbed his
shirt and put it on not buttoning it.
He went out to the outhouse to go to the bathroom remembering to grab several leaves for wiping.
Upon returning he heard that the rest of the house was stirring as well. Mother was the first he saw, she
looked radiant this morning, full of life and it warmed Geff's heart to see her so full of life.
Elise skittered past with an embarrassed half smile as she hurried to the outhouse, Geff and mother shared a
giggle at her urgency. She was too tired last night to go through her routine.
Mildred was up next wiping the sleep from her eyes and already beginning to talk up a storm. Marius was up
last, being in the middle of a growth spurt, he had been keeping odd hours and taking naps midday when
possible.
Mother had already started breakfast cooking, though Geff didn't need to eat, he grabbed the plates and began
preparing the table, listening to Mildred's constant banter.
He stopped when he saw Marius step out of their room, he seemed fuller somehow. As though he had gained 30
pounds of muscle overnight. Geff's old shirt that mother had just resized for Marius seemed tight and ill-
fitting, where just yesterday it fit fine. It must be an early morning trick of the eyes.
Setting down the last plate, Geff began to button his shirt up for breakfast and found his shirt too was
uncomfortably tight when yesterday it was loose fitting and he had worked the fields all day in it. (Peasants
arent too mindful of hygiene)
Perplexed but not alarmed they sat down to eat once Elise returned from the outhouse. Oatmeal was dished out
for everyone and although society didn't demand it, it was a household custom to for Geff to say a morning
prayer.
"Divine, thank you for this day you have given us. Let us enjoy it and enjoy one another's company. In thanks
we pray."
The family followed the prayer "In thanks we pray."
Geff eyed the food suspiciously, no glowing. No urges to scream prayers out, just a normal prayer. With relief
he began eating.
Today was Lordsday, the one day per week none were expected to work, which was good because everyone seemed to
sleep in this morning despite the roosters feeble attempts at waking them. In far off lands religious wars
raged between the polytheistic and monotheistic cultures about it being Lords' Day or Lord's Day but all Geff
knew or cared about was the day of play and fun with his family.
The meal was finishing up and Geff was excited to spend time with his family but also wanted to figure out
what last night was about. Geff thought of the family and how wonderful it will be for Marius to just be done
with puberty and get a job that could bring in extra income.
Geff scoffed to himself, Look at him going on like that all really happened, I ate a bad berry or something.
His eyes wandered around the table, everyone including himself seemed extra lively and better nourished than
usual. Though the girls didn't seem effected as much they too seemed fuller, healthier. Even sweet, little
Mildred had fuller looking cheeks as she smiled (and constantly rambled on.)
Although the reality settings were set so Jeff was still able to come out, he was difficult to access. So when
Geff thought of yesterday, or last week, he naturally thought of his time working the farm or fishing with
Marius rather than being a 16 year old doing algebra homework.