“And so that’s why Thanksgiving Day is different on every colony world,” Human Friend Peter explained.
“But is synchronized with the Earth holiday when celebrated in non-aligned space craft and on non-colony worlds,” Quilx’tch finished. “Thank you for explaining.”
“Not at all Quick,” Human Friend Peter said. “Teaching people about holidays is part of the fun of holidays.”
Quilx’tch clicked in understanding as he shifted from one of the human’s shoulders to the other. The human was bent over a simmering pot of what they called mush. This particular mush was being reduced to make the filling for a human pastry. The heat and mass required for this process meant that Quilx’tch needed to maintain a fairly large safe distance. Fortunately Human Friend Peter was more than willing to provide that distance.
“Hey,” Human Friend Peter said as he turned off the heat under the mush. “This needs to cool now, and don’t you have that meeting soon?”
“Yes,” Quilx’tch said regretfully. “I must go. I do desire to stay and watch you finish the process.”
“I’ll record it little bud!” Human Friend Peter said as he hold his hand out for Quilx’tch to climb down.
“Thank you Human Friend Peter,” Quilx’tch said. “I will see you at the celebratory meal.”
The rest of the day passed fairly swiftly. The meal was to begin just as the sun went down but when he arrived the humans were already munching on small snacks scattered around the room. The meal itself began rather later than sundown. The humans ate happily for a couple of hours and then one at a time slumped back in their chairs with an announcement of their satiation. Human Friend Peter lasted the longest before he too slumped back and sighed.
“I couldn’t eat another bite,” he said with a sigh.
A murmur of agreement spread around the table.
“Pity,” Quilx’tch observed as he sipped his eggnog.
“How so?” Peter asked, lazily opening one eye to peer at Quilx’tch.
“It seems a shame not to eat the pastry while it is still fresh.” Quilx’tch observed.
“Pastry?” one of the other humans squinted at Quilx’tch.
“The pumpkin pie,” Quilx’tch stated.
“Pie?” The word spread though the humans like a stimulant.
As each repeated it his spine pulled his body straight and his eyes widened in anticipation.
“Pie,” Human Friend Peter confirmed. “Should I go get them?”
“Go!” the rest of the humans agreed.
Human Friend Peter shoved himself to his feet and strolled over to the refrigeration unit.
“Pie,” the humans murmured happily.
Quilx’tch clicked curiously but didn’t ask the question on his mind. He was pretty full himself but the pie did smell good.
Thank you all so much for your updoots and feedback. It gives me the will to go on. Want to see more? Think about becoming a Patreon. Tea refuses to buy itself and the more time one has to spend on a day job the less time there is for befuddled aliens.