Wings of Fire Ch. 05 - Teaser (Patreon)

The first third of the crew were finishing up their dinner, placing their dishes and trays on the end of the main serving bench. A few of Gertrude’s helpers were whisking the dirty dishes away to be cleaned while putting out clean ones of the next third of the crew. Ernie Sr. had Raeni go and grab them a table, while they grabbed the girls’ food. James assisted in this, helping the Black men with juggling the trays of food and drink.

“Damn! That spaghetti and meatballs sure looks good!” Ernie Jr. commented as he loaded up his and his mother’s plate, while his dad set up his and Zhade’s.

“If you think this is something, wait until you try out the garlic bread!” the unfamiliar feminine voice told him.

Ernie Jr. turned his head to see the girl who was talking, as he didn’t know who it was. The moment she looked up and into his face, time seemed to stop. Jr.’s mouth fell open as he took in the sight of Ottilia Natale. Her hair, her eyes, everything about her. Ottilia was similarly entranced by Jr., staring at the man as though it was the first time she had ever seen one.

“Oi! Ernie!!” the man’s father snapped, jolting the boy out of his daydream.

“Yes, sir?!?” Jr. almost yelped, jolting to attention.

“Others are hungry! Stare at the girls here once your butt is in a seat!” his dad said sternly.

Jr. nodded and went back to collecting dinner for himself and his mom while some of the men laughed at the boy for his moment. Even Ottilia giggled to herself as she went back to work, serving the men their meal. Jr. hurried along, not wanting the food to cool too much, as he knew his mother liked her food hot. He moved to the table where his dad, mom and baby sister waited, with James joining them for the meal.

“Dear, did you have to snap on Jr. so much?” Raeni asked, as she was served her food.

“The boy has to learn that others here need food too, so the line has to keep moving,” Ernie Sr. responded.

“To be fair, it seems like someone caught his attention,” James chuckled before turning to wave at Ottilia and Laura, who waved back before resuming their work.

“Oh! The brunette? Laura?” Raeni asked, giggling at her son.

“Nope. The blonde one, Ottilia,” James replied.

“Aha! That doesn’t surprise me at all! Jr. here has always had a thing for blondes. Ever since Greta Thorvaldsen back in… what was it? Seventh grade?” Raeni teased.

“Mooooooommmmm!” Jr. whined, as he buried his face in his spaghetti.

“What? You are a young, vigorous man, so I don’t begrudge you staring at pretty girls! I will say though, she certainly is a looker, even with all the sweat and food stains on her,” Raeni stated approvingly. “She was the one you found at the abandoned base, James?”

“Yes, ma… Mama Rae,” James replied when he caught a look from her. “She was living rough for a while before she happened upon Laura and myself. Good thing we found her when we did, as the cops were closing in on her. It would have been back to the looney bin for her, even though there is nothing wrong with the poor girl.”

“Why would she be sent there? Wouldn’t her family try to get her out?” Ernie Sr. questioned.

“That is something you’ll have to ask her, as it is not my story to tell. I will tell you this much though; her family played politics with another one, while using her as a pawn,” James growled.

“Oh!! The poor girl!” Raeni replied, as she felt a pang of sorrow for the girl.

“She is more than happy to be away and on this ship! Fate, it seems, had something better in store for her,” James finished as he munched on his spaghetti.

“Those girls do look unusually happy! Most people working the Galley tend to have sour looks on their faces, but not these two!” Ernie Sr. noted.