Acquiring the Taste

Words: 384

"Uh, yeah, I'm not really hungry," Arun said, as his tummy gave a telltale grumble.

"Oh, Arun, you know you are. You just had an apple for breakfast and you skipped lunch. C'mon, grab a plate."

But Arun didn't move. He simply sat on the sofa, staring into space.

"Oh," Lorie said suddenly. "Oh, Arun sweetie, I think I understand ..."

"It's okay, Lorie," he muttered, averting her eyes. "It's okay. I'm not hungry."

"What is the problem? Can I help?" Bill asked.

"Bill - it's - it's - Arun's a vegetarian," Lorie whispered.

The whisper penetrated the silence.

"My goodness, I never even thought of that. I'm sorry, Arun, look, let me whip up some ..." the hostess, Meg, began.

"Listen, Meg," Arun said, looking her in the face now and speaking almost sternly. "You have a party load of people to mind out for. You can't go into the kitchen now. I tell you, I'm not hungry."

"Arun - but I invited you. I need to feed you."

Arun took a deep breath. "I've been thinking it over," he said. "I can't keep making people uncomfortable like this. I've moved to a new country, I have to fit in. I'll eat what you've got." Everyone noticed the silent prayer of apology he sent to his mother, who was a thousand miles away.

It was Alan who changed the mood.

"Hey, Arun's going over," he called, tooting a note on the little party trumpet he was holding. "Everyone watch the veggie eat meat."

Arun grinned suddenly as Bill filled a plate for him.

"What am I eating?"

The teacher in Bill came to the surface. "Louisana Gumbo!" he replied, "It's a stew with West African roots. It's got a strongly flavored stock, meat and shellfish a thickener, and the Creole "holy trinity": celery, bell peppers, and onions."

"So there are some vegetables," Arun murmured, taking the plate. "I wish I didn't have to do this with twenty pairs of eyes on me."

"You want everyone to close their eyes?" Meg quipped.

"Nah," Arun said, digging his spoon in, bringing it to his mouth and eating quickly, before he could change his mind.

"Well?" said half-a-dozen voices.

Arun couldn't be fake. He thought a bit before he answered.

"I guess it's an acquired habit and an acquired taste," he said.