Jacknkife's tales have been a pleasure to read. I also like to spin tales in my head and have put some of those on the paper. So here is a slightly romantic story of three friends, knives, vine and food. English is not my native language so my apologies for mistakes.
We have not seen for a long time, it is over 10 years since the high school! I have planned a picnic in the park behind the cathedral. Everyone can bring something. Jeannette, can you bring some salad and wine, Marie can bring the cheese and I will bring some sausage and bread. Is this ok? I really want to hear what you have been up to.
Catherine
Two messages came to her e-mail and the date and time was set.
An evening in June, in the park behind the great cathedral a blanket was set on the grass, beside some great oaks and a parked bicycle. Catherine saw a couple of women approaching with bicycles. There they were, her friends from the high school! The ladies, all in their late 20s hugged, kissed each others cheeks and sat on the blanket, laughing and speaking.
It had been a long time. They had been friends in the high school but life had led them separate ways. Catherine had a restaurant with her man. She looked like she fit the role, a slightly plump blonde with laughing eyes and a long curly hair. They were however all very different and had very different lives.
Marie was certainly different. She was a tall, muscular brunette with a short hair. An accomplished martial artist and she had made a career in the army. She was a skilled savateur and had made a name in the competitions. She was also fluent with la canne, epee and knife.
Jeannette was a biologist working for environmental office in the ministry. She was a lean, small brunette, with her long hair in a ponytail. Her hiking habit had kept her fit and her work had her moving in the forests.
Baskets were opened and the contents were put on the blanket. Some very tasty looking sausages, fresh, crispy bread, several cheeses and a bottle of wine, with also some salad were put on offer. Catherine had also baked a cake and brought some coffee.
Catherine took a knife, a Laguoile and snapped the blade open. Thats a nice one said Marie, who had an eye for knives. Herself she took a Thiers knife from her pocket, gripped the blade with her fingers and snapped the blade open with flick. The others cringed. Yes we know, you are a bad-ass army chick. Marie grinned and started cutting a sausage to thin slices. Catherine said yes, I got it from one of our business partners. You might know him. Do you remember Marc, the son of our principal? That rascal! He was always teasing us. I heard he got in a trouble with police. Catherine was cutting the bread and smiled. He got out of it. Now he owns a shop selling kitchenware and we buy a lot from him. He also takes care of our restaurants technical maintenance. He never did tease Jeannette, I wonder why
Jeannette blushed. Stop that, we never did had anything between us. You said that you have a surprise for us? Yes, after this picnic we can all go to a bar, there is a band playing! Marc is also a gifted guitarist and leads the band. He will also drop by to see us. Jeannette frowned, others laughed and soon Jeannette smiled. All right, this should be fun.
Jeannette reached for her bag and pulled out an Opinel and cut at the cheese and bread too. Wine was poured in glasses and salad was shared on plates. The women spoke about their lives and what had happened during those years. Jeannette told about her research in the forests of the Ardennes. Marie had some somber tales of her duties, some overseas in the conflict areas of the world. Catherines stories were of her business and her experiments with food and wine. As wine went to their heads women turned giggly and the talk turned to more personal things, like men they had met. For a while, these three ladies were again girls in high school, best of friends.
An old Renault stopped near and a tall, blond man stepped out. Marc greeted the ladies and sat on the blanket. His eyes locked with Jeannettes, both smiled, Marc more openly, Jeannette a bit withdrawn. Marc picked up the Opinel and cut at some bread. This is a bit dull; since I work with kitchenware I cant help but notice these things. Jeannette nodded. I have used it quite a lot when on the field. I sharpen Catherines kitchen knives and can take care of it; I can return it to your workplace if you will. Marie and Catherine smiled secretly, they knew. Jeannette agreed and gave her business card to Marc.
After some talk, cheese and wine Marc left and the ladies gathered their things, mounted their cycles and headed for the bar.
Her head aching a bit of the wine, happy for finding her old friends and a bit confused by the long talk with Marc, Jeannette headed for the office next morning. She had to agree she was taken by Marcs openness about his good and bad days, his rebelling against strict parents and his new life as a businessman and his friendship with Catherine and her husband. After lunchtime a guard phoned her. There is a package for you. Jeannette picked up the long package and opened it in her room. Inside she found the Opinel, now razor sharp, pivot oiled and the once slightly rusty blade cleaned and shining. There was also red rose and a letter. She opened it and read it; she smiled, once she blushed. She sat down and thought for a while. Then she reached for the phone.
We have not seen for a long time, it is over 10 years since the high school! I have planned a picnic in the park behind the cathedral. Everyone can bring something. Jeannette, can you bring some salad and wine, Marie can bring the cheese and I will bring some sausage and bread. Is this ok? I really want to hear what you have been up to.
Catherine
Two messages came to her e-mail and the date and time was set.
An evening in June, in the park behind the great cathedral a blanket was set on the grass, beside some great oaks and a parked bicycle. Catherine saw a couple of women approaching with bicycles. There they were, her friends from the high school! The ladies, all in their late 20s hugged, kissed each others cheeks and sat on the blanket, laughing and speaking.
It had been a long time. They had been friends in the high school but life had led them separate ways. Catherine had a restaurant with her man. She looked like she fit the role, a slightly plump blonde with laughing eyes and a long curly hair. They were however all very different and had very different lives.
Marie was certainly different. She was a tall, muscular brunette with a short hair. An accomplished martial artist and she had made a career in the army. She was a skilled savateur and had made a name in the competitions. She was also fluent with la canne, epee and knife.
Jeannette was a biologist working for environmental office in the ministry. She was a lean, small brunette, with her long hair in a ponytail. Her hiking habit had kept her fit and her work had her moving in the forests.
Baskets were opened and the contents were put on the blanket. Some very tasty looking sausages, fresh, crispy bread, several cheeses and a bottle of wine, with also some salad were put on offer. Catherine had also baked a cake and brought some coffee.
Catherine took a knife, a Laguoile and snapped the blade open. Thats a nice one said Marie, who had an eye for knives. Herself she took a Thiers knife from her pocket, gripped the blade with her fingers and snapped the blade open with flick. The others cringed. Yes we know, you are a bad-ass army chick. Marie grinned and started cutting a sausage to thin slices. Catherine said yes, I got it from one of our business partners. You might know him. Do you remember Marc, the son of our principal? That rascal! He was always teasing us. I heard he got in a trouble with police. Catherine was cutting the bread and smiled. He got out of it. Now he owns a shop selling kitchenware and we buy a lot from him. He also takes care of our restaurants technical maintenance. He never did tease Jeannette, I wonder why
Jeannette blushed. Stop that, we never did had anything between us. You said that you have a surprise for us? Yes, after this picnic we can all go to a bar, there is a band playing! Marc is also a gifted guitarist and leads the band. He will also drop by to see us. Jeannette frowned, others laughed and soon Jeannette smiled. All right, this should be fun.
Jeannette reached for her bag and pulled out an Opinel and cut at the cheese and bread too. Wine was poured in glasses and salad was shared on plates. The women spoke about their lives and what had happened during those years. Jeannette told about her research in the forests of the Ardennes. Marie had some somber tales of her duties, some overseas in the conflict areas of the world. Catherines stories were of her business and her experiments with food and wine. As wine went to their heads women turned giggly and the talk turned to more personal things, like men they had met. For a while, these three ladies were again girls in high school, best of friends.
An old Renault stopped near and a tall, blond man stepped out. Marc greeted the ladies and sat on the blanket. His eyes locked with Jeannettes, both smiled, Marc more openly, Jeannette a bit withdrawn. Marc picked up the Opinel and cut at some bread. This is a bit dull; since I work with kitchenware I cant help but notice these things. Jeannette nodded. I have used it quite a lot when on the field. I sharpen Catherines kitchen knives and can take care of it; I can return it to your workplace if you will. Marie and Catherine smiled secretly, they knew. Jeannette agreed and gave her business card to Marc.
After some talk, cheese and wine Marc left and the ladies gathered their things, mounted their cycles and headed for the bar.
Her head aching a bit of the wine, happy for finding her old friends and a bit confused by the long talk with Marc, Jeannette headed for the office next morning. She had to agree she was taken by Marcs openness about his good and bad days, his rebelling against strict parents and his new life as a businessman and his friendship with Catherine and her husband. After lunchtime a guard phoned her. There is a package for you. Jeannette picked up the long package and opened it in her room. Inside she found the Opinel, now razor sharp, pivot oiled and the once slightly rusty blade cleaned and shining. There was also red rose and a letter. She opened it and read it; she smiled, once she blushed. She sat down and thought for a while. Then she reached for the phone.
