And so, the dinner finally started.

There is a word for it. Nervousness.

The feeling... as though your own body is on edge.

Think of it as teetering on the edge of a cliff.

Only this time, it's not your body, but rather, your soul.

You feel like one false step could knock you down.

If you trip, it's over.

And so, you don't make a move.

This was how Ken, and most especially, Tiffany and Luke felt just as this dinner had begun.

Tiffany didn't feel comfortable eating such an expensive meal, and as for Luke, he had no idea as to how to use any of the fancy forks and spoons laid on the table.

Their nervousness, thus, halted their actions.

Meanwhile...

Rose: Ok! Thanks for the food, Mrs Hunter!

Max: Yeah. Thanks...

Julianne: Awww.... no need to thank me.

As if they weren't already on the cliff's edge, now they had to thank her as well.

Ken was the first to answer.

Ken: Yeah... thank you, Mrs Hunter.

He tried as hard as he could to hide his true feelings.

Luke: Ummm.. yeah... thanks...

And Tiffany continued, copying after Luke.

Tiffany: Y... yeah... thanks....

Julianne: Awww.. you guys...

Julianne was, in a sense, acting. She was a very happy mother to hear all that praise. After all, which mother wasn't glad to hear people thank her for her efforts?

Julianne: Anyway... let's get started.

Her hands were quick to grab a fork and, almost divinely, spin the fork around the pasta and then take a bite.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

It was one thing, seeing so many utencils around the plate and all the fancy food. But this?

Seeing her as such an expert while eating, made her look like some kind of unreachable being.

Every move she'd made to eat that fork of pasta made it look like she'd been born to do it. Like it was so natural to her.

Perhaps an equivalent description would be a comparison between two football players. One an expert, and the other, a newbie.

The newbie kicks the ball uncomfortably, running around, trying to keep it in place, and managing to do so.

The expert kicks the ball in a more "expert" manner, obviously.

But there's more to it than that. Not just the skills or the kicks or the experience, but the very manner of the kicks themselves is different.

Not just by experience, but also, almost as though the footballer has become a footballer.

Like that footballer is now in his or her element. Like it is such a fundamental part of them that it is almost as though their very being plays as they play

Another comparison can be made between people walking on the street. One looks uncomfortable and one looks like one is in one's element.

That would describe Julianne Hunter as she ate her meal.

And that perfection in eating habits, that elegance, captivated and intimidated Tiffany, Ken and most especially Luke, who still didn't know what to do.

However, seeing her made them momentarily forget about the woman's very own son.

They'd never once seen Max eat like that, and so....

Max, on the other hand, immediately took a slice of pizza and, like some kind of ruffian, took a massive bite and started chewing it.

Truly, it was a sight.

The mother, eloquent and divine. The son, eating like some kind of prehistoric animal.

Truly an incredible sight. One so incredible it stunned the three teens more than Julianne alone.

Max: Mmmmmmmmm!

It took a moment for Julianne to reply as she was still chewing.

Julianne: Tastes good sweetie?

Max nodded his head with food still in his mouth.

Max: Mmmmm hmmm.

He swallowed.

Max: This pizza's insane!

Julianne: (giggling) I guess Gustav finally managed to pull it off, huh?

Max: Yeah!

And the son simply took yet another bite.

To him, this was by far the best pizza he'd ever eaten. And so, he continued without skipping a beat.

And then Rose started....

Rose: Mmmmmm.... Mrs. Hunter. These pies.... they're.... incredibly tasty.

Julianne: Think so?

Rose: Mmm hmmm.

The inside of the pie itself was an oddly beautifully patterned black and white. The kind of beauty you'd expect from art, but not from food.

Rose: The chicken is sooo yummy.

Julianne: Really?

Rose: Mmm hmm. And the truffles.... they're just (girly squeal)... this pie is soooooo amazing!

Julianne: (smiling) Well.. I'm glad you like it.

And that she was. She was truly glad she'd enjoyed it.

As for the other three who'd been watching this spectacle, but hadn't even taken a bite out of their meals, they just watched... silently.

And then, just as Julianne was about to take another bite, she noticed the other three kids hesitant to start eating.

Julianne: Hmmmm. Are you kids hungry?

At that point, all of them flinched.

Julianne: I mean... it's alright if you're not hungry....

So she noticed. That was obvious. Of course, she would eventually notice. But the tunnel vision from the nervousness made them incapable of noticing that sooner.

Ken: N... no. Not at all.

Luke: Yeah... just...

Tiffany: Yeah...

For one thing, neither Max nor Rose seemed to be following this insanely complicated eating method, and so, it only made sense that they could eat whichever way they wanted.

But also, it meant that they should eat, seeing as Julianne would become suspicious if they didn't.

As for Julianne....

Well.... let the games begin.