Bun And Loaf.

Engagement Supper.

I sat with Sylvia as Dhaña sat on the floor with Matthew sitting between her legs while she fed him the huge roast from her plate.

"So. It wasn't a proposal?" I asked.

"Sh!" Sylvia exclaimed, watching the two with rapt fascination.

"Not so loud." She whispered.

"She's actually performing her people's rarest engagement ceremony.

I don't understand.

I've only ever seen it once before.

The engagement supper is a sacred tradition that dates back six thousand years

A badly wounded soldier was hungry and wanted one last meal.

In the hospital tent, a nurse eating her own food, took her plate to him, sat him up and letting him lean against herself to feed him.

She did that because she was surprised that he had an appetite at all.

When the soldier eventually recovered, instead of dying, they were married soon afterward." Sylvia said.

"That's a powerful gesture, then, if it became a traditional engagement ceremony." I said.

"Exactly that. It's so powerful a gesture that females almost never propose at all.

Either he said something, or did something that deeply moved her.

I can't imagine what that may have been, but she's genuinely taken by that man and hell will freeze before her heart ever changes." Sylvia said.

"Wow."

Meanwhile...

"Is that true?" Matthew asked in astonishment.

"Yes. That's how this tradition started." Dhaña confirmed.

"I'm amazed, but. Why me, o'er all the people in this world?" He asked.

"Who else makes comfortable clothes that fit me so well? Not only that, but you called me a cat.

You basically called me stunning and gorgeous.

I realize that you didn't know what calling me such a name meant to me, but I think you meant it in the same way, right?"

"Yes. I did but, how'd ye know that?"

"It was in the way you said it, Matthew.

You may be a human, but you meant it in a very complimentary way and, not just that.

You also made this outfit with a tail in mind.

Even though you couldn't possibly have known the proper aligning measurement for that seam, it's spot on for me, at least.

Also, your eyes, hair and voice.

I know that they're just physical aspects, but you're also kind and considerate."

"I'm... I'm not really."

"Oh? So you gave me these clothes for your own selfish reasons, then?

You gave no thought, at all, to helping someone?"

"I did, but also for my selfishness."

"Alright. If you were willing to help me, even a little, aside from your own desires.

Then I was still right about you being considerate." She said.

"Is that all?" Matthew asked, taking another bite.

"Matthew, our kind pride ourselves on obtaining and gathering information and knowledge.

You're a clothier with a peculiar hobby of making outrageously large clothes.