08 Yum

Chapter 08 Yum The warrior stared back at Jack and Annie. “ We were helping one of your honey guides, ” said Annie. The warrior was as still as a statue. “ We didn’t mean to steal anything, ” Jack said. “ In fact, it’s all yours. We’ve had enough. ” “ Lots of good honey still there, ” Annie said, smiling. The warrior narrowed his eyes.

Is he angry? Jack wondered. “ I’m sorry we were trespassing, ” said Jack. “ We come in peace. In fact, we bring gifts. ” He picked up his backpack and held it out to the warrior. The warrior still didn’t move. “ This?” Jack held up his book. Nothing. “ Uh—” Jack reached into his pack. He pulled out the big jar of peanut butter. “ Peanut butter! ” He pulled out the loaf of bread. “ Bread! Hey. Hey! How about a peanut butter and honey sandwich?” “ Yum! ” Annie said, watching the warrior. The warrior stared at the food. “ We’ll show you, ” said Jack. As Jack unwrapped the bread, his hands shook.

Annie opened the jar. “ We don’t have anything to spread it with, ” she said. “ Use your fingers, ” said Jack. “ Excuse me, ” Annie said to the warrior. “ I have to use my fingers. But they’re pretty clean. An elephant just—” “ Just do it, Annie! ” said Jack. “ Okay, okay. ” She spread the peanut butter onto a slice of bread with her fingers. At the same time, Jack spread the honey from the beehive on another slice. Jack and Annie put their pieces of bread together. “ Ta-da! ” said Annie, handing the sandwich to the warrior.

The warrior took the sandwich, but he didn’t eat it. He just looked at it. “ Let’s make sandwiches for us, too, ” Jack said. “ So he doesn’t have to eat alone. ” They quickly made two more sandwiches. “ See, like this, ” said Annie. She bit into her sandwich. “ Mmm … yum. ” Jack took a bite, too. “ Mmm … ” he said. It was really good. Finally, the warrior bit into his sandwich. He chewed slowly. “ This is called a picnic, ” said Annie. They ate their sandwiches in silence. When they finished, Jack screwed the lid back on the peanut butter jar. “ Not bad, huh?” he said. The warrior smiled. He had a kind, dignified smile. Jack and Annie smiled back at him.

Then the warrior turned gracefully and vanished into the trees. “ Oh, man, ” said Jack. Part of him wanted to follow the silent warrior through the shadowy forest. “ Ready?” Annie asked softly. Jack nodded. Annie started to go. “ Wait, ” said Jack. He put away the peanut butter and bread. “ We’re going back to the tree house, right? We’re not going to do anything silly, like rescue anything or chase birds. Right?” “ Those things aren’t silly, ” said Annie. “ Don’t forget that the bird gave us the answer to the riddle. ” “ Oh. Right, ” said Jack.