Victoria’s questions plagued Xavier.  He accepted them grimly, then shook his head.  [color=00aeef]“No, I didn’t hit my head.  But I did fall from about 50 meters or 150 feet.  I went in feet first, but not quite as vertical as I would have liked.  So yes, my head and neck got a bit of a jolt.  But that isn’t why I don’t know those words.  I was afraid of this. That’s why I didn’t ask in front of your father.  Victoria, I have no idea what to ask for in the way of food.  I did visit Atlanta and had something called grits.  Tasted like grit too - like slightly flavored sand I could barely choke down.  For something so popular I figure they can’t have been cooked right.”[/color]  (They were instant with not enough water added.)

He looked down at the coins and frowned.  Then he began flipped them over his fingers and doing sleight of hand tricks.  [color=00aeef]“I could have made it back to the house.  But as you wish.  But I am going to ask for your suggestions.  And maybe we can sit down and talk a little in private.  But about that card game back there, I was an orphan at 5. I was self taught up until that age.  But by then my education level was comparable to someone ready for a university today in mathematics and physics.  By 15 I surpassed my instructors - mostly on my own after being expelled for cheating.  I didn’t cheat, but noone would believe a street rat like me could do better than all the perfect children.”[/color]

Xavier was silent for a moment.  He needed someone to confide in, to understand him for who he was.  [color=00aeef]“I am going to show you something you can’t tell anyone else about.”[/color]  He reached into his pocket and this time withdrew a small tube about half the length of a Bic pen.  It was made of a strange material that resembled a blue ivory.  On the tip was a clear glass like bubble.  Xavier cupped his hand around it and the clear bubble lit up.  It was a light bulb - like Thomas Edison’s, but impossibly small.  It turned of and he put it away.  [color=00aeef]“I’ll show you again later, not here in public.”[/color]

When they got to the cafe, Xavier tried to seat them where he could speak without being overheard.  While the waiter was there he spoke politely.  [color=00aeef]“Just something to hold me off until later.  I don’t want to spoil my appetite.  Is it too late for breakfast?”[/color]  He wanted to try grits made old fashioned, not as a tourist thing.    But by this time it was past noon.  [color=00aeef]“Have you ever heard of peanut butter?”[/color]  Noone had.  The patent wouldn’t come out until later in the century.  [color=00aeef]“Coffee? With cream and sugar.  I don’t suppose you’ve ever heard of caramel macchiato?  No?  Hmph, I’ll probably never find it again.  Regular cream and sugar is fine.”[/color]  He wanted to watch them make it, but decided against it.  His eyes darted to Victoria’s as he held his breath, then he shook his head.  [color=00aeef]“Uhm, Victoria, any suggestions?  I figure you know what is good here better than I would.”[/color]  She would also be more likely to know the prices.

Once the waitress had their order and had walked off, Xavier leaned closer.  [color=00aeef]“You know, we just bought three suits for about the price of a cup of coffee where I am from.”[/color]  He withdrew a little, but kept his voice low.  [color=00aeef]“I have never seen a horse before today except as a picture.  You find this odd.  But I really don’t know what those words mean.”[/color]