Abby turned in ‘er chair tah watch. At first she felt a might shamefaced when she seen all the work Hook was put to fer her waffles. She opened her mouth with a fresh apology all ready, ‘til she caught sight of the expression on his face. Hook appeared tah be delighted with what he’s doin’. Jest like Thomas an’ tha care he give his boat, Hook knew how tah use the tools of ‘is trade. Abby always liked watchin’ skilled folk workin’ their craft. Somethin’ ‘bout hands movin’ with certainty struck a chord in the girl. While most would find sight of Hook whiskin’ batter to be kinda commonplace, she admired the precision what come as second nature to him. By rights, pourin’ batter inta the waffle iron weren’t excitin’, but when she spied him goin’ round the edges to clean off the excess, she couldn’t help but smile for tha nature of the man. [i]“These should be nice and tasty for you. Ah have some maple syrup in the pantry.”[/i] Four steamin’ waffles lay on her plate. They smelled better’n anythin just then, an’ the butter she slathered jest melted right in. Abby thanked Hook for the syrup, but she only poured jest a little onta each. They cut awful easy with her fork, an’ when that first bit hit her mouth… “Ohhh!” the girl let loose. “Theesh ish sho good!” And they were. Last time...only time...she ever et waffles was years ago, when she’s four, mebbe five, sittin’ at a table belonged tah somebody her aunt an’ uncle was visitin’. She knew ‘em as Browncoats...friends ‘o’ Ma an’ Pa. Back then she set them waffles swimmin’ in a plate full ‘o’ syrup, an’ devoured ‘em while Uncle Bob an’ Aunt Lupe’s talkin’ all quiet. Didn’t ‘member a whole lot, ‘cept them two strangers kept lookin’ over at her while she et. Aunt Lupe an’ Uncle Bob was all stonefaced. Bein’ a kid as she was, Abby ‘membered wearin’ more syrup home that day than what she et. An’ Aunt Lupe cryin’ as she cleaned her up. She felt mighty sorrowful fer makin’ a mess, an’ wouldn’t conjure the true meanin’ fer years tah come. Now, sittin’ here with such a fine meal, Abby pondered the workin’s of a ‘verse tah place her here among folk who become so important in such short time. Thinkin’ on this moment, her only regret was usin’ syrup at all. Couldn’t be no sweeter. She dabbed a napkin to her lips. "Hook, these're nigh on delicious. Thank yew!"