#mtas jane

“We’re gonna learn ya real good!” X squawked from his perch on Fang’s shoulder. “Don’t be nervous, sweetie.”

“Birdie! Hi birdie!” Pebbles exclaimed, waving his little hands in the air.

X was all too happy to respond in kind. “Hi! Hi! Eat your veggies!”

Fang cleared his throat. “Right. Health is…very important. Today we will discuss…nutrition.”

“Right!” Jane leaped in. She’d agreed to take every fourth or fifth line or so in the lesson, just to give Fang a little bit of breather room in between. “So, first question…what do you guys eat every day? Meals, snacks, anything!”

“Ma’s not a bad cook,” said Jasmine. “She’s doing it a lot more now! Used to be that she never had the time…so we’d always get Saloon food.”

Fang nodded. “Good to eat…food at home more. Restaurants can be…indulgent.”

“Well, ain’t no one trustin’ what Logan’s puttin’ on the stove, ‘specially not me,” Andy said with a frown, scratching his nose. “Veg? Meat? Mystery meat? The second it hits the heat it comes up black.” He let out a sigh. “Still miss Haru’s cooking…”

“Oooh…a la flambé,” X mumbled as Fang pursed his lips.

“Don’t eat…burned food. Not good for you.”

“Ah, don’t worry, I always try to cut around all the black parts,” Andy chuckled. “We’ve been relying on the good ol’ cold sandwich a lot lately.”

“Ma ‘n Pa…make lotsa meat!” Pebbles blurted out. “Pa don’ like veggies…an’ me neither… But Ma say we gotta eat them like meat! Get vye-da…vi-mins! Vi-ta-mins!”

Fang let out an approving hum. “Right. Vegetables have many important vitamins. And fiber. Helps your stomach.”

“Eat your veggies! Eat your veggies!” X crowed again.

“Can Ma…make veggies less yucky?”

Fang’s brow furrowed a little bit. “Not sure… Not good with cooking.”

“Well…” Jane spoke up. “I know that there’s different ways of cooking veggies that are real tasty. Better than just boiling them! Maybe we can try that at our next home ec class, Pebbles!”

Pebbles beamed. “Okay! Yummy things…”

Fang decided to move on to the next topic. “Now…do you all know what you should be eating? What kinds of food…are good for you?”

Jasmine’s hand shot up right away. “Oh! I know this! We need a good mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber! And even though they’re important, we should be careful about how much fat, salt, and sugar we eat!”

“Logan’s more on the seafood diet… He sees food, he eats it! Says that it’s the philosophy ‘on the trail…’”

Fang paused, considering both their words. Jane looked over, but saw no indication from him that he wanted her to take over. So she simply kept silent.

“Both of you…are right, in some way.”

Andy raised an eyebrow. “Huh? Wasn’t me, that’s Logan.”

“Jasmine. You are right. We need…many different kinds of nutrients…for health. Ideally we can balance them…accordingly.” He closed his eyes, his flat expression becoming more solemn. “But sometimes…it is simply enough to be…fed. Healthy. Unhealthy. As long as you are nourished.”

Jane and the children stared at Fang, wondering where this sudden shift in the doctor came from. Or least, for X to clue them into what he was thinking. But the bird was silent, merely preening his wings.

“Regardless,” Fang continued. “Food is precious. If it fills you, it is good. If it tastes good…if it is healthy…all the better.”

He reached into his bag, pulling out a little cloth bag with something sticking out of it. “It is good…to have something indulgent. Occasionally. Maybe…a little unhealthy. But good for well-being.”

He removed one of the sticks from inside–something wrapped in wax paper, sticky with golden syrup. He removed the paper to reveal four glossy red fruits, coated in melted sugar. The children’s eyes went wide. “What’s that…? Izzat candy?” breathed Andy.

“Tanghulu,” said Fang as he handed one to the entranced Pebbles. “Traditional Seesaian treat. Made with…hawthorn fruit.”

All three children were suddenly abuzz with energy at the unexpected snack time, babbling amongst themselves. Fang crossed the room and handed a stick to Jane, a slight hint of a smile on his face.

“Oh! Thank you,” Jane said, taking it and turning it over, admiring the pretty sheen of the sugar coating. “And…thanks again for coming in. Doing good so far!”

“Indeed,” said Fang. “Easier than I expected. This was…a good idea.”

“Kids and their candy!” X piped up. “Not too much, sweetie, you’ll get a tummyache.”

Jane hummed as she and the doctor watched the children enjoying their treat. She was still learning about the Sandrockers, but she heard several people in town preferred a little more space, the local doctor chief among them. So she was absolutely not expecting the man himself to visit the school after class one day and explain his situation. He had lived so long barely speaking…but he was gradually learning to do it more. He thought that a class with Jane would make for perfect practice (even with X there to help).

And from what Jane had seen so far…she hardly imagined that he needed too much help. He was far more nervous during their practice sessions. Even so…if she could help one of her neighbors in need with something like this…she was happy.

When everyone had finished their treats, Jane quieted the class down again to get back into the lesson, and Fang started up again talking about what the kids should do when they felt sick.

A smile couldn’t help but tug at Jane’s lips as she watched the children have their back and forths with the doctor, never once questioning his laconic speech.

EDIT: DHSAGBKDEFV I FORGOT ABOUT THIS SCREENSHOT