Polaris' First Meal With The Smurfs

It was the morning after Polaris had first became a member of the Smurf Village. He had stayed in Empath's house for the night since there was no other house in the village that was vacant for him to stay in, and besides Polaris wasn't used to sleeping without a roommate.

Smurfette greeted Empath and Polaris as they joined the other Smurfs in line waiting for their breakfast. "Good morning, Empath and Polaris. How was your friend's first night smurfing in the village?"

"This one's resting period was...peaceful, fellow Smurfette," Polaris answered.

"Actually, he was keeping this smurf up all night, Smurfette," Empath said. "This smurf didn't think he would ever get to sleep."

"Oh, really, Empath?" Smurfette said. "I didn't think your friend would be smurfing you so much trouble in your own home."

"This smurf was only kidding, Smurfette," Empath said. "Polaris would never do anything that would disturb anyone's resting period."

"Indeed this one would not," Polaris said with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, I can't wait to smurf what we're having for breakfast today," Smurfette said. "What will you be eating, Polaris?"

"This one is waiting to receive his daily meal of nutrient paste, Smurfette," Polaris answered.

"Nutrient paste?" Smurfette asked.

"It's a delicacy in Psychelia that resembles porridge, Smurfette," Empath said.

"That's the only thing the Psyches have to eat in that place, Empath?" Smurfette asked.

"Unfortunately that is correct, Smurfette," Empath said. "The Psyche Master is very particular about the kind of diet he wants the Psyches to adhere to, that it's not supposed to have any kind of flavors in it."

"No flavors?" Smurfette said, frowning at the thought. "Then how are they supposed to enjoy what they eat?"

"Psyches do not nourish themselves in that manner for the sake of enjoyment, Smurfette," Polaris answered. "We are simply to maintain our health and vitality through our daily supplement of nutrients."

"Believe this smurf when this smurf tells you that you don't want to find out what nutrient paste even tastes like," Empath said.

"It's really that bad?" Smurfette asked.

"It really has no flavor to it at all, Smurfette," Empath said. "This smurf grew up eating that stuff, and frankly, this smurf prefers the variety of flavors that Smurf cuisine provides."

Smurfette sighed. "Well, I hope that your friend enjoys smurfing his breakfast with his fellow Smurfs today, Empath. I just don't want him to feel like he's missing out on something smurfy."

"This one appreciates your concern, Smurfette, but this one should be able to manage having his daily supplement with no problems," Polaris said.

Then came Empath's and Polaris' turn to receive their breakfast. "Morning, Empath," Greedy greeted. "Ready to smurf your day with a nice serving of Schtroumpf toast?"

"Only you know how to make it the way this smurf likes it, Greedy," Empath said. "You've got Polaris' meal ready for him?"

"I tried following the recipe that you smurfed me for the nutrient paste, Empath, and let me smurf you, it wasn't easy trying to smurf those grains together and boil them in the right amount," Greedy said as he produced a bowl of the nutrient paste. "This stuff is so thick, I could hardly stir up, let alone try to smurf it out of the pot and into a bowl."

"This smurf knows that you're only doing your best, Greedy," Empath said. "Polaris will understand it if things about the nutrient paste are not perfect."

"If Polaris gets too fussy about it, Empath, he's free to smurf up his own bowl of nutrient paste," Greedy said. "I'm not really crazy about smurfing up food that doesn't even have a taste to it."

"This one appreciates your efforts, fellow Greedy," Polaris said as he received his bowl of nutrient paste.

Empath and Polaris both sat together at one of the long tables in the dining commons. "Ready to enjoy your first meal in the Smurf Village?" Empath asked.

"We should first call upon a blessing for this meal before we proceed to our nourishment, Empath," Polaris said.

"You think the Great Ancestors are going to bless your meal, even though you and this smurf are no longer part of the Psychelian community?" Empath asked.

"This one does not know what else to do, Empath, since it has always been part of this one's custom," Polaris answered.

"Well, if that will help you, Polaris, then you have this smurf's permission," Empath said.

Both Empath and Polaris closed their eyes as Polaris prayed. "Great Ancestors of Psychelia who watch over all who desire to be among you in our day of ascension, grant us the blessing of this meal which has been provided for us, and may it nourish our bodies so that we may seek to please those whom we serve."

"And so let it be," Empath responded. He and Polaris opened their eyes after the prayer ended. "You know, Tapper has the habit of saying grace right before he starts eating his meals."

"'Saying grace'?" Polaris asked. "You mean that he also prays for a blessing upon the meal that he eats?"

"That is correct, Polaris, except that he prays to this deity that he calls the Almighty," Empath said. "Most Smurfs think he's crazy to pray for a blessing for his meal, but Papa Smurf seems to respect it since the Smurfs are always relying on Mother Nature to provide us with a bounty of food for us to eat."

"For what seems to be a savage race, your people have a tendency to exhibit a veneration for beings greater than yourselves," Polaris commented.

"There's more to being a Smurf than what meets the minds-eye, Polaris," Empath said. "You might as well dig in and try to enjoy what Smurf life has to offer."