Larval Tea

Larval Tea (PMxxxv)

The old guy had come in and left his

lunch on the table beside me.

I couldn't help but take interest,

It was a No Frills bag

which contained a small

container holding possibly

a sandwich, or a sample from

last night's main meal,

a pork chop, kraft dinner,

a piece of mutton,

who knows?

That was not the interesting part,

as I could have easily peeked

inside and terminated

my inner curiosity.

What got me to wondering

was the drink he had

brought. It was a large Kraft

peanut butter jar,

well-used after the initial

contents of its' inception.

Now it was full of a brackish

water, yellow, almost urine-like

tea perhaps, but to me it seemed

too weak and dirty for even the

most exotic.

Inside there floated two very

small brown leaves, I had

no idea what they were or from

what plant they had

originated.

There was also a bud, which to me,

looked like a larva of some kind

of insect,

much like they had pulled out of the

mouth of that girl in Silence of the

Lambs, the one they had pulled

out of the river.

The concoction revolted me but I

couldn't help wondering what was

inside it.

Later on I passed by the

cafeteria and saw the man

sipping from the jar with what I

have to describe as a satisfied look

on his face,

followed by much tongue slapping

and finally a low belch.

I didn't have the nerve to ask

him what it was,

fearing that it might be

something really sick and not

really wanting to put him in

such a position where he felt he

had to tell me what was in his

lunch.

I remain mystified.

MCC