you gotta friend in me {cato | blitz}

I love the winter. I love how the snow covers the ground, and the icicles hanging from gutters and trees. But it's also a hard time of year. Thankfully I got my work cut out for me. People work for me, so I can spend a lot of time in doors doing what I want, and today I've decided to try to cook. I place a pot on the stove, and I'm going to cook dinner in it. A man has to eat, plus my folks will want some too. I'm not the greatest cook in the world, but I'm going to try. That's all anyone can ask for, right? At least I can stay indoors and keep warm.

I always take care of myself, and my family. They come first in my life, and then my friends, and then the animals. I've seen many animals die, and I've helped many animals live. Just like that kid. Didn't realize his cow was pregnant, but that's okay. Not everyone knows about farming, and I'll keep them up to date with it all. I'm just about to put some water in the pot when I hear a knock at the door. I turn off the stove, and head towards the door wondering if it's that kid again. I just helped him the other day. Maybe he needs more help? If he does, I'll do what I can.

Rubbing my hands together, I swing open the door, and my good pal Joey is standing outside. He's a hard worker. Maybe I can offer him something to eat since it looks like he's been working today. My lips twist into a genuine smile. "Hey, Joey. Come in. I was just about to fix some dinner."

Right away he's asking many questions, and he feels bad for being dirty. I guess it's a normal thing, but he has been working all day. It doesn't make a difference though. He's one of my best friends, and besides, not everyone in district ten smells the best. What's the point? I mean we have all these animals running around, I'm surprised anyone smells decent. I chuckle at all his questions. He offers to help cook dinner. I appreciate the offer, but I just want to cook my own meal.

"Nah, man. It's fine. Just come on in. Make yourself at home." It's the least I can do. I move away from the door and motion for him to come inside. I'd never do anything to hurt him. Perhaps I can cook a meal for him too. Invite my folks over, and maybe invite his. It would be a nice little get together, but I don't have the best house for all that.

Once he moves through the door I close it behind him, and I head back into the kitchen where the pan is setting on the stove. I dump some water into it, and I turn it on. It doesn't take long to fix, but I'll need to fix more now, and maybe I'll add some sweet potato pie to it now. The more the better. "I'm just going to fix something up really quick. It won't take too long."

Joey sits down on a chair, and I'm truly glad he's here. It just wasn't planned. Sometimes the best times come from unplanned moments. Which is why I know I need to make more food. I'll do anything for a friend. If Joey ever needed a place to stay, I'd offer him a place. I'd let him use my tub. Everything. He can eat my food. Maybe one day I'd let him cook something. Rumor has it he isn't the best cook, but he likes to try, and that's all that matters. I wouldn't ruin a happy moment over nasty food. I'm sure I haven't made the best food before.

I turn the pan on allowing the water to start boiling before making my way over to the refrigerator where all the sweat potatoes are located. Maybe I could use his help. He could skin some of these so I could make the sweat potato pie. He's wanting to help, and he looks like he has nothing to do. But do I really want him making the food nasty? As long as he washes his hands, we'll all be fine.

"Joey, if you wanna help, you can slice up some of these sweat potatoes. Going to use them to make a sweat potato pie." I call from the kitchen into the living room where he's at. "Just make sure you wash your hands first." I try to laugh and sound like I'm joking when I'm really being serious.

My cheeks hurt from smiling so much, but I keep smiling especially when he's thanking me. If I knew he wanted to help cook that much, I would've invited him over. I should've known he would've came because he always stops by after tending the stables. Sometimes he just wants to talk while other times he only wants a drink of water. I can't blame him for that. I can't imagine his life. He never really talks about it much, and I'm not about to force him to.

I throw some seasoning into the pot as Joey washes his hands. I grab some other vegetables that I've bought over the days, and I set out to cut them up into bite size pieces. Maybe a nice vegetable stew along with sweet potato pie is enough to hold us all over. Sometimes I don't know when I get the chance to eat again. I keep all my leftovers though. Usually this pot is enough to last a week, but this one may last just a few days.

I turn towards him when he sits down at the table. "Just the outer layer would be nice. I'm going to make a sweet potato pie unless I decide to throw it in the pot. Maybe it'll help the stew out some." I pause for a moment turning back around. "What do you think?"

I think I forget that we both come from different lives. I don't want to say that I have everything in the world because I don't, but I have more than a lot of people. Owning my own farm has helped me out a lot. It took a lot to get the farm going though. Joey doesn't really give me an answer, but he states that I should put it in the stew. I would hate to ask him for more work because that would mean actually slicing the potatoes instead of peeling them.

"Yeah, I'll put them in the stew. I think it'll add a nice flavor to it." I take some more seasoning and sprinkle it inside. A little bit of salt and pepper. I finish chopping up some vegetables. Cucumbers, carrots, onions, and my personal favorite cabbage. There's nothing like a good cabbage to make a wonderful stew. "I think five will be plenty. Don't want to put too much in because I don't want it overwhelming what I've already made.""

These potatoes are given the name sweet potatoes because they are sweet. Too much could make the stew too sweet, and that's what I'm trying to avoid. I don't want to ruin the masterpiece. Finally I take some chopped up beef and chicken and drop it in the pan. "If it's not too much to ask, could you slice up a couple of them? I can use the whole potato, but some sliced up would be nice too."