Peas

The Padawan and the Peas

Title: The Padawan and the Peas
Author: Jane Jinn
Rating: G
Category: warm fuzzies
Time: Obi-Wan is 14
Disclaimers: Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon both belong to George Lucas, everything else in the story is my own invention.
Feedback: Yes, please. Constructive criticism also welcomed.
Archive: JAFD, Jedi Temple Library, others please ask first
Summary: When faced with a distasteful task, Obi-Wan gets help from an unexpected source

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"But, master, I hate peas," Obi-Wan moaned, moving the little green legumes around his plate with a reluctant fork.
Qui-Gon, who had finished up his dinner long ago and was still waiting for his apprentice to do the same, sighed in exasperation. "How do you expect to grow up to be a big strong Jedi if you don't eat your peas?"
"Well, master, if that's the secret to growing big, then it's obvious that Master Yoda never--"
"Padawan!"
The fork in Obi-Wan's hand jerked spasmodically at the sudden interruption and two peas went flying off to land on the floor. Under his master's stern gaze, Obi-Wan leaned down to retrieve them. He knew that if he did not find them soon, they would get mashed and be that much harder to clean up later. He had barely located them, however, when something black and furry moved into his vision, inspected the peas with a quivering nose, and ate them both. The cat then glanced up at him with shiny, pleading eyes.
Clamping down his shields to keep his exuberant mental shout of "I'm saved!" from reaching Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan pulled himself back up to a sitting position and glanced sneakily at his master, then launched two more peas over the edge of the table. He could see the cat moving happily to intercept them, and hastily flicked a few more in her direction.
He was just about to scrape his fork again when Qui-Gon looked at him abruptly, and he froze, using all his Jedi training to keep his guilt from showing.
"Obi-Wan, if you want to have light saber practise this evening, I suggest you get on with it," Qui-Gon said.
"Yes, master," Obi-Wan replied dutifully, thinking of all the wonderful things he could do to peas with his light saber.
The cat was still at his leg, waiting patiently as befitted a Jedi pet, and as soon as his master had glanced away again, Obi-Wan sent a little avalanche of peas off the side of his plate to land at her feet. Stabbing one pea on his fork, Obi-Wan lifted it to his lips, pretended to eat it, then dropped his hand to his side and gave it a little shake. The pea had barely hit the floor before the cat pounced on it.
There were about ten peas left. Obi-Wan moved his fork around them in different patterns, shooting them to the cat one at a time. He'd worked his way down to the last one when Qui-Gon suddenly stood up. "Obi-Wan Kenobi, are you throwing those peas on the floor?"
"Master!" was all Obi-Wan could exclaim. "I--uh--you can look! There aren't any peas on the floor!"
Qui-Gon came around the table and glanced down, his face simply radiating suspicion. But Obi-Wan was right, there was not a single green ball on the floor. The cat, however, gave Qui-Gon her best begging look, and after a moment, Obi-Wan saw the mistrust fade from his master's face, to be replaced by sheer fondness as he regarded the animal. Sighing mentally in relief, Obi-Wan slumped back in his chair.
"There's still one left on your plate, Padawan," Qui-Gon observed, sitting down again. Obi-Wan moved the pea to the back of his mouth as quickly as he could and swallowed it without chewing or even tasting it. "All done, master! Saber practise time!"
As they stood up, Obi-Wan congratulated himself mentally on his successful strategy until Qui-Gon said, "We will have peas again to-morrow, Padawan, and while we eat, the cat will stay in the other room."

The End
written August 2000